Hypotension: Understanding Low Blood Pressure, Causes, and What You Can Do

When your blood pressure drops too low, your body doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs—hypotension, a condition where blood pressure falls below 90/60 mm Hg, often causing dizziness, fatigue, or fainting. Also known as low blood pressure, it’s not always dangerous, but when it hits suddenly or drops too far, it can be a red flag. Unlike high blood pressure, which gets all the attention, hypotension flies under the radar—until you pass out in the shower or can’t get up from the couch without feeling lightheaded.

It’s not just about aging or being thin. orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up is common in people taking blood pressure meds, diuretics, or even antidepressants. blood pressure medications, like beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or diuretics are designed to lower pressure—but sometimes they lower it too much. And it’s not just drugs. Dehydration, heart problems, endocrine disorders, and even prolonged bed rest can trigger it. Many people don’t realize their morning dizziness is linked to their meds or their coffee habit.

What’s worse? Hypotension often gets ignored because it doesn’t feel like a "disease." But if you’re fainting, confused, or struggling to focus, your brain is telling you something’s wrong. Real-world cases show that people with chronic low pressure are more likely to fall, fracture bones, or end up in the ER. And when it’s tied to something like internal bleeding from a blood thinner overdose or kidney damage from NSAIDs, it’s not just a number—it’s a warning sign.

You’ll find posts here that dig into the real risks behind common drugs, how doctors miss the signs, and what you can do to protect yourself. From understanding how a simple change in posture triggers a drop in pressure, to seeing how medications like warfarin or doxycycline can silently contribute to low blood pressure, this collection gives you the practical details you won’t get from a pamphlet. Whether you’re managing your own pressure, caring for an older relative, or just wondering why you feel wiped out after standing up, these stories and data points are meant to help you connect the dots.