Hypotension
From Wiki4CAM
Hypotension, also known as low blood pressure, is considered when the blood pressure during and after each heart beat is much lower than usual. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure is measured as systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. So what is normal blood pressure? A blood pressure less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) is now considered normal and optimal for good health. Lower blood pressure is found commonly in athletes and people who exercise regularly, which is normal to them. In some cases, low blood pressure is a sign of serious, even life-threatening disorders.
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Types of Hypotension
Though there are several types of hypotension, it is considered that three are main out of those. Many people who always have low blood pressure, have chronic asymptomatic hypotension. Usually there are no signs or symptoms and need no treatment. It is normal for them. Following are the three main types of hypotension.
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH)
- Severe hypotension
Causes
Many drugs cause hypotension like medications used for surgery, anti-anxiety medications, heart medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, diuretics, certain antidepressants and pain killers. Other causes include alcohol, dehydration, heart failure, heart attack, changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmias), fainting, anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic response) and shock (from severe infection, stroke, anaphylaxis, major trauma, or heart attack).
Symptoms
Though for some people low blood pressure is an indication of peak physical condition with strong cardiovascular systems and a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, it can also signal an underlying problem, especially when it drops suddenly. It may reflect with any of the symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness, fainting (syncope), lack of concentration, blurred vision, nausea, cold, clammy, pale skin, rapid, shallow breathing, fatigue, depression and thirst .
Complications
CAM therapies for hypotension
Acupuncture
Points like GB 20, GV 25, LIV 3, PC 6, ST 9, GV 26, LI 11 and ST 36.
Ayurveda
The treatment includes medicines which boosts the blood circulation, thus maintaining the normal blood pressure. Navjeevan Vati, Makardhwaj Vati and Brahtvatchintamani are some of the important drugs. Ashwagandhadhi powder, trikatu churna, Drakshasava, Dashmoolarista are some other useful medicines. Ashwagandharista and Arjun bark powder should be administered as per requirement.
Homeopathy
Hypotension is managed through homoeopathy with the combination of proper diet, required nutrition and necessary lifestyle changes. In miasmatic perspective, hypotension indicates Psora, irregular blood pressure indicates Syphilis and hypertension indicates Sycosis. However, it may vary depending upon the characteristics of the individual’s miasmatic presentation.
Drugs commonly used for hypotension
Drug in general Adonis vernalis, Adrenalinum, Aletris farinosa, Alfalfa, Alstonia constricta, Cactus grandiflorus, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Convallaria majalis, Crataegus oxyacantha, Curare, Digitalis, Etherum, Gelsemium, Kalium phosphoricum, Lachesis, Lobelia inflata, Naja tripudians, Natrum muriaticum, Spartium scoporium, Valeriana officinalis, Viscum album, Veratrum album.
Specific indication and remedies
In the case of shock related to medicinal poisoning: Camphor
With irregular pulse: Crataegus, Digitalis
Body coldness, slow pulse, severe heart disease, depression and anxiety: Naja tripudians
Low diastolic pressure: Bryta muriatica
Kidney complaints accompanied with hypotension: Cuprum metallicum
Hypotension from dialysis: Cacao, Carbo vegetablilis, Viscum album
Sudden hypotensin: Heloderma
Commonly used homoeopathic drugs and their indications
Adonis vernalis is a well-known homoeopathic medicine for heart problems after rheumatism or influenza, or for fatty degeneration of the heart, regulating the pulse and increasing the power of contractions of the heart and urinary secretions. Useful in weak heart, slow or weak pulse, vertigo on rising, turning head quickly or lying down, precordial pain, palpitation and irregular cardiac action.
Adrenalinum raises blood pressure by contracting the tissues of blood vessels. It is mainly indicated for arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, and shock from myocardial infarction.
Aletris farinosa is for hypotension with general debility, tired all the time, anaemia and loss of appetite. Hypotension from excessive bleeding. Especially indicated for the hypotensive women with repeated abortions, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhoea, endometritis and hyperemesis gravidarum.
