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.

For years, PCOS was often diagnosed through the most visible disruptions: irregular periods, acne, facial hair, weight gain, or difficulty conceiving. That made many patients enter the healthcare system through gynecology, usually when menstrual, reproductive, or visible hormonal symptoms became hard to ignore.

The shift from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome encourages clinicians to look earlier, wider, and more systematically at the condition.

A Wider Starting Point

The old name placed the ovary at the center of the condition. PMOS keeps ovarian function in the picture, but it widens the diagnostic lens to include the hormone and metabolic systems that are often involved from the start. This distinction matters because the condition is not defined by harmful ovarian cysts. In fact, ovarian cysts are not required for diagnosis, and some women with PCOS may not show polycystic ovaries on ultrasound at all. The newer name, therefore, helps move diagnosis beyond a scan-based or ovary-only understanding, and closer to how the condition actually presents and manifests itself in the body.

From Period Problem To Whole-body Assessment

With PMOS, diagnosis should become less dependent on ultrasound and more attentive to the full clinical pattern. Doctors will still look at irregular or absent periods and signs of high androgen levels, such as acne, excess facial or body hair, hair thinning, and raised testosterone levels, where tested. But the newer framing should also make metabolic screening routine, especially for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes risk, blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, sleep apnea, and fatty liver-related concerns. WHO describes PCOS as a chronic metabolic condition that can persist beyond the reproductive years, with symptoms and risks varying from person to person.

PMOS: Why This Change Could Reduce Missed Diagnosis

The scale of underdiagnosis is large. It is estimated that PCOS affects 10–13% of reproductive-aged women, while up to 70% of affected women worldwide may not know they have the condition. A name that leads with “polyendocrine” and “metabolic” may help clinicians connect symptoms that were previously treated separately: a dermatologist sees acne, a gynecologist sees irregular periods, an endocrinologist sees insulin resistance, and a mental-health professional sees anxiety or poor quality of life.

What Needs To Change Now

The diagnosis is not changing into a different disease. The condition remains the same, but the way it is understood may become broader and more accurate. The real opportunity lies in better recognition: fewer patients being told their symptoms are only about cysts, weight, periods or fertility, and more patients being assessed for the long-term hormonal and metabolic risks that can come with the condition.

For this shift to matter, awareness must grow across the medical fraternity and among patients, so PMOS is approached as a multi-system condition; symptoms are recognized earlier, and care becomes more connected from the beginning.

(Written by Dr. Rashmi Dharaskar, Sr. Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecologist at Surya Mother & Child Super Specialty Hospital).

When Indian summers touch 48 degrees, it’s no longer just uncomfortably hot—it’s a serious public health challenge. Extreme heat affects everything from hydration levels in the body to digestion, the health of your skin, heart, and even mental well-being. Surviving (and staying healthy) through such brutal temperatures requires 360-degree body care, not just an extra glass of water or switching on the AC.

Dr P. Venkata Krishnan, Senior Consultant & Director—Internal Medicine, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram, in an interview with Health and Me, shared a complete and practical survival plan to help your body cope with the extreme Indian summer—inside and out.

Hydration: Go Beyond Plain Water

In intense heat conditions, your body loses water and electrolytes very quickly through sweat. Electrolytes help carry water to the blood and tissues. Hence, drinking only plain water in summer may not suffice. Try sipping water consistently at regular intervals instead of gulping large quantities at once. Electrolyte-rich fluids like coconut water, lemon water with a pinch of salt, or buttermilk are healthy, affordable options to soothe parched throats. Avoid excess caffeine, colas, and alcohol, as they increase dehydration; if you must indulge, have a glass of water before your coffee or alcoholic drink.

Pro tip: Check your urine colour—dark yellow is a warning sign of dehydration.

Eat Light, Cool, and Smart

Our digestive systems are also tired in extreme summers. Spicy, heavy, and oily foods generate more internal heat, which puts an additional burden on digestion. Opt for seasonal fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, papaya, and berries instead of chips and snacks.

To ease digestion, add items like curd, rice, cucumber, and bottle gourd to your meals. Avoid red meat and fried foods during peak summer days. Smaller, lighter meals are easier for the body to process in extreme heat. Find ways to increase hydration through fruits and vegetables in your food too, apart from water intake.

Protect Your Skin from Heat Damage

Heat doesn’t just tan your skin—it accelerates ageing, causes pigmentation, and triggers rashes. Incorporating a summer skincare regimen can help prevent damage to your skin.

1. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, even if you’re indoors.
2. Wear loose, breathable cotton or linen clothing.
3. Take cool (not ice-cold) showers to soothe overheated skin.
4. Seek medical advice for prickly heat, fungal infections, or sudden rashes—they thrive in sweaty conditions.

