How to Tell If Your Low Blood Pressure Is Dangerously Low? All On Living With Hypotension
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.
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.
Hypotension can result from many factors. Some of the factors that cause hypotension are as follows:
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.
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.
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:
Treatment of hypotension depends on its cause:
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.
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.
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.
Credit: AI
AIIMS New Delhi has successfully performed its second dual kidney transplant using organs from a marginal donor. The procedure highlighted a strategy that could help make greater use of kidneys that may otherwise be rejected for transplantation.
The procedure was carried out on July 28 by a multidisciplinary team from the Departments of Surgical Disciplines, Nephrology, Anaesthesia, Transplant Immunology and the Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO).
The donor was a 70-year-old woman from Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Chandigarh. Because of her advanced age and the marginal characteristics of the donated kidneys, doctors transplanted both kidneys into a single 56-year-old woman.
The organs were transported from Chandigarh to New Delhi by an Army helicopter. According to AIIMS, despite a cold ischaemia time of 12 hours, both kidneys were functioning immediately after transplantation.
The recipient showed no complications after the transplantation and was discharged after 10 days with normal kidney function.
In a conventional kidney transplant, one donated kidney is transplanted into a recipient. Meanwhile, in a dual kidney transplant both kidneys are placed into one patient from the same deceased donor.
The approach is considered when the donor is older or the kidneys have characteristics that suggest that a single kidney may not provide sufficient function.
In simple terms, two kidneys that have lower individual functional capacity may be able to provide adequate overall kidney function when transplanted together.
Research has previously found that dual kidney transplantation can be a viable option for kidneys from older or marginal donors. Transplant teams carefully assess the donor organs and recipient before deciding whether using both kidneys together could provide adequate renal function.
A 2025 analysis comparing single and dual transplantation from marginal donors also highlighted the potential of using kidneys from a deceased donor.
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The milestone comes as India faces shortage of transplantable organs. India recorded 20,138 organ transplants in 2025, crossing the 20,000 mark for the first time, but the number of patients needing transplants remains far higher than the available organs.
Recent reports has also highlight the country's mounting transplant needs that still remain unmet despite its position as one of the world's largest transplant centres by volume.
This makes the ability to safely use organs from older or marginal donors particularly important.
“Dual kidney transplantation from carefully selected marginal donors represents an important strategy for increasing the utilization of deceased-donor organs,” AIIMS said in the press release.
AIIMS said the successful transplant demonstrates its efforts to “maximize the utilization of marginal donor organs” and help patients with end-stage kidney disease receive organs at the earliest.
Also read: US HHS Action Against Kentucky Organ Donation Group Raises Questions About Transplant Safety
The immediate functioning of both kidneys despite around 12 hours of cold storage is certainly encouraging. However, the patient’s discharge with normal kidney function represents an early outcome.
Longer follow-up will be needed to determine how well the transplanted kidneys perform over the months and years ahead.
The AIIMS team was led by Prof. Asuri Krishna, with support from the nephrology, anaesthesia, transplant immunology, ORBO and organ retrieval teams.
Credit: AI
It is a common belief that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—is primarily associated with diet, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity. However, there are other factors as well affecting this aspect. Post-menopausal women experience a significantly higher incidence and faster progression of fatty liver disease, even when maintaining a stable body weight.
In pre-menopausal women, oestrogen plays a central role in metabolism, by promoting healthy fat accumulation in subcutaneous tissue (below the skin) rather than around internal organs, it also increases insulin sensitivity and suppresses liver inflammation.
After menopause when oestrogen levels drop, this protective function is lost, there is redistribution of fat leading to more fat accumulation around internal organs including liver thus leading to increase chances of NAFLD and also increasing insulin resistance, needless to say that with age our metabolic rate also goes down which also plays a role in this.
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The important part lies not only in understanding above but to go further in early detection and prevention of menopause associated NAFLD. As we know that fatty liver is a silent disease and often does not causes any signs and symptoms till very advanced stage.
First and foremost is to change lifestyle with advancing age, changing both the dietary habits and physical activity. Regular screening and monitoring is warranted with blood tests, routine metabolic panels, keeping a tab on weight, sugar and cholesterol levels and a basic ultrasound of abdomen.