Alfalfa is indicated in weak, delicate and undernourished. It is useful when the appetite, digestion and assimilation are below normal.
Alstonia constricta is indicated for hypotension after debilitating diseases like malaria.
Cactus grandiflorus acts on muscular fibers of the heart and the arteries, producing very characteristic constrictions as of an iron band. It is indicated for depression and anxiety due to heart affections, congestive headaches, constriction in the chest, acute stabbing pains in the heart, weak heart, and low blood pressure.
Camphora is indicated for vertigo, confusion of ideas, delirium and stupor accompanied with hypotension. The reflexes are lowered, there is great muscular weakness and cramps in the calves of the legs. The heart's action is weakened. There is great prostration and coldness of the body and a sensation as if a cold wind were blowing against the various parts. There is profound collapse with feeble pulse.
Carbo vegetabilis: The vitality is about exhausted and the patient is in a state of partial collapse that is observed in different disease. The patient desires to be fanned and faints. The exhalations and discharges from the patient are foetid.
Convallaria majalis is a heart remedy, which increases the heart’s action and renders it more regular. It is used when the ventricles are over distended or dilated. Venous stasis is marked. It is indicated for dyspnoea, dropsy, palpitation, tobacco heart, orthopnoea, angina pectoris, and extremely rapid and irregular pulse.
Crataegus oxyacantha acts on heart muscle as a heart tonic. It is indicated for extreme dyspnoea and weakness, angina pectoris, valvular murmurs, accelerated, irregular or feeble pulse, cyanosis aggravated by exertion and cold extremities.
Digitalis purpurea: Hypotension with irregular and intermittent pulse. Low potency below 6C is generally used. In case of sudden heart block and when the consciousness is lost, 30th potency is given in a teaspoonful of distilled water every 10 or 15 minutes till consciousness comes back. It can be continued every 3 hours for a day or two. After the condition becomes stable by complete rest for 2/3 days, 200th potency may be given twice a week for 3 weeks for a complete recovery.
Etherum is indicated for vertigo, depression of consciousness, chest pain and severe palpitation.
Gelsemium: Especially in old persons, with dullness, drowsiness, dizziness, trembling and weakness of legs, loss of muscular power with great fatigue after little exertion. Pain all over the body, pulse slow weak feeble and almost imperceptible with no thirst.
Kalium Phosphoricum: Hypotension with subnormal temperature of the body, great weakness, debility and extreme prostration. Patient is very nervous, having neurasthenia worse after mental and physical exertion with extreme lassitude and depression, great dryness of mouth, occipital headache, vertigo when lying on bed or standing up from bed, or when looking upward.
Lachesis: Hypotension with cold sweats and collapse. There is a haemorrhagic diathesis. It is best adapted to thin individuals.
Lobelia inflata is a vaso-motor stimulant, increases the activity of all vegetative processes. It is indicated for conditions with constriction of the chest and epigastrium, leading to dyspnoea, vertigo, nausea and vomiting, and arrhythmia.
Naja tripudians has been used with good effect in valvular affections of the heart. Hypotension is marked with slow pulse and melancholia. Complaints better from walking or riding in the open air.
Natrum muriaticum is mainly indicated for hypotension with tachycardia, sensation of coldness of heart, constricted feeling of heart and chest, fluttering, palpitating and intermittent pulse. Heart's pulsations shake body.
Spartium scoporium increases the blood pressure, augments the ventricular contractions of the heart, and quickens the pulse rate.
Valeriana officinalis is indicated for over-sensitiveness, nervous affections, spasms and convulsive movements of the diaphragm.
Viscum album is well suited for great palpitation of heart, pulse slow, feeble and weak, and difficulty in breathing when lying on left side. Low blood pressure in gouty and rheumatic subjects, and due to dilated heart.
Veratrum album: Low blood pressure with collapsing state of body, extreme coldness and blueness of extremities, paralytic weakness in body and cold sweat on forehead and all over the body. Hypotension after profuse vomiting and watery stools with cramps in extremities.
Naturopathy
Siddha
Unani
References
