8Oct/10Off
How low does you blood pressure need to be to be unconscious or asleep?
How low does it have to be? I want you to tell me a number (blood pressure) that would mean the person is unconscious or asleep but yet the person's body is able function properly. Like the insides are not getting any permanent damage.
Or how long can a person last with that low BP?
October 8th, 2010 - 16:18
It will vary depending on the person and what their normal baseline blood pressure. A person will lose consciousness with a low blood pressure when the blood pressure is too low to provide enough blood supply to the brain. For most people, a systolic blood pressure (top number) below 70 mmHg would cause them to lose consciousness. This is not true for everyone though. I have had a patient in the ICU with a systolic blood pressure of 60 mmHg who was alert and able to talk to me. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I have some elderly patients that require a higher blood pressure to supply their brain and they would maybe lose consciousness if their systolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg. Also, if the blood pressure is low enough to lead to unconsciousness, then the rest of the body would also be not getting enough blood, which can lead to permanent damage depending on how long the blood pressure was low.
October 8th, 2010 - 16:18
There is no specific number anyone can tell you because every person has a different tolerance for low blood pressure. Many tiny, thin people can have a systolic pressure in the 80′s and not have any symptoms while a larger person whose blood pressure runs in a normal range might feel very dizzy, weak and possibly faint. When you have low blood pressure and you stand up quickly, it is possible for you to faint but as soon as you are lying supine on the floor, you usually become conscious again quickly. And, once this happens, most people seek medical care to see why it is occurring – especially if it happens more than once. Many, many people live productive lives with low blood pressure – they just adjust to not standing up quickly and go about their lives. Other people may have a specific cause (vomiting, dehydration, medications, etc) and once you determine the cause and fix the problem, the low blood pressure goes away.
October 8th, 2010 - 16:18
60mmgh