Mind Your Heart and Blood Pressure

Extreme temperatures put additional stress on the cardiovascular system, especially in people with hypertension, diabetes, or heart conditions. There are just a few things to bear in mind. When the temperature outside sizzles, avoid stepping outdoors for prolonged periods, especially between 12 pm and 4 pm, when the sun beats down mercilessly.

Take all prescribed medications exactly as advised—don’t skip doses even if you experience heat-induced nausea. If you feel dizzy or experience palpitations or severe fatigue, consult your doctor as soon as possible. Heat exhaustion can silently progress to heatstroke, which is a medical emergency.

Smart Cooling at Home and Work

Air conditioning is helpful, but overexposure can lead to dry skin, headaches, and respiratory discomfort. However, since the emphasis is more on cooler environments in summer, there are a few ways to avoid overexposure to AC.

Once every two or three hours, step away from your desk for a few minutes. Walk or stand, and sip some water. Open windows, if possible, to avoid thermal shock. Set AC temperatures between 24 and 26 degrees, despite the urge to cool the surroundings further. Use fans and cross-ventilation whenever possible, relying a little less on air conditioning in the process. Never move directly from extreme heat into freezing AC environments, or vice versa, as it can impact your body suddenly.

Sleep & Mental Well-being Do Matter

Poor sleep due to heat can increase irritability, anxiety, and fatigue. Include some calming activity before bedtime. Put away screens, as they radiate heat too. Some tips to help you sleep better:

1. A lukewarm shower before bed.
2. Well-ventilated bedrooms.
3. No heavy dinners or eating late at night; ideally, finish dinner before 9 pm, leaving a gap of a couple of hours afterwards before going to sleep.
4. Mindful slow breathing or short meditation helps control heat-related restlessness.

Special Care for Vulnerable Groups

Children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and outdoor workers are at higher risk of heat-related health concerns. They should particularly ensure that they hydrate more frequently.

1. Watch for signs like dry mouth, lethargy, confusion, or reduced urination. Seek a doctor’s advice if needed.
2. Include cooling foods to prevent dehydration and encourage lighter, frequent meals instead of full, heavy meals.
3. Never leave children or pets inside parked vehicles or in spaces without ventilation—even for a few minutes.

A holistic approach covering hydration, nutrition, skincare, heart health, and mental well-being can help your body adapt and stay resilient. Extreme heat is not “just a bad summer." Treat it seriously, listen to your body, and make smart daily choices, because protecting yourself from the heat today prevents long-term health problems tomorrow.

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases. It is characterised by a malignant tumor that obstructs the normal functioning of organs. According to a recent analysis from the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than a third of cancer cases in the world are preventable. Cervical, stomach, and lung cancers make up half of the cases. This implies that millions of such deadly cases in the world can be prevented with behavioural changes, timely medical intervention, reduced occupational risks, and an ability to tackle environmental pollutants. It turns out that most preventable cancers can be avoided by making two simple lifestyle changes.

Preventable cancers in the world

Researchers say that addressing preventable causes represents one of the most powerful opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden. The analysis also noted that, in 2022, there were approximately 19 million new cases of cancer, and 38 per cent were related to 30 modifiable risk factors. The most common modifiable risk factors are:

1. High BMI
2. Smoking
3. Insufficient physical activity
4. Alcohol intake
5. Smokeless tobacco
6. Air pollution
7. Exposure to infectious agents
8. Suboptimal breastfeeding
9. Occupational exposures

What are the preventable risk factors for cancer?

The most common preventable risk factor, however, was smoking tobacco. It is associated with 15 per cent of all cancer cases in a year. In men, the risk was significantly higher. Smoking contributed to 23 per cent of the new cancer cases globally in men that year. However, smoking alone was not the only cause; air pollution, depending upon the region, played a huge role. In East Asia itself, 15 per cent of lung cancer cases in women were attributed to air pollution. In Western Asia and Northern Africa, 20 per cent of lung cancer cases in men were due to air pollution.

After smoking tobacco, the next key lifestyle risk factor was drinking alcohol. It accounted for 3.2 per cent of all cancer cases—approximately 7 lakh. As per researchers’ estimates, drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco account for about 48 per cent of all preventable cancer cases. Infections, however, were associated with 10 per cent of new cancer cases. Among women, the largest share of these cases was attributed to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which contributes to cervical cancer cases. However, with the HPV vaccine being more accessible, cervical cancer cases have reduced.

Can smoking give you stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer cases are higher among men and are mostly associated with inadequate sanitation, smoking, infections, and poor access to clean water. A first-of-its-kind analysis, this study helps show how much cancer risk comes from preventable causes. By examining these patterns, countries can be alerted to work towards preventing cancers in the first place by taking appropriate steps.

Researchers also mentioned in their paper that 4 in 10 cancer cases in the world in 2022 could have been prevented by eliminating the risk factors considered in the study. The study was published in the Nature Medicine journal.