Many people have low blood pressure and don’t even know it. This is so because sometimes there are no symptoms. When low blood pressure does become a problem, symptoms can occur. Therefore, it’s important to ask the question, what are the symptoms of low blood pressure?

The symptoms of low blood pressure:

1. Fainting.
2. Dizziness or lightheadedness.
3. Blurred vision.
4. Lack of concentration.
5. Rapid Breathing.
6. Nausea.
7. Fatigue.
8. Depression
9. Cold and pale skin.
10. Dehydration.

Knowing the symptoms of low blood pressure is important. This article will discuss each symptom in detail and explain why they happen.

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Low Blood Pressure Symptoms

The symptoms can range in severity. Some people may feel only slight discomfort while others may feel sick. If blood pressure gets too low, the body’s organs may not be receiving enough blood and oxygen it needs to operate efficiently ¹.

1. Fainting

Fainting occurs when there is a temporary loss of consciousness typically related to insufficient blood flow to the brain ². Also known as passing out, fainting mostly occurs when the blood pressure is too low.

Because of the low blood pressure, the heart is unable to pump and supply the brain with enough oxygen ³.

2. Dizziness Or lightheadedness

A feeling of falling over or getting woozy is probably one of the most common symptoms of low blood pressure. This mostly happens when the brain fails to get enough blood due to a sudden drop of blood pressure ⁴.

A drop as little of 20 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure can causes this to happen.

3. Blurred vision

Seeing clearly and sharp helps people navigate the whole world whether it’s driving or walking down the stairs at home. Blurred vision can affect just part of eyesight, like peripheral vision or the whole line of sight.

It’s even possible to have it only in one of the eyes. The eyes, just like the other organs, rely on proper blood supply to function properly.

4. Lack of concentration

Having low blood pressure can affect many organs in the body. Any one of these, especially the brain, not functionally properly can make it difficult to concentrate. Studies have shown low blood pressure can result in diminished memory and attention ⁵.

Therefore, if you’re having difficulty focusing on one thing, it may be due to low blood pressure.

5. Rapid breathing

When blood pressure gets low, the heart may try compensating for the lack of blood by beating faster. This can cause your breaths to become more shallow and the number of breaths per minute increases.

6. Nausea

Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness or discomfort like getting the urge to vomit. Besides upset stomach, it can also feel like dizziness and anxiety. Although nausea feels like it’s coming from the stomach, it is mostly controlled by the brain ⁶.

7. Fatigue

When there’s the feeling of not wanting to do anything physical or being tired may be related to blood pressure. Some medical experts have suggested an association between low BP and chronic fatigue syndrome ⁷.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness characterized by six months or longer of fatigue not relieved by rest.

8. Depression

Depression is a persistent feeling of being unhappy, sad and having a loss of interest in activities. Studies have shown a link between depression, anxiety and low blood pressure ⁸.

In addition, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found elderly patients with low blood pressure may be more likely to have depression symptoms.

9. Cold and pale skin

If the skin loses its natural tone or feels cold, it can be the extremities are not receiving enough blood. In addition, if the skin is cold and clammy or feels sweaty, this may be a sign of shock.

When low blood pressure leads to shock, it can cause a blue skin tone or a weak and rapid pulse.

10. Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the number of fluids the body takes in is less than what the body uses. If the body is dehydrated, it can be a sign of low blood pressure.

In addition, high blood pressure medications like diuretics can cause dehydration and low blood pressure.

Low blood pressure symptoms are just one of ten topics discussed in my article, The Low Blood Pressure Range – Everything You Need To Know. Find out the causes, treatments, when it’s an emergency and more.

When Low Blood Pressure Symptoms Are Dangerous

When blood pressure is low and the above symptoms are present, they can be dangerous. If this combination happens, the recommendation is to call 911 and visit a doctor immediately. A long list of consequences critical to your health can occur.

One of the consequences may shock you, I wrote a whole blog post on it which you can read right here, When Low Blood Pressure is an Emergency.

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FAQs

How does it feel when your blood pressure is low? Having low blood pressure may make a person feel tired, anxious, nauseous, thirsty, dizzy, lightheaded, out of breath, cold, sweaty or confused.

What are low blood pressure symptoms in women? The following are low blood pressure symptoms in women:

1. Fainting.
2. Dizziness or lightheadedness.
3. Blurred vision.
4. Lack of concentration.
5. Rapid Breathing.
6. Nausea.
7. Fatigue.
8. Depression
9. Cold and pale skin.
10. Dehydration.

Read Next – More Low BP Articles

Why Low Blood Pressure Drops Suddenly When Standing Up

Low Blood Pressure Treatment

Low Diastolic Blood Pressure Symptoms

Causes Of Low Diastolic Blood Pressure In The Elderly

1. American Heart Association: Low Blood Pressure – When Blood Pressure Is Too Low[↩]
2. MedlinePlus: Low blood pressure[↩]
3. American Heart Association: Syncope (Fainting) [↩]
4. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Low Blood Pressure[↩]
5. National Center for Biotechnology Information: Reduced brain perfusion and cognitive performance due to constitutional hypotension[↩]
6. Wikipedia: Nausea[↩]
7. National Center for Biotechnology Information: Cardiovascular characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome[↩]
8. National Center for Biotechnology Information: Association of low blood pressure with anxiety and depression: the Nord-Trondelag Health Study[↩]