What is low blood pressure for a teenager?

Low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60mmHg. It does not always cause symptoms, but you may need treatment if it does.

Blood pressure is a measure of how hard blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body.

Low blood pressure means that your blood pressure is lower than normal. It's also called hypotension (say "hy-poh-TEN-shun").

In healthy adults, low blood pressure may not cause problems or symptoms. In fact, it may be normal for you. But if your blood pressure drops suddenly or causes symptoms like dizziness or fainting, it is too low.

In general, low blood pressure symptoms happen when blood pressure is less than 90/60.

Some causes of low blood pressure include:

Many people with low blood pressure don't have any symptoms.

Symptoms to watch for include:

If you have symptoms of low blood pressure, especially dizziness or fainting, call your doctor.

Watch for symptoms of low blood pressure. Tell your doctor when the symptoms happen so they can be treated.

Often people learn that they have low blood pressure when their doctor checks it. Or you may find that you have low blood pressure when you check it at home.

To check for the causes of your low blood pressure, your doctor will ask about your past health, your symptoms, and the medicines you take. You will have a physical exam, and other tests may be done. Your doctor may check for another health problem that could be causing your low blood pressure.

Treatment depends on your symptoms and what's causing the low blood pressure.

Your doctor may have you:

Your doctor may suggest that you try some ways to prevent symptoms. To reduce dizziness, you might try standing up more slowly, drinking more water, or limiting alcohol.

If you have low blood pressure, your doctor may suggest that you try some ways to prevent symptoms like dizziness. For example, your doctor might recommend that you:

Lightheadedness and black spots in the vision can be symptoms of low pressure in teens. Periodic drop in blood pressure or low blood pressure in otherwise healthy teens is not a cause of concern. Some may get hypotension while changing body positions, such as standing or sitting from a lying position. However, it is recommended to evaluate frequent hypotension in teens since it can be due to underlying conditions (1).

Read on to know the causes, symptoms, treatment, and preventive measures for hypotension in teens and when to seek medical care for fainting spells.

Low blood pressure happens when the blood pressure (BP) levels are less than normal. The normal blood pressure for a teenager is around 110/70mmHg (2). (BP is measured in millimeters of mercury denoted as mmHg and features two numbers: one that indicates the upper value (systolic) followed by the lower (diastolic) value.)

In children aged ten years or less, blood pressure lower than 90/50mmHg is defined as low blood pressure or hypotension (3).

Low blood pressure can be categorized into three types, the symptoms of which can range from mild to severe.

Most symptoms of hypotension may be recurrent but don’t usually last for a long time. Watch out for the following symptoms, and consult a doctor if they persist (6):

There could be various reasons for low blood pressure in teens.

A drop in the blood pressure level could be due to several factors. Underlying health issues or the lifestyle can be a reason.

Dr. Madalina Petrescu, a cardiologist from Seattle, Washington, says, “Stress can play a significant role in the teenage years. Therefore, teens should engage in relaxing and de-stressing techniques, such as exercise, going out in nature, journaling, coloring, and meditation. If the emotional stress is significant, I recommend seeing a therapist to share and express feelings. Not expressing or talking out emotions can increase the overall risk of more stress.”

If your child’s doctor diagnoses hypotension due to the factors mentioned above, then it may be addressed with certain lifestyle changes.

However, there are a few uncommon causes for hypotension in children, which might indicate an underlying medical condition.

Sometimes, teenage girls tend to have hypotension and episodes of unconsciousness during menstruation. This could be triggered due to pain or heavy bleeding during menstruation, or due to vasovagal syncope.

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a reflex disorder that leads to transient loss of consciousness. This is characterized by symptoms, such as acute visual disturbance, auditory disturbance, cognitive slowing, followed by hypotension with lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. However, studies found that the severity of lightheadedness changes during the menstrual cycle and was found to be similar in both VVS patients and healthy individuals.

Also, VVS patients were not found to have any greater risk of gynecological abnormalities and pregnancy complications when compared to otherwise healthy individuals. (11).

A few changes in lifestyle, such as taking adequate fluids and salts plus moderate exercise, can help manage this condition. However, if your teenager is having frequent episodes of lightheadedness during her periods, then it is best to schedule an appointment with a gynecologist.

Observe the symptoms to know if everything is alright with the child. The next section talks about diagnostic methods for low blood pressure in children.

The doctor will begin the diagnosis by checking the teen’s medical and family health history. This is followed by a physical examination and a few tests, including cardiac examinations.

Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will suggest the appropriate treatment for hypotension.

Low blood pressure is associated with mild symptoms and rarely requires any treatment. If hypotension is due to the medication that your child has been taking for any other health problem, then the doctor may change the medication, lower its dosage, or advice to stop using it.

If your child is diagnosed with NMH, then the doctor suggests changes to their lifestyle and advises you to provide adequate fluids, salt, and nutritional foods. If that doesn’t work, then medication is recommended. Pediatric patients with NMH rarely might be given drugs like beta-blockersiXDrugs that lower blood pressure, also known as beta-adrenergic blocking compounds and fludrocortisoneiXA type of steroid used to regulate the quantity of salt and water in the body . However, these both have shown mixed results in pediatric patients, hence caution is needed (13).

If the child has mild symptoms of low blood pressure, then minor changes in the lifestyle might be enough to prevent any problems. Here are a few measures you may consider.

A proper diet, along with the above tips, can help manage low blood pressure better.

Sometimes, blood pressure drops due to the poor supply of essential nutrients in the body. A balanced diet can help replenish these nutrients and elevate the blood pressure level.