Long story short, this weekend I found out that my blood pressure has been lower than normal (the 120/80 rage is considered normal --120 systolic, 80 diastolic).

Today's lowest recording was 88/52. I'm being scheduled to see a cardiologist, but I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this topic, or if anyone has personal experience and can help me out. I started noticing that at times it would become hard for me to have normal rhythmic breathing and I felt that I had a shortness of breath. There's no chest pain, but at times I can feel slightly dizzy. I haven't changed my diet (and I eat pretty well).

 

Wow! 88/52 is certainly low. Good luck!

 

Well Low blood pressure can be very dangerous if not treated properly. Good thing though is it's safer then high blood pressure.

Diet doesn't play as much a part as genetics does in this case so that's a bad thing. The symptoms you are experiencing are very common and are also associated with cold sweats, fainting, clammy skin, and glossy eyes. Sometimes it is blood sugar related, sometimes hydration, sometimes heat related.

Obviously without actually seeing you it's hard to really come to any conclusions, but it is a very good thing that you're seeing a doctor. Never take these things lightly, even if it's nothing better safe then sorry.

 

Those numbers are low unless you are a very small person, like 4'10" 85 lbs or so. What you are describing sounds like an irregular heart beat. Something like where your atrium and ventricles are not beating in sync. That's a guess from what you wrote. Have you at least had an EKG yet? You'll get one if you haven't yet, and probably an echocardiogram to see how your heart beats. You may need a pacemaker or an ablation of a reentrant tract. Regardless, it would require a lot more information to diagnose what you have. You are doing the right thing, good luck.

 

maybe he's taking beta-blocker....

 

More importantly, what is the heart rate when the blood pressure is low?

Take as many readings as you can. Sitting, standing, lying. As many times during the day as possible. Record the heart rate along with the blood pressure and bring it to your Cardiology appointment.

If you can go the extra mile and find someone to record if your pulse is regular or irregular, that will help as well. There are probably many online sites to learn how to do this.

 

Or, you can stop asking the advice of people on a car forum and let a medical professional guide you.

 

another consideration, is that you're in great shape. what does your heart rate usually run? if it's normally say under 60, that might be a cause.
i don't suspect he's taking a beta blocker given his age.

 

Of the 5 posts above this one I know 4 are medical professionals. He is going to get some help from a cardiologist. He's just trying to find out some info, so I don't see it as a big deal.

I'd also doubt b-blockade, plus you'd think he'd know if he were on b-blockers, Rick, if he's an athelete and does have a natural sinus brady, would you expect his BP to still be that low?

Maybe he's using too much Viagra and Rogaine?

 

I agree, your heart rate in conjuction with your clinical presentation and your BP can say alot more about your situation. (i.e. Tachycardia with hypotention could mean sepsis or dehydration while Bradycardia with hypotension could mean MI) Your blood pressure is controlled by a number of different compensatory pathways in the body so without more information and/or diagnostics it is almost impossible to tell the cause.

Not sure if I exactly agree with this statement though, any acute deviation from about the 50-150 MAP range and the body starts to lose its compensatory methods and begins to decrease Cerebral Perfusion Pressure(CPP). This eventually causes cerebral ischemia. (Your MAP is roughly 100 and is in no way outside the acceptable range)

Many people live with essentially low BP and/or non-lethal arrhythmias. This is absolutely something you should follow up with since you still dont know what is causing it. I myself have a resting BP of about 100/59. good luck with everything, and I hope everything works out for you. BTW your avatar has made me laugh on a daily basis.