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General: Hypotension (low blood pressure) without symptoms is not generally a cause for concern. Long-term hypotension that does not cause symptoms is rarely serious. In fact, many athletes have low blood pressure and have a decreased risk of developing heart disease. Hypotension that causes symptoms may be a sign of an underlying health condition. Sometimes, hypotension may even indicate a serious and/or life-threatening problem, such as a widespread infection. Below are some of the most common causes of hypotension. Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis): A life-threatening allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, often causes a sudden and dramatic drop in blood pressure. Additional symptoms may include itching, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. This reaction may occur in response to medications, herbs, supplements, foods (such as peanuts), bee stings, or other severe allergies. Blood loss: Sudden hypotension may occur if a person loses a lot of blood from a serious injury, internal bleeding, or complications during surgery. The severity of hypotension depends on how much blood is lost. Endocrine problems: Endocrine disorders, also called hormonal disorders, may cause hypotension. Endocrine problems occur when the body releases too many or too few hormones, which are chemicals that help regulate bodily functions. Endocrine problems, such as an underactive thyroid (called hypothyroidism), overactive thyroid (called hyperthyroidism), adrenal insufficiency (called Addison's disease), low blood sugar levels, and in some cases, diabetes, may lead to hypotension. Dehydration: Dehydration may lead to hypotension. Even mild dehydration may cause symptoms, such as lightheadedness, dizziness, and weakness. Severe dehydration may lead to a life-threatening complication, called hypovolemic shock. This condition occurs when a decreased blood volume in the body causes a sudden drop in blood pressure. As a result, the body's tissues and organs do not receive enough oxygen. If left untreated, hypoyolemic shock may be fatal within a few minutes to hours. Heart problems: Several heart problems, including an extremely low heart rate (called bradycardia), heart valve problems, heart attack, and heart failure, may lead to hypotension. These conditions prevent the body from circulating enough blood to tissues and organs. Medications: Many drugs can cause low blood pressure, including diuretics, blood pressure-lowering drugs, heart medications (such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers), drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease, tricyclic antidepressants, erectile dysfunction drugs (such as Viagra®), narcotics, and alcohol. Other medications (prescription and over-the-counter) may lower blood pressure when they are taken in combination with blood pressure-lowering drugs. Nutritional deficiencies: People who have low levels of vitamin B-12 and folate may develop anemia, a condition that may cause low blood pressure. People who have eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, have an increased risk of developing nutritional deficiencies that can lead to hypotension. Pregnancy: A woman's blood pressure often decreases during pregnancy. This is because the mother's circulatory system expands quickly during pregnancy. During the first 24 weeks of pregnancy it is common for a woman's systolic blood pressure to drop five to 10 points and for her diastolic pressure to drop 10-15 points. Septicemia and septic shock: A severe infection, called septicemia, may lead to hypotension. Septicemia occurs when an infection enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. As the heart works extra hard to pump blood throughout the body, it starts to weaken and blood pressure drops. When blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels, the condition is called septic shock.
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