Definition of Hypotension
Hypotension: Any blood pressure that is below the
normal expected for an individual in a given environment.
Hypotension is the opposite of hypertension (abnormally high
blood pressure).
Hypotension is a relative term because the blood pressure normally
varies greatly with activity, age, medications, and underlying
medical conditions.
Low blood pressure can result from conditions of the nervous
system, conditions that do not begin in the nervous system, and drugs.
Neurologic conditions that can lead to low blood pressure include
changing position from lying to more vertical (postural hypotension),
stroke, shock, lightheadedness after urinating or defecating,
Parkinson's disease, neuropathy and simply fright.
Nonneurologic conditions that can cause low blood pressure include
bleeding, infections, dehydration, heart disease, adrenal
insufficiency, pregnancy, prolonged bed rest, poisoning, toxic shock
syndrome, and blood transfusion reactions.
Hypotensive drugs include blood pressure drugs, diuretics (water
pills), heart medications (especially calcium antagonists- nifedipine / Procardia, beta
blockers-propranolol / Inderal and others),
depression medications (such as amitriptyline
/ Elavil), and alcohol.
The word hypotension is a hybrid of the Greek
"hypo" meaning "under" and the Latin
"tensio" meaning
"to stretch." In French, "la tension" is
"the blood
pressure."
Last Editorial Review: 12/3/1998
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