Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is usually considered a sign of good health and low risk for cardiovascular disease. However, there are times when persistently low blood pressure or a sudden drop can be a sign of an underlying health issue that needs medical attention. Knowing when low blood pressure becomes a problem can help ensure timely intervention and proper care.

Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers:

Systolic pressure (the top number) indicates the pressure in your arteries when your heart pumps blood. Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) reflects the pressure in your arteries while your heart is resting between beats.

The normal reading is usually 120/80 mmHg or less. Hypotension is clinically defined as having blood pressure readings less than 90/60 mmHg. In some patients, low blood pressure will have no adverse health consequences and therefore does not need to be treated. In extreme cases, however, it can limit the flow of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs, resulting in potentially life-threatening complications, such as shock.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension can result from many factors. Some of the factors that cause hypotension are as follows:

• Insufficient fluid intake or excessive fluid loss can lead to decreased blood volume and hence hypotension.
• An injury or internal bleeding may result in hypotension. This happens because blood pressure becomes significantly reduced.
• Some hormonal changes along with the increased blood requirement during pregnancy also causes hypotension.
• Issues like heart failure or arrhythmias can impair blood circulation and result in low blood pressure.
• Certain drugs, including diuretics, antidepressants, and blood-pressure-lowering medications, can induce hypotension.

Symptoms of Hypotension

While low blood pressure may not always cause symptoms, it can sometimes be associated with:

- Dizziness or fainting

- Fatigue and weakness

- Blurred vision

- Nausea

- Confusion or difficulty concentrating

- Shallow breathing

- Palpitations

If the person experiences these symptoms, with the recorded blood pressure reading, the medical services have to be consulted.

Types of Low Blood Pressure

1. Orthostatic Hypotension: This is a kind of hypotension that appears as a result of decreased blood pressure when a person is standing up from lying down or sitting position and primarily affects elderly people.

2. Postprandial Hypotension: This is a drop in blood pressure after eating, more common in older people.

3. Neurally Mediated Hypotension: It is triggered by standing for long periods. This type can affect younger people and is associated with miscommunication between the brain and heart.

When Is Low Blood Pressure Dangerous?

There is no such thing as a universal threshold for very low blood pressure, but a blood pressure reading below 90/60 mmHg can be dangerous and require prompt medical assessment if accompanied by symptoms of fainting, confusion, or shortness of breath. Sudden falls in blood pressure may point to potentially serious underlying causes, which can include:

• Internal bleeding
• Sepsis (severe infection)
• Allergic reactions

Management and Treatment

Treatment of hypotension depends on its cause:

• Hydration Drinking more water can help against dehydration-related hypotension.
• Compression Stockings: These can improve circulation and reduce blood pooling in the lower limbs.
• Dietary Changes: Increasing salt intake under supervision can help increase blood pressure
• Medication Changes: The physician may need to reduce dosages of some medications or replace prescriptions.

For more severe cases, physicians might also administer fludrocortisone or midodrine to increase blood pressure. Shock from hypotension should be treated promptly to ensure proper function of organs.

Can Hypotension Cause Fatigue?

Chronic fatigue syndrome has also been associated with low blood pressure. Prolonged tiredness, despite adequate rest, may require reassessment of blood pressure levels. Fatigue secondary to hypotension will impact functionality and thus requires assessment and treatment of the cause.

When to Seek Medical Care

If your blood pressure readings are low consistently and without symptoms, you probably have nothing to worry about. If you do have symptoms like dizziness, fainting, or confusion, you need to go to the doctor. Blood pressure checks are usually conducted regularly. Once you are aware of your own normal baseline, you will know right away when there is something wrong.

Lifestyle Tips That Support Normal Blood Pressure

1. Other than directly treating hypotension, a healthy lifestyle overall would promote balanced blood pressure levels.
2. Exercise regularly; it promotes cardiovascular health and can help regulate blood pressure.
3. Focus on nutrient-dense foods rich in iron, B vitamins, and electrolytes to support circulatory health.
4. Excessive alcohol consumption dehydrates the body and lowers blood pressure.
5. Practices like yoga and meditation can help maintain a healthy blood pressure range.

New Delhi: Meningitis may not have been the talk of the town, but it is now making headlines after an outbreak in the UK wreaked havoc on students—the outbreak recently resulted in the death of two students, and 11 others have been hospitalised. The outbreak is being linked to a nightclub event in Canterbury, Kent. Following this, the UK Health Security Agency contacted 30,000 students, staff, and their family members, along with anyone who visited the club from March 5 to March 7. This was a precautionary measure, they said, and a new report by UK health officials suggests that meningitis B has caused the outbreak. But what is most shocking is how this infection makes its way into your body.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes around the spinal cord and the brain. It can become very serious if not treated or diagnosed in time. It is a consequence of bacterial or viral infection. Despite being a rare occurrence, the infection can spread through coughs, sneezes, a cold, or physical contact in the form of kissing.

Uncommon ways of contracting meningitis

Some of your daily habits may seem normal, but in turn, they can be among the worst ways to catch meningitis. Some of the most obscure ways are:

Vaping: Reminder—vaping might be common now, but that does not make it a safe practice. It is associated with respiratory disorders and even lung collapse in some cases. When it comes to meningitis, vaping can be a means of passing germs on to another person—for instance, by sharing a contaminated vape. The meningococcus bacteria can harmlessly live in the throat without showing any symptoms, but in order to cause damage, it must cross the nasopharyngeal barrier.

