Question about blood pressure?

[AbnormallyAnxious]

I got mines checked today at my doctor's office and she said it was a little too low. 90/60. Freaks me out knowing my blood pressure has actually been low. I guess that's why I'm so sleepy, can't concentrate, get dizzy and slightly blurry vision. 
What should my blood pressure be? How 'low' is it?

I also start counseling tomorrow.

[sassparella]

from what I've read hypotension - low blood pressure is classified as a BP lower than 90/60 so you're on the borderline normal. What did your doctor say, did she suggest anything or is she just going to keep monitoring it? Also from what I've read you can have a BP lower than this and if you don't have any symptoms it's still considered normal. So don't worry you're still within the normal range but at the lower end.

[gcalex]

Was your thyroid checked?  Adrenal function?  That can cause lower blood pressure.  Also B12 and folate deficiency.  Not that yours is overwhelmingly low or anything, but I hope you at least got a thorough checkup.  What did this doctor suggest you do, if anything?  Did you explain to her all your anxieties?

[bertybotts]

Are you eating well? Are you taking optimal care of your body?
If not, there is your answer.

Good luck in the counselling.

[AbnormallyAnxious]

Missed my appointment today due to the stupid women's disease that I hate very much. I'm thinking of getting on birth control to stop this crap all together. 

Actually it was the nurse who said it was too low. She's the one who took my bp before the doctor came in. When I told the doctor she told me it's because of all the higher blood pressures she's been seeing, and then seeing one like mines she considered it low. I don't think that's the case. I told my doctor it was 90/60 and she told me that wouldn't be normal for a 80 year old old male but it's normal for an 18 year old female. What the hell? I don't think a low blood pressure is okay for anyone, no matter the age.

Actually I didn't get a thorough checkup I planned to get a physical done but there was a misunderstanding the receptionist that got me the appointment thought I just wanted to talk to the doctor and so when I got in the doctor told me 'how may I help you today?' So I started talking to her about my anxiety due to the fact it was really bugging me and I wanted to begin therapy. She did however check my heart with a stethoscope, blood pressure, height, weight, and vision. What else is there for her to do, anyways? She asked if I wanted blood work but I didn't want any blood drawn out of me I was scared I'd faint due to my 'low blood pressure'. So we spent a lot of time talking about the anxiety then she told me I need to quit soda completely (WOW), start walking half an hour a day (in this freezing cold Chicago weather), talk to friends (Who can I befriend? The GED adults that have grandchildren?) and family (My family turns away right when I begin talking about anxiety), and begin speaking with the consular. Then she got me an appointment with him, which I missed today. I need to make another one.

Bertybotts What do you mean by 'taking optimal care of my body'? & yeah I guess I'm eating well. Wait, what's the definition for eating well?

And guys what's the difference between a therapist and a consular?

[vardnas]

There is no difference between a therapist and a counselor, just two different words for the same thing.

AA, you sound so contrary. The doctor told you it was simply the nurse's opinion that your blood pressure was low, not straight fact, yet you're dismissing what she says.

Also, I've noticed that you tend to shoot down ideas that people give you. The doctor says exercise every day, make friends and talk to your family. And you immediately say it's too cold, there's no one to befriend and your family won't listen. I mean ... I don't know what other suggestions you want to hear—these are the things you're going to have to do to reduce your anxiety, that's just the way it is.

If it's too cold to walk outside, find some indoor exercises to do. Buy a cheap aerobics DVD and do it in your room until the weather gets nice. If you don't want to befriend anyone in your GED program, go on line and find a Meet Up 0538 group that has similar interests as you. If the suggestions being presented to you don't appeal to you, then use your imagination and think up alternatives that you do like. But making excuses for everything everyone suggests to you is going to leave you in the same place you've been.

Glad you're seeing a therapist/counselor. It'll be good for you.

[gcalex]

The amount of blood drawn to do blood work is trivial.  You should have your thyroid checked, everybody should.  And as long as you think you know better than everbody else including doctors (I see you reject her statement your blood pressure is not too low, and reject her advice what to do), you aren't going to get anyplace.

[LindaRK]

I have to agree with gcalex .. you always seems to go against whatever anyone offers up to you in regards to helping yourself.  Anxiety isn't something that will just go away on its own.  It takes hard work, persistence and patience.  For the most part, it's something you just might have to manage the rest of your life.  So, I suggest you get a plan in place (ie exercise, diet, social interaction, etc.).

Also, wanted to mention, I have low blood pressure - 90/60 many, many times.  There is nothing wrong with me.  I've had it all checked and the low BP remains the same.  This has been going on my whole life.  I have a good diet and I exercise, and along with good genetics is probably why it's low.

