Heart Problems
Various heart problems [2] may cause hypotension.
People that have experienced serious heart conditions like heart attack are often left with weakened heart muscles, which may cause the heart to fail and reduce blood pressure. Damage to a substantial portion of the heart’s muscles will alter pumping, and this is caused by a major heart attack episode or a series of mini-episodes. Drugs for treating heart problems caused by virus infections may also cause a drop in blood pressure levels.
Pericarditis is another cause [3] of hypotension. This is when the thin sac called pericardium surrounding the heart gets inflamed or swollen. This condition can stores up fluids in the pericardium, causing it to expand and compress the heart. It restricting the regular functioning of the heart to contract and relax, supplying blood to other body organs.
Pulmonary embolism is another heart-related condition [4] that may trigger hypotension. It is when a blood clot forms, usually in the deep veins of the legs travels to the heart and eventually the lung. If the blood clot is large enough, it may cut or slow down blood supply into one of the pulmonary arteries, usually in the left ventricle. This blockage may severely reduce or halt the movement of blood to the heart for pumping, resulting in life-threatening conditions and death.
Tachycardia is an out-of-proportion breathing system, usually over one hundred beats per minute. This condition may or may not be caused by underlying diseases, but it often leads to low blood pressure. Tachycardia may be triggered by intense emotions like fear, anxiety, stress, anger or love, and may occur when performing high-intensity activities like exercise.
Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of abnormal heartbeats. It is a cardiovascular disorder where electrical emissions from the heart muscles cause the ventricles to contract and relax irregularly and quickly. The speed of movement does not allow the arteries enough time to fill up with blood for pumping; hence, the heart is supplying insufficient blood with each contraction.