For someone already diagnosed with 2nd or 3rd stage fatty liver, a simple non-invasive. Fibroscan can help monitor and assess the response to treatment.
Also read: How Menopause Changes Heart Health Risks?
Coming to treatment part of NAFLD in post-menopausal women, it being primary a lifestyle disease so the core of management also lies around managing lifestyle. Medicines are available for treating and controlling NAFLD in conjunction with lifestyle management.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), when initiated early in post-menopausal women for symptomatic relief may offer secondary benefits by maintaining metabolic health. However HRT should always be initiated after proper evaluation and expert guidance.
NAFLD is a silent epidemic and primarily a life style disease, knowing about it and knowing triggering and precipitating factors helps understanding and prevention better.
Menopause being a natural biological phenomenon in every female’s life, it becomes essential for us to know how it affects our liver health and overall health as well.
By Mr. Ankur Garg, Group Director Liver Transplant & GI Surgery, Paras Health, Gurgaon

Credit: AI
Every year, as the monsoon rolls in, hospitals and clinics across India see a familiar pattern: a sharp uptick in children and elderly patients presenting with vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration.
Doctors attribute this seasonal surge to a combination of contaminated water supplies, deteriorating food hygiene, and warm, humid conditions that favour the spread of viruses like rotavirus and norovirus.
Heavy rains and flooding routinely compromise municipal water lines, allowing sewage to mix with drinking water. Street food and produce are more prone to contamination during this period, and the humidity itself accelerates bacterial and viral growth.
Acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, is consistently one of the fastest rising monsoon health conditions, with rotavirus being a leading cause in children and norovirus a common culprit across age groups.
Rotavirus is a highly contagious, wheel shaped virus and remains the leading cause of severe diarrhoeal illness and death in children under five worldwide. It spreads through the faecal oral route via contaminated water, food, surfaces, or close contact with an infected person, and can cause several days of intense vomiting and watery diarrhoea, putting young children at real risk of rapid dehydration.
The good news: Rotavirus vaccines, given orally in a series of doses before 8 months of age, are highly effective at preventing severe disease and are recommended as part of national immunisation programmes.
Boil or filter all drinking water during the monsoon months. Avoid ice and beverages of uncertain origin, especially from street vendors.
Steer clear of cut fruits, chaat, and other street food that has been sitting exposed. Cook food thoroughly and eat it hot. Avoid reheated leftovers stored without refrigeration.
Also read: Dengue & Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Can A Common Monsoon Illness Trigger A Serious Nerve Disorder?
Frequent handwashing with soap before eating, after using the toilet, and after changing diapers remains one of the single most effective, low cost interventions against faecal oral transmission.
Ensure infants complete their full rotavirus vaccine schedule on time. Vaccination substantially reduces hospitalisations and severe outcomes, even though it does not eliminate all seasonal transmission.
Because these viruses spread easily within households and childcare settings, keep infected individuals' utensils and linens separate, and disinfect surfaces regularly during an active infection.
Most cases of viral gastroenteritis are self limiting, but caregivers should watch for signs of dehydration that require urgent medical attention:
Also read: Beware! Common Mistakes New Parents Make During Their Baby’s First Monsoon
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is the cornerstone of management.
A simple homemade version consists of 1 litre of boiled and cooled water, 6 teaspoons of sugar, and half a teaspoon of salt. It can be lifesaving when commercial ORS packets are not available, though pre mixed WHO formula ORS is preferable when accessible.
Zinc supplementation (around 20 mg daily for 10 to 14 days) is recommended for children under five, as it has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoeal episodes.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral gastroenteritis and should only be used if a bacterial cause, such as cholera, is confirmed by a doctor. Inappropriate antibiotic use can do more harm than good.
Continue feeding. For breastfed infants, continue breastfeeding throughout the illness. For older children and adults, small, frequent sips of fluids and bland, easily digestible food are better tolerated than large meals.
Seek medical care promptly if there is persistent high fever, visible blood in the stool or vomit, signs of moderate to severe dehydration, or if symptoms do not improve within 2 to 3 days, particularly in infants, the elderly, or anyone with underlying health conditions.
By Dr. Geeta Malkan Billa, Director of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Dr. L. H. Hiranandani Hospital
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