[sixpack]

when I was younger, my bp was always low.  My 25yr old is always  lower too.  At 49 my bp is running around 115/68 or so generally.  I'm pretty lucky about that.

my kids bp at the ped are lower.

my guess as to why you are always tired etc, etc is because your body is WORN out from your endless worrying.   Hey but that is just my guess having watched your fear run nonstop for a few months being a member here.

[sixpack]

Also, I've noticed that you tend to shoot down ideas that people give you. The doctor says exercise every day, make friends and talk to your family. And you immediately say it's too cold, there's no one to befriend and your family won't listen. I mean ... I don't know what other suggestions you want to hear—these are the things you're going to have to do to reduce your anxiety, that's just the way it is.

YEAH it is cold here today.  it is supposed to be colder tomorrow.  IDK I guess cold is subjective to some but I'm thinking 12 degrees is cold for everyone and add heavy snow to that and that was/is our weather today.  LOL.  But today I had my dog out on the trails.  She was snorting and snuffling the snow and all.  I wore two hats, two shirts, ski pants, gloves and heavy coat.  She and I frollicked around in the woods for about 25 minutes.  It sure as anything helps rid the excess stress hormones that we anxious or stressed always have floating around our bods.  I have a pretty big issue with my eye that the opthamologist says is due to excess cortisol from the heavy stress I've been under recently.  (you could read my thread about it as I'm not going to repeat it here).  He told me to MAKE SURE TO EXERCISE.  This is something I do anyway because I understand the benefits and actually want to do things that are benficial to my well-being....

so don't make up excuses as to why you can't do things.  Because, frankly, AA that is all they are excuses. 

[AbnormallyAnxious]

sorry bout that six :s. what exactly is cortisol? why'd you claim yourself lucky to have a blood pressure of 115/68? Does that mean mines should be higher?

How old are you Linda, if you don't mind?

Gcalax what do you mean by 'trivial'?

Vardnas the reason I dismissed what she says is because I'm the only one in my body. I've now realized the symptoms I experience are because of my low blood pressure, and that makes me sad. (The sleepiness, the dizziness & swaying back to forth upon standing, the slightly blurry vision, the nausea.) And I'm pretty sure the WEAK pulse I feel at my neck is also because of my low blood pressure, they seem to connect.

[sixpack]

cortisol is one of the stress hormones or you may call the fight or flight.  it isn't a bad hormone. it is a necessary one.  BUT under sustained stress the adrenal glands can/will produce too much...

 and I feel my BP is good because  at my age it is often higher for many peeps.  Mine started out lower ( like yours is now) and as one ages it naturally goes up a bit.  I consider having a lower BP as a younger person a BONUS because as a woman in her late 40's my BP is still in very good shape.  And besides, as I said, most younger peeps have lower BPs naturally anyway.  it isn't unusual and, in fact, with all of my kids, it IS usual to have a lower BP.

a blurb on cortisol

  Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in the following functions and more:
 
•Proper glucose metabolism
 •Regulation of blood pressure
 •Insulin release for blood sugar maintanence
 •Immune function
 •Inflammatory response
 
Normally, it’s present in the body at higher levels in the morning, and at its lowest at night. Although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body. Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects:

•A quick burst of energy for survival reasons
 •Heightened memory functions
 •A burst of increased immunity
 •Lower sensitivity to pain
 •Helps maintain homeostasis in the body
 
While cortisol is an important and helpful part of the body’s response to stress, it’s important that the body’s relaxation response to be activated so the body’s functions can return to normal following a stressful event. Unfortunately, in our current high-stress culture, the body’s stress response is activated so often that the body doesn’t always have a chance to return to normal, resulting in a state of chronic stress
 

[gcalex]

"I've now realized the symptoms I experience are because of my low blood pressure, and that makes me sad. (The sleepiness, the dizziness & swaying back to forth upon standing, the slightly blurry vision, the nausea.) And I'm pretty sure the WEAK pulse I feel at my neck is also because of my low blood pressure, they seem to connect. "

What medical education do you have that qualifies you to make this statement?  Sometimes, AA, you seem to be your own worst enemy.  Did you IGNORE the post above from the person who has 90/60 and feels just fine?  You have a SERIOUS problem with confirmation bias -- you filter the world through your own dangerously inaccurate pre-conceptions.  Please get help.

