low blood pressure

[lil_momma17]

i went to the doctor yesterday and she took my blood pressure. it was 80/44 is that bad to be at the age of 17. i have look up in the internet and ask the doctor about the symptoms and i have every single symptoms that there is for low blood pressure but in the past i've had a normal blood pressure what's going on

[caregiver222]

Generally, a reading of under 100 is considered abnormal. The most common cause is dehydration. You physician should be taking readings in both the sitting and supine position, as kinde points out. You have also not mentioned your pulse rate. Without knowing the pulse rate a blood pressure reading is meaningless.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

A person is said to have hypotension when 3 readings of BP measurement over a period of 1 week show less than normal BP. Systolic blood pressure for most healthy adults falls between 90 and 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal diastolic blood pressure falls between 60 and 80 mm Hg.

Important causes of low BP are dehydration,moderate to severe bleeding,tachycardia(fast heart rate),cardiac causes,certain medicines,postural hypotension,Thyroid and adrenal insufficiency,anemias and vasovagal syncope.

In my opinion,one reading of BP is not sufficient to label you as hypotensive.Pls get your Bp readings on regular intervals(at least 3 readings) and in sitting and supine position.I all readings show low BP,then pls discuss the above options with your doctor.An extensive laboratory work up and investigations may be required to confirm a diagnosis.In the meanwhile,keep yourself well hydrated and take some iron supplements.


Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.