low blood pressure

[OakLeaf]

If it's happening that often, I'd see a doctor.

Have you tried anything OTC? Caffeine? How's your hydration?

Supposedly orthostatic hypotension gets worse with age...

[ny biker]

That happens to me all the time. It started happening more often a few years ago. I told my doctor and she seemed to think it was not important, since all the tests she did during my last physical were normal. I told my sister and my cousin, who are both nurses, and they said to get up more slowly.

I did some extensive googling some months back and found one or two articles that indicated a possible link to migraines, which kinda made sense for me because the frequency of the problem increased at about the same time that I cut back on the daily meds that I took to control the headaches.

However since the migraines are much less severe and less frequent than they used to be, I haven't gone for a checkup at the neurologist in a long time, so I haven't asked him about it. Also unless it gets much worse, I really don't want to spend the money on lots of tests.

For me it's most likely to happen when I've been slouching or sitting with my feet up, so I try to get up very slowly after I've been sitting that way.

[zoom-zoom]

I am another 100/60 gal. I see stars if I stand too fast. I also am prone to vertigo/inner ear infections, so the combo can really make life rough at times. I have just learned to never get up too fast.

[Eden]

I tend to low blood pressure too - I think low 90 something over 56 was the lowest I ever saw measured.... I find hydration can affect it a lot. If I make sure I'm drinking enough, and by enough I mean a lot, the head rushes are kept at a minimum. Try drinking more and getting some electrolytes with what ever liquid you are using. Thankfully I've never actually passed out or fallen but I have had my knees buckle and everything starts to go grey for a while sometimes.

[MommyBird]

I have high blood pressure and have the same problem.

[lph]

Thanks ladies, I'll try to take notice if hydration plays a role. Otherwise it's just irritating, not dangerous, because it never happens when I'm up and about doing things, and since I can feel it coming I always have time to go down in a crouch, works better for me than head between my knees.

I'm just curious about things like this and the physical causes.

[channlluv]

I've had high blood pressure for a couple of years now and when I finally realized I needed to go on medication to control it, I was also just getting into the longer bike rides. My doctor and I tried out several medications and dosages to try to find what worked best -- this took months to work through -- and during that time, I figured out the days that I went on long bike rides, my blood pressure was much lower than on days that I didn't ride. I had to buy a digital blood pressure cuff to monitor my pressure at home every day, sometimes two or three readings a day.

Those really low days, I was having the same symptoms as you, nearly blacking out when I'd stand up. Everything would go a bit yellow and fuzzy for several seconds until it regulated itself.

My doctor told me at one point that on the days I planned a long ride, not to take my meds. That worked for a bit. We finally hit on a good dosage for me and now my blood pressure is in the same range as yours, 100/60.

There are others here who can tell you the particulars, but low blood pressure is just as dangerous as high blood pressure. At least, that's what I understood from conversations with my doctor.

I really think you should check this out with your doctor before it goes on too long to repair whatever damage might be happening.

Roxy