And I am tired of giving you advice thread after thread after thread because it's a waste of time watching you reject it, I like helping people but what's the point when they don't listen at all?  We have done this time after time after time and it's always the same in the end -- you reject what is said to you because you know best.  Many here -- FloridaGuy65, Sixpack, LindaRK, Vardnas, and others apologies for not naming you have tried and tried and tried.  Good luck being your own physician, maybe you can be your own counselor/therapist too, as I fear you will give whatever he or she tells you the same lack of respect as you gave your doctor today and everyone else here bending over backwards to help you.  I hope you find the light, somehow.

[sixpack]

Vardnas the reason I dismissed what she says is because I'm the only one in my body. I've now realized the symptoms I experience are because of my low blood pressure, and that makes me sad. (The sleepiness, the dizziness & swaying back to forth upon standing, the slightly blurry vision, the nausea.) And I'm pretty sure the WEAK pulse I feel at my neck is also because of my low blood pressure, they seem to connect.   

Unfortunately you decide things based on your faulty thinking.  but whatever.

[gcalex]

One final piece of advice -- LISTEN to people with more experience or knowledge than yourself, or you will never change. 

[vardnas]

Vardnas the reason I dismissed what she says is because I'm the only one in my body. I've now realized the symptoms I experience are because of my low blood pressure, and that makes me sad. (The sleepiness, the dizziness & swaying back to forth upon standing, the slightly blurry vision, the nausea.) And I'm pretty sure the WEAK pulse I feel at my neck is also because of my low blood pressure, they seem to connect.

Oh, le sigh, of course you'd say that.

The question still stands, though. Even if you have low blood pressure (which you've been told is healthy for an 18 year old girl), you still have anxiety and you need to treat it. Everything your doctor said is still true. Exercise will help you. Connecting to family and friends will help you. I'm curious why you think you don't need those things.

I'm curious why you seem to reject everything anyone says in an effort to help you. I'm curious to know why you come here and what you get from posting—is it just the attention that a bunch of concerned strangers bring? Or are you actually looking to feel better? Clearly, some part of you KNOWS this is all in your head, I mean, you ended up on a HYPOCHONDRIAC'S web board, not a low blood pressure sufferer's web board.

[Wishingforcalm2]

That's actually not too low.  Unless you're seriously old.  When you're old, and your blood pressure is too low, symptoms can occur such as after eating, there is a lot of blood required to go to the tummy area to work on all the food you just ate.  Well, if you're old, and you have very low bp, there might not be enough to get back up to the brain for a second, and one might feel unsteady or a bit dizzy or lightheaded etc.  In a young person, there's actually no number that is considered "low blood pressure" but instead they go by symptoms....  If your blood pressure was far too low, you'd know, because you'd pass out.  Additionally, take your blood pressure again.  I guarantee it will be a bit higher, even moments later.  Once I got an 80/50 reading and of course I freaked out -- my husband said "hey, just start worrying about it, I hear it raises your blood pressure!" Anyway, I retook my bp, and it was too high LITERALLY five minutes later.  So, don't get too flipped out about one reading anyway.   

[LindaRK]

Such great advice - but will you take it AA?

I'll be 56 in May ... I've had low blood pressure my whole life.  90/60 is nothing new for me.  It's either that or maybe a little higher.  The gynecologist I used to go to always joked about it - yeah, he had low BP like mine, too, until he passed out.  Ha ha ha.  Of course, that's just what I didn't want to hear, right?  But he was joking!  Low BP was okay!  But you know what?  You need to let this go and move on! Heck, would you rather have high BP?

[gcalex]

Our friend AA already has dismissed her doctor's assurance that her BP was not too low, so I suspect others echoing that won't change her mind either.

[AbnormallyAnxious]

I'm not really dismissing the fact my doc told me it's not too low, it's just weird for her to tell me that even after I told her I get dizzy, blurry vision, nausea, sleepy, poor concentration, and sometimes weak. All those symptoms, plus slightly low blood pressure and she didn't give a crap. And it just scares me knowing my heart isn't working as hard as it should be. People tell me that's not what low bp means, but according to Wishing's post that is what it means. & Linda, your bp has been like that your whole life. That's why you're not concerned. But my bp was in the healthy range my whole life, until now. So of course I'll think 'Why the change?'

[tanya boston]

Your blood pressure is normal and fine. Ive had bp lower then that and my doctor told me it was fine. My mom has very low bp an. Always has, when nurses take her bp they say they dont understand how shes even concious but her doc tells her its fine so long as shes not passing out or getting dizzy all the time.

Bp changes through out the day, minute to minute sometimes, it could even they didnt take it right. From what i understand if the docs thinks somethings up with your bp they monitor it over a period of time to get numerous readings to make sure there is something going on and that its not just a one time thing or just. Couple of times. Good luck to you