Page 60 - Summer2008

Ask the Doctor

TREATING LOW BLOOD PRESSURE
By Thomas Cowan, MD

Question: We always hear about the dangers edness, dizziness, weakness and fainting. All of
of high blood pressure but my problem is low these symptoms suggest a general overall lower-
blood pressure, which makes me dizzy and tired. ing of one’s vitality. The low blood pressure is
Is there anything that can be done for low blood not the cause of this syndrome, nor is it by itself a
pressure? sign of poor health, but in conjunction with these
other symptoms suggests a state of low vitality.
Answer: Over the years many of my patients So the question is what do we mean by low

have asked me about the signicance of low vitality and how does this correlate with these
blood pressure. This is a very interesting and symptoms?
surprisingly complex question, which merits The regulation of blood pressure is a
some background information. mysterious process which involves at least three

The ofcial denition of normal blood mechanisms working in complex relation to each
pressure is around 120/80. Yet years ago, when other.
I was in medical school, we were taught that the
norm was dependent on one’s age, so that the 1. Receptors—called baroreceptors—which
systolic (top number) was normal if it was 100 reside in various organs and detect changes
plus the patient’s age over 90 or below. In fact, in arterial pressure. These receptors adjust
even though this way of looking at blood pressure the pressure by altering the force and speed
is no longer considered valid, there has been no of the heart’s contractions, as well as the
major study that I know of that shows a better resistance in the arteries.
prognosis in any measurement when the blood 2. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), in-
pressure is lowered with drugs to the level of volves hormones secreted by the kidneys.
120/80 in elderly people. When blood pressure drops, the kidneys
The Low blood pressure, on the other hand, has compensate by activating a vasoconstrictor
called angiotensin II. When the kidneys do
never been dened or been associated with an

regulation of increase in any disease category. In fact, doctors not produce enough of this hormone, blood
blood today suggest that the lower one’s blood pressure pressure will also be low.
pressure is a the longer the life span and that those whose 3. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone produced
by the adrenal cortex, which stimulates so-
blood pressure doesn’t increase with age have
mysterious some of the lowest overall all-cause mortality dium retention and potassium excretion by
process which rates. the kidneys. When aldosterone is increased,

However, over the years I have had many
involves at patients who present with a picture of weakness the body retains uid retention and blood
pressure is raised. Alternately, low aldo-
least three that more times than not includes a signicantly sterone production will result in low blood

mechanisms low blood pressure. By low blood pressure, I pressure.
working in mean people whose blood pressure is less than As I have discussed in many other articles
90/60. The typical person with blood pressure this
complex low also complains of overall lowered vitality, the adrenal hormonal output is directly involved
relation to sometimes allergies, almost always cold hands in many symptoms of low blood pressure, not
each other. and feet and usually lowered libido. In serious only is low aldosterone production associated
cases low blood pressure can cause light-head-
(Continued on page 60)
58 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2008