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.

Padma Bhushan Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, leading hepatologist, gastroenterologist, and medical educator who also serves as the Senior Professor, Chancellor, and Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), recently spoke about the dos and don’ts to maintain a healthy liver at the Times Health Summit 2026.

Held under the theme “The Blueprint for a Future-Ready Healthcare Ecosystem – Innovation. Access. Self-Reliance,” the summit brought together healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders to discuss innovation, access to treatment and policy approaches shaping India's healthcare sector.

Should You Drink Hot Water In The Morning For Bowel Movement?

The doctor addressed the daily morning ritual of drinking hot water in the morning, which a lot of people follow to release bowels.

Dr Sarin said, “Don't use hot water or anything for that matter to make you go to the toilet because it is the connection between the brain and the bowel that is very important.

He also spoke about opting for other drinks like coconut water or lemon water with honey. He said that lemon can help improve iron absorption in your body.

He added, “As per coconut water is concerned, it has potassium which is very good for your bowel health but it should still not be an everyday thing. For nimbu and honey, you should remember that honey has fructose. So if you are consuming honey, you also need to churn that out."

Also read: Fatty Liver Disease: Scientists Identify 5 Subtypes With Different Health Risks

Ideal Time for Breakfast

Many of us do not know what is the right time for breakfast. It is especially important as eating after fasting for eight to ten hours affects your energy and metabolic health throughout the day.

Dr Sarin said, "It's after sunrise. Minimum 12 hours after the last food that you have eaten. Ussay pehle galti nahi kariyega khaanay ki. Let the stomach, and the bacteria and the intestine recover."

He also spoke about whether you should have fruits for breakfast. "Breakfast should be fruits. And, low calories fruits. Avoid carbs."

Also read: The Changing Obesity Treatment Landscape: Where Does Bariatric Surgery Fit in the Age of Weight-Loss Drugs?

How Coffee Affects The Liver

There is a lot of information as well as misinformation about coffee consumption and liver health. Dr S K Sarin spoke in its favour and said that it could prevent a lot of liver conditions.

He said, "It does many things. it clears several toxic things including fat, clears the flow of bile, good enzyme inducer, prevents fibrosis of the liver and can decrease cirrhosis and also the development of liver cancer."

He also warned ignoring healthy dietary habits and simply relying on coffee is also not ideal. He added, "Coffee is not medicine, it is something which can help you prevent and not treat."

Is Your Lunch Completely Healthy?

Dr Sarin also warned against eating more amount carbohydrates than the recommended limit. He explained how sitting next to an obese person can make you feel physically lethargic as their breath may emit endogenous alcohol.

When you eat a carbohydrate-heavy meal, your digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into sugars. Certain microorganisms in the gut, including yeasts and some bacteria, can ferment these sugars and produce small amounts of ethanol, or alcohol. This is known as endogenous alcohol production.

Dr Sarin recommends eating low-carb meals for lunch like sprouts, vegetables, yoghurt, buttermilk or low-sugar fruits.

Late-Night Eating Is A Red Flag

Dr Sarin recommends having dinner before sunset. He also said that having late-night dinners could disrupt your sleep.

He added, "Obesity during youth increases the risk of heart disease later in life. After the age of 40, eating one meal a day may have health implications. The total daily calorie intake should not exceed 300–400. Avoid eating late at night. Eating late can also affect your insulin resistance."

Yearly Screening To Keep Liver Health