This is me....and is more debilitating than the typical MS symptoms.
Most of the meds that I take are related to the symptomatic low blood
pressure, probably related to MS.. I would reccomend working with your
MD in dealing with it, to be sure of the cause of low blood pressure
before self-treating. Like the third paragraph says, there are some
very dangerous causes of low blood pressure, and they need to be ruled
out first, before other treatment is undertaken. As you can see, the
treatment is complex, and does require close supervision and
collaboration with your doc.
Sam
in VERY COLD Boston
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
FINE-TUNE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
With so many people struggling to control high blood pressure, the
problem of low blood pressure doesn't get much play. And indeed, the
numbers are insignificant when put against the millions who suffer
from high blood pressure with its heart and stroke risks. Nonetheless,
it is something to be aware of and watched for those who
have it, given the dangers that "the dizzies" can cause.
Although there is no official definition of low blood pressure as a
condition, says Mark Pecker, MD, a specialist in low blood pressure
at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and professor of clinical medicine
at Weill Cornell Medical School in New York City, millions of people
have pressure considerably below what's considered normal -- 120/80.
Most of them are just fine. But for that small group of people who
are symptomatic because of low blood pressure, the condition can
be intrusive, dangerous and even debilitating.
THE LOWDOWN ON LOW
A sudden onset of low blood pressure can signal danger, for instance
internal bleeding (as in a ruptured aneurysm), toxic shock syndrome
or poisoning. It also can develop as a side effect of some medications,
including for high blood pressure and some that treat cardiac problems.
But for a few people, chronic low blood pressure causes an ongoing
problem. Quite simply, they can't maintain their balance.
No doubt you have experienced times when you've gotten up quickly
from a prone position and become instantly light-headed, perhaps so
much so that you had to sit down. Imagine having that happen to you
all the time -- that is what life can be like for many of those who
have symptomatic low blood pressure.
I called Dr. Pecker to discuss the problems associated with low blood
pressure and treatment. He says that the largest group of people who
have this problem are those with diabetes who have nerve damage
(neuropathy). A subgroup of people with Parkinson's disease also
suffer from it, as do Shy-Drager's syndrome patients (a degenerative
neurological disorder that is ultimately fatal). In the case of
diabetics, the lowered pressure results because the peripheral
nervous system isn't working up to par... the subset of Parkinson's
patients and those with Shy-Drager's develop it for neurological
reasons. He adds that some people without these diseases look to
treat low blood pressure because they are constantly fatigued, a
situation that is not always improved with treatment.
FIRST-LINE DEFENSE
Treating low blood pressure is often complex. The first line of
defense is one that Dr. Pecker calls counter-intuitive. It is salt --
lots of it. He explains that having low blood pressure is like not
having enough fuel in your tank. Salt retains fluids, and that
increases the volume of blood in the veins (which is why it is not
good for high blood pressure -- it increases pressure on the veins).
It helps to fill up the tank, so to speak.
Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, adds
that low salt recovery from the large intestine, the body's salt
recycler,
is often due to low aldosterone (a steroidal hormone). Low
aldosterone, in turn, is often a by-product of stress, diabetes,
chronic dependence on prescriptive pharmacy and other issues.
Often, nutritional, dietary and bioidentical hormone therapy can help.
If natural interventions are ineffective, there is also a medication,
called fludrocortisone (Florinef), which prompts the kidneys to
retain salt. (This medication depletes potassium, so anyone taking it
must also take a potassium supplement.) This, says Dr. Pecker, is the
mainstay of all conventional therapy, but in addition, ibuprofen or
midodrine (ProAmatine), which constricts blood vessels, may help as
well. But nothing, he says, works for everyone, nor are the
medications side effect free, a situation that can be very
frustrating to patients.
UPRIGHT AT NIGHT
Another treatment problem is that when patients are lying down, their
pressure goes very high. Medication taken at night will lower the
pressure, but then, when patients get up during the night to urinate
(common among these patients), they tend to fall down. Dr. Pecker
says that this night pattern is the major problem associated with low
blood pressure. Patients are advised to sleep with their heads raised.
Both Dr. Pecker and Dr. Rubman agree that anyone with balance
problems and low blood pressure (or who suspects that is the case)
should talk with his/her doctor. It is important to work with someone
who has some expertise in the area -- not an easy person to find.
Given the side effects and challenges of medications, try the natural
route first with a naturopathic physician to see if you can build
your balance. If you want to pursue the pharmaceutical route, both
Vanderbilt Medical Center (Nashville) and the Mayo Clinic (Rochester,
Minnesota) have excellent treatment programs, or, Dr. Pecker
suggests, other teaching hospitals would be your best bet.
|