Second-hand smoke: Second-hand smoke may not just cause cancer, but also meningitis. This risk is particularly prevalent in children, as it may increase their chances of developing invasive meningococcal disease, a serious form of meningitis. Experts from the University of Nottingham have noted that breathing in smoke from someone else's cigarette can make one more vulnerable to infection. This makes people more likely to harbour meningitis-related bacteria in the throat and nose, thus leading to infection.

Worm infection: Some types of parasites, such as tapeworms, can cause a rare type of meningitis known as eosinophilic meningitis. These worms take residence in the gut and feed on nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy. This can result in diarrhoea, nausea, and tiredness. If the infection spreads to the brain, it can cause meningitis. Despite being rare, it is still a possibility.

Sharing cutlery: Meningitis can spread through close contact, and sharing cutlery can be one of the most overlooked ways. This can also include sharing toothbrushes. The infection can spread through droplets and saliva.

Unwashed hands: An act of laziness can cost you in the long run; therefore, using a sanitiser or regularly washing hands is a must. Experts say that particles from faeces can linger on the hands, and ingesting them in any way can lead to infections such as meningitis. The infection can also spread through coughing and sneezing.

A team of US researchers has developed a novel nasal swab test, akin to those used to detect COVID-19 infections, which can spot early signs of Alzheimer's Disease -- affecting over 55 million people worldwide.

The condition is treatable in early stages to manage symptoms and slow cognitive decline. However, it remains the hardest to detect, affecting treatment outcomes. The brain changes can begin 10 to 20 years before symptoms become apparent.

The novel outpatient nasal swab, developed by Duke University researchers, has shown promise in picking up early biological changes linked to Alzheimer's. It can spot the degenerative condition, even before problems related to thinking and memory begin to appear.

"We want to be able to confirm Alzheimer's very early, before damage has a chance to build up in the brain," said Bradley J. Goldstein, professor at Duke University's School of Medicine.

"If we can diagnose people early enough, we might be able to start therapies that prevent them from ever developing clinical Alzheimer's," Goldstein added.

How Effective Was The Nasal Swab?

In the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, the team placed a gentle swab high inside the nose of 22 participants.

The swab collected thousands of nerve and immune cells to see which genes are active.

The analysis clearly differentiated people with early or diagnosed Alzheimer's from those without the disease -- 81 percent of the time. It also included people with no symptoms.

Alzheimer’s Disease: The Leading Cause of Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US, 65 and older, live with the condition, and over 100,00 die from it annually.

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate and damage cells responsible for memory.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity

unhealthy diet

social isolation.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Other signs include:

• losing or misplacing things
• getting lost when walking or driving
• being confused, even in familiar places
• losing track of time
• difficulties solving problems or making decisions
• difficulties performing familiar tasks
• misjudging distances to objects visually.

Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

Currently, there is no cure for this progressive brain disorder, and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition, or infection. These complications can result in death.

Being physically active and taking part in activities and social interactions that stimulate the brain and maintain daily function can help prevent the condition.

The Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is one of the most important advances in preventive healthcare, with the unique ability to prevent cancers.

Evidence consistently shows that the most appropriate age for HPV vaccination is between 9 and 14 years. At this stage, children develop a significantly stronger immune response, producing higher antibody titers than older adolescents and adults.

This enhanced immunogenicity translates into durable and highly effective protection and also allows simplified schedules, including the possibility of single-dose protection, thereby improving feasibility and coverage at a population level.

HPV Vaccine: Why Age 14 Matters The Most

The emphasis on vaccination by the age of 14 years is particularly important. Beyond this age, the immune response is relatively lower, and the number of doses required increases, making early vaccination both scientifically and programmatically more efficient.

Recognizing this, the Government of India has adopted a strategy of administering a single-dose HPV vaccine to adolescents up to 14 years of age through school- and community-based outreach programs. The program utilizes the Gardasil vaccine, which has an established track record of safety and efficacy over nearly two decades.

Equally critical is the timing of vaccination in relation to exposure. HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, and vaccination before exposure ensures maximum effectiveness. Administering the vaccine in early adolescence provides protection well before any potential risk, making it a true preventive intervention with near-complete benefit.

Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is a well-established cause of several cancers. In India, cervical cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related illness and death among women. While HPV is also responsible for anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers, the burden of cervical cancer is substantially higher, which has historically led to a greater focus on vaccinating girls.

HPV: Are Boys At Risk?

However, HPV infection affects both genders. Boys are also at risk of HPV-related diseases, including anal and penile cancers, genital warts, and oropharyngeal cancers, the incidence of which is rising globally.

Vaccinating boys offers direct protection to them and also contributes to reducing transmission within the community. A broader, gender-inclusive approach has the potential to enhance population-level protection.

Public health agencies, including the World Health Organization, have emphasized HPV vaccination as a key strategy in cancer prevention and in reducing the long-term burden of non-communicable diseases.

HPV Vaccine: Part of Adolescent Health Check-ups

Integrating HPV vaccination into routine adolescent health check-ups can further normalize it as a standard preventive health measure. This approach can complement government efforts by encouraging participation from the private healthcare sector and improving overall uptake.

HPV vaccination in the 9–14 year age group is therefore not merely a recommendation; it is a time-sensitive, evidence-based intervention that can prevent cancers decades later. Strengthening awareness and ensuring timely vaccination will be critical in reducing the future burden of HPV-related cancers in India.