What Is Hypotension?

Diagnostic Tests

Identifying hypotension itself is quite easy, considering it is a simple blood pressure test everyone gets when they go to the doctor. However, doctors will often recommend taking your blood pressure more regularly to determine if it is a one-off or a regular occurrence, which is where the blood pressure machines in many pharmacies come in handy. But this is not the only reason doctors will perform a diagnostic test. Since hypotension often has an underlying condition causing it, many of the diagnostic tests help to determine what, if any, other conditions may be present.

Blood tests help detect hypoglycemia, diabetes, and anemia, which can all result in low blood pressure. Tests such as electrocardiograms (ECG), echocardiograms, stress tests, and Holter monitors all help to determine if there are any heart abnormalities contributing to low blood pressure. Low blood pressure due to faulty brain signals, called neurally mediated hypotension, or upon standing can be diagnosed and accurately evaluated through the use of a tilt table test.

Once doctors detect hypotension, the focus becomes treating and managing the condition. Continue reading to find out what strategies they use to treat it.