“How dangerous is low blood pressure for elderly patients?”
My grandmother recently had a doctor's appointment and she was found with low blood pressure (I'm not sure of the exact numbers). She's 80 years old, but doesn't seem worried about. She usually has high blood pressure so she is taking the low blood pressure as a good thing. However, isn't low blood pressure dangerous for older patients?
3 Answers
FamilyMedicine|GeriatricMedicineLowBloodPressure
Low blood pressure can cause dizziness and lightheadedness when standing which can lead to a fall an injury. Frequently older adults don't drink enough water and are dehydrated which causes low blood pressure.
Encourage her to stay hydrated and follow with her doctor.
Encourage her to stay hydrated and follow with her doctor.
First, review all medications that your grandmother takes. "Low" blood pressure is not necessarily dangerous in an elderly patient. Discuss your concerns with her primary physician.
In general, the goal blood pressure for adults is a pressure less than 130/80.
In the elderly blood pressures much lower than this can be dangerous because it can lead to decreased blood flow to the brain which can cause people to pass out and fall.
For all my elderly patients with blood pressure issues, I check what we call orthostatic blood pressures. This is where we measure blood pressure with a patient laying down, then they stand up and we check their blood pressure again at 1 and 3 minutes. If there is a significant drop in their blood pressure with standing, then their blood pressure is over treated. Also, if patients report dizziness or lightheadedness when going from sitting to standing, this is another indication that their blood pressures are going too low. If this happens, sometimes we need to make an elderly patients blood pressure goal a bit higher. Every patient is unique, and their blood pressure management needs to be individualized.
Thank you
In the elderly blood pressures much lower than this can be dangerous because it can lead to decreased blood flow to the brain which can cause people to pass out and fall.
For all my elderly patients with blood pressure issues, I check what we call orthostatic blood pressures. This is where we measure blood pressure with a patient laying down, then they stand up and we check their blood pressure again at 1 and 3 minutes. If there is a significant drop in their blood pressure with standing, then their blood pressure is over treated. Also, if patients report dizziness or lightheadedness when going from sitting to standing, this is another indication that their blood pressures are going too low. If this happens, sometimes we need to make an elderly patients blood pressure goal a bit higher. Every patient is unique, and their blood pressure management needs to be individualized.
Thank you
