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Low down on low blood pressure
Posted: 02.09.2012 at 1:52 PM
Kate Allt

Kate Allt is a news reporter with KTVO

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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For Thursday's Facebook Story of the Day, many of you were curious about the risks associated with low blood pressure.

Low blood pressure is not as common as high blood pressure, and generally, the risks are not as great. In fact, many people live day to day with low blood pressure with no health risks or complications. 

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The risks come into play if you begin to feel symptoms, such as dizziness or passing out.

"It's not as common, but yes, that's something to watch for," said Doctor Praveen Vikas of Ottumwa Regional Health Center. "I think if you're basically feeling dizzy and you're feeling fatigued, you have blackouts, things like that, you can have your pressure checked."

The acute risks associated with low blood pressure symptoms could be a severe drop in pressure, passing out, or hitting your head.

The most common causes of low blood pressure are people taking blood pressure medications, dehydration and an improper salt intake. And again, as long as one is asymptomatic, there is no health risk.

"High blood pressure has much higher both acute and chronic complications," Dr. Vikas said. "Low blood pressure not really... chronically low blood pressure is not really a problem."

Dr. Vikas said many athletes commonly live with low blood pressure.

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