Low Blood Pressure
We have already learned that blood pressure less than 130
(systolic)/85 (diastolic) mmHg (according to American Heart Association) are
normal blood pressure in adults. On average it may be 120/80 mmHg. But when the
blood pressure decreases than the normal it is explained as a low blood
pressure. Low blood pressure, medically known as a ‘Hypotension’ is generally
considered as systolic blood pressure of 90mmHg or less in adults.
Blood
pressure varies, depending on factors such as age, race, sex and environment.
On rare occasions, individuals may have medical problems that cause low blood
pressure.
Causes
There are
different factors that cause low blood pressure; some of them are:
. Lack of balanced diet and nutritive
diet.
. Dehydration and abnormal decreases in
body weight.
. Fatigue for a longer duration.
. Over exertion and physical work.
. Excessive bleeding due to wound and
other causes.
. Heredity and racial factors.
. Emotional stress and hormonal
factors.
. combination with Addison’s disease
(pernicious anaemia) and alcoholism.
. Medication for high blood pressure.
. Environment or psychological
dysfunction.
Signs and Symptoms
Several studies suggested that low blood
pressure may be associated with non-specific symptoms, such as:
. Feeling or weakness and dizziness.
. Decreases in diastolic and systolic
pressure.
. Headache referred to the back of head or
neck.
. Tiredness and fainting.
. Swaying.
. Focal cerebral ischemia (low blood
flow).
. Communicating difficulties.
. Tunnel vision.
. Uncontrolled body balance.
. Emotional instability.
Prevention and
Control
Hypotension is a benign condition
and is often attributed to psychological problems. So, the best ways of
preventive measure should be:
. Making healthy lifestyle.
. Control of dehydration.
. Changing the timing of meals.
. Proper treatment of Addison’s
disease.
. Control on alcohol consumption.
. Proper rest and sleep and physical
work and exercise.
. Proper balanced diet.
. Maintenance of healthy recreation.
. Control on stress and anxiety.
. Regular health check-up.
Stone
Stone or calculus is a disease in
which an abnormal stone is formed in body tissues by accumulation of mineral
salts. Stones or calculi, consisting chiefly of cholesterol, bile pigment and
calcium salts, may form usually and are found within hollow organs or ducts and
can cause obstruction and inflammation in persons of either at any age, but are
more common in middle age. It may form at various internal organs such as bile
duct, gallbladder, liver, kidney, urinary bladder, urethra and glands.
Causes: In the
majority of cases, causes are unknown. However, excess salt consumption,
increased amount of serum cholesterol in blood, which occurs in obesity,
diabetes, inflammation of the biliary system, accumulation of bile pigment and
calcium salts are some of the major causes known to be responsible for the
formation of stones.
Symptoms: The
signs and symptoms of stone formation may differ according to their nature and
place. Still the formation of stone is accompanied by the following symptoms:
. Tendency of nausea, vomiting and loss
of appetite.
. Severe pain at the affected area.
. Radiating to the back and shoulder.
. The dehydrated patient may have
chills, fever and jaundice.
. Inflammation of affected organs.
. Obstruction
in bile duct and urethra.
. There is much pain in the back along
with high temperature.
Prevention and
Control
The following measures can be adopted for prevention:
. Water and fat-free liquid should be
taken as much as possible.
. Regular exercise.
. Regular periodical health
examination.
. If the stone cannot pass through a
natural process, it should be surgically
removed.
. Doctors should be consulted about the
treatment.
. Intensive nursing care and support is
required.
. The patient should be given complete
bed rest.