Low Blood Pressure

[t_revz]

So back when I was 16/17 I used to faint a lot. I became used to it and could hold something to prevent falling and just lose my vision for 10-15 seconds. Went to all sorts of specialists and had MRI, ECG, and numerous blood tests etc. after 6 months it was put down to growing too fast as I grew 7 inches in 6 months or so. Eventually when I stopped growing it backed off to only a couple times a year during summer or after a hot bath for next 10 yrs or so

Last few years when giving blood I usually sit around 105-110/ 75-80 and heart rate about 50.

Recently talking to my mum conversation about me having no memory after drinking came up. After 6 beers or so I usually can't remember anything afterwards at all unless some kind of catastrophe happens. She grabbed a monitor from work recently when we stayed at their place. I was 105/75 at 52 bbm. After 6 beers I was down to 88/58.

Also had 2 random drug tests at work and both showed extreme creatine levels. Went to docs and had tests but when calling for results was told I don't need to see the Doc.

Recently I'm finding I get dizzy quite a bit but not bad enough to faint and I'm not doing anything different.

Anyone else had dramas or know of remedies? Just read about almonds and beetroot juice. Also black coffee meant to help also but I already drink lots of coffee. Might have to drink water between beers and see how I go

[Mitcho_7]

Im not a doctor, so i have no idea what the cause of your problem is but there are plenty of scenarios that I can think of.

Alcohol is a CNS depressant so it will effect your heart rate to a degree if all you are doing is sitting and drinking.

But the heart is also self excitatory, so it will continue to beat regardless, unless it goes into defibrilation etc...

Your resting blood pressure and heart rate is pretty decent so thats good. The only thing i can think of is that your circulatory system seems to be quite efficient when your resting. Then when you start drinking, this depresses the activity of the CNS and you perhaps get a slow down in CNS stimulation of the processes that normally occur in the body. When those processes slow down, you wont require as much energy to maintain homeostasis. Oxygen is required to make energy and because you dont need as much energy, you dont need as much oxygen transported. So the way your body deals with that is to slow your heart rate etc.

Or, when you drink your body is trying to process the alcohol so it constricts your blood supply to your arms and legs to a degree (which is where you will be measuring your pulse/BP i would expect) because its sending all the blood to your stomach to absorb the alcohol and transport it to your liver.

How tall are you?

Edited July 8, 2012 by Mitcho_7

[t_revz]

6"3. 83kg

[GTR-N1]

Extreme creatine or extreme creatinine?

Too high or too low?

Korean or Siberian Ginseng can elevate BP but from your figures, I couldn't see either the systolic or diastolic being of huge concern.

What specialist are you seeing if any? If creatinine is too high, you'd need a renal expert.

[t_revz]

Creative too high. Pretty sure the test went to a 10, I'm guessing 10 ppm which was medium blue. My sample was black both times so not sure how high it was.

Haven't seen a doctor about it in 10 years. Saw doc few months ago for creatine blood and urine test but he didn't want a follow up so haven't done anything since

After some thought today the dizziness may be occurring more lately since I tried to give up most forms of sugar from my diet. Not sure if no memory after drinking is related to blood pressure or just a coincidence.

Just finished 1 bourbon in the name of science and I'm dizzy as! Pity I don't have a tester now

Edited July 9, 2012 by t_revz

[GTR-N1]

I'd just try a course of Ginseng then, but I'd ask the naturopath at the health food store which type.

[t_revz]

Will give it a go. Will also try get the bp monitor from my mum to borrow and see if it changes Cheers Terry

[Mitcho_7]

Do you drink much water throughout the day?

Low blood pressure can also be attributed to low blood volume ie not enough blood plasma which is mostly water.

Alcohol also inhibits the action of anti diuretic hormone, so you won't reabsorb as much water in your kidneys as you normally would.

So if you aren't drinking much water during the day you will have a lower blood volume and then if you crack open a drink the alcohol will cause you to lose more water from you blood. This equals lower blood pressure due to low blood volume.

Try drinking a lot of water throughout the day and then have a drink or two after work and see how you go perhaps?

[t_revz]

I donate blood and plasma regularly also. During winter I drink lots of coffee but not much else yet usually don't have a drama. In summer 6 or more litres a day and get dizzy occasionally.

But no memory after 6 drinks even if I water up before going out.

Cheers for the input guys.

[25GTT]

Anxiety? Just when you discuss coffee/caffeine it is a side effect, anxiety is renouned for dizzy spells/head spins/ near fainting and playing with blood pressure.

Its always the first thing i think of when dizzyness and blood pressure comes up.

[t_revz]

I've been stressed last 2 yrs due to my job. Now working at my dream job for last few months but happens now slightly more than before.

Never get dizzy at work tho maybe due to being more active

[t_revz]

Do you drink much water throughout the day?

Low blood pressure can also be attributed to low blood volume ie not enough blood plasma which is mostly water.

So when dehydrated our blood volume decreases then builds back up when we drink?

I would have thought the volume would be more static but I'm no expert

[Mitcho_7]

It can vary, but your body has mechanisms in place (anti diuretic hormone, renin angiotensin system/aldosterone etc) to help limit blood volume/pressure fluctuations. As well as being able to mechanically alter artery diolation/constriction.