I know that HIGH blood pressure runs rampant, especially among people with anxiety. But does anyone here suffer from LOW blood pressure? Mine tends to run around 90/60 and it causes a lot of problems in my life. I cannot take showers because the hot water makes me faint. I have to take cool showers, sitting on the floor. I can't exercise or exert myself at all without getting woozy and having to lay down for several hours.

Anyone else have low blood pressure?

Hi wholegrain,

Yes, I have low pressure problems. Mine is/was a complication from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, called "Neurally Mediated Hypotension". Usually it is diagnosed with a Tilt Table Test, where they basically tilt you up slowly in such a way that it sets it off. In my case, it was so bad that they skipped that part. I once fainted while lying down, if you can believe it.

Anyway, the first thing they had me try was salt tablets. That did very little to help. So they started me on a medication called Florinef. There are a few medications for this condition, actually. Florinef is probably still the most common. I still take a quarter of a tablet a day. I used to take one and a half and still it wasn't under control, so I'm very much improved.

Definitely see your doctor about this. The doctor that diagnosed it in me was a doctor of infectious disease who also diagnosed me with my CFS, but I would think that if your GP doesn't understand it that perhaps try an endocrinologist. You'd want to rule out anything else that might be causing it.

Some standard treatments are taking salt, drinking lots of water, and medications like Florinef. Some people have found help by wearing support stockings, which helps keep the blood from pooling in the legs and keeps the pressure more elevated.

Hope this helps! Yes, I understand how frustrating it is and how you're left feeling drained and exhausted after an episode. There is help out there

I have low blood pressure, too. Mine runs about 105/65 on a regular basis. I don't experience any problems related to this--at least not that I'm aware of. I also run a below normal tempertature. My normal is about 97.5 degrees. Don't know if these things are related or not.

Take care.

Thank you both. Songbird that does help a lot. It's good to know I'm not the only one. Most people scoff when I tell them I have low blood pressure, and I hate that. It's such a huge problem in my life. Tonight I just wanted to go out and drink with my friends and have a good time and after two beers, I felt so woozy that I could barely stand. And not to mention the anxiety- I can't do anything without it doing something weird to my heart or pressure and setting off a panic attack. I want my life back.

I'm going back to my doctor on Friday to check in with her and tell her salt isn't working. I'll bring up some of the things you suggested.

Having a really bad day with this. My body is doing a thing where my breathing is extremely slow and shallow, so much that it scares me, and my bp is very low. Checked it a few minutes ago and it was 90/48. I'm having an anxiety attack over it.

I have low bp too. Mine is around 102 - 105 over 60/65 during the day. When I'm active it's about 110/70. At night scares me because that is when mine goes low 90/60 or one time even 88/51. Another the bottom number was really low I think 39 or 40.

Whenever I go to the doctors offices they always get a normal ready 110/70 - 120/78. Because I am scared to be there it goes up....

I also have Mitral Valuve Prolapse with mild to moderate reguritation so I'm not sure if that is the cause. I was told by the cardiologist not to worry....more so that it is anxiety, and to make sure to drink lots of water.

I use to and sometimes still do fear sleeping because I think what if it dips so low that I don't wake up....

I have lightheadedness and dizziness a lot.....hot flashes at times, and I'm on Zoloft and Klonopin for my anxiety.

I was on a beta blocker (propranalol for 10 years but one doc took me off in April). Thinking that this was making the blood pressure drop.

I don't know what to think about all of this ....but when I feel dizzy I get panicky, and then I am afraid.

Are you able to drive Wholegrain? I have developed agoraphobia because I am afraid to drive or be in a car or at places with these issues. I'm 34.....and this is ridiculous.

Mine runs about 88/50 on a regular basis and I have congenital(birth)heart defects, have had open heart surgery twice, and have congestive heart failure.
OK now - take a long, deep breath and understand that the next part is written out of caring and concern and experience with similar feelings.
At 90/60 those showers should not be making you faint(unless you like SUPER hot showers) and the exercise - you can build up a tolerance for it, step by step. This is physical and emotional tolerance.
Have you considered the possibility that anxiety/panic may be affecting you in the shower - been there! Lots of people with anxiety have problems taking a shower, standing and in warm water. This was a surprise to me too. At one time I thought I was a bit of a freak with this problem. Try using the steps in the program while in the shower and see if that helps. Worked miracles for me!! It may take several times, - go easy on yourself.
There's a thread from a while ago on this site that MANY people responded to with the same problem and realized that it was anxiety. We all realized this after working on the program for a while. It was a comfort to me to know that others had gone through the same thing and that it was not just me. I used to think that my heart conditions were contributing to it,(what you've described) along with the low bp. It can to some degree, mildly, but the anxiety was the major contributing factor.
Hope this helps you some.
God bless and hugs to you.