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Hypotension

In physiology and medicine, hypotension refers to an abnormally low blood pressure. It is often associated with shock, though not necessarily indicative of it.

Contents

Causes

Orthostatic hypotension is a common cause of low blood pressure, resulting from a sudden change in body position. Reduced blood volume, called hypovolemia, can also cause hypotension and often results from the use of diuretics or vasodilators such as nitric oxide or furosemide.

Indicators

For most individuals, a healthy blood pressure lies between 90/60 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg. A small drop in blood pressure, even as little as 20 mm Hg, can result in transient hypotension.

Symptoms

Low blood pressure is often accompanied by:

References

  • Hypovolemia - MedLine Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003083.htm

Related topics

Last updated: 02-08-2005 08:24:35
Last updated: 03-18-2005 11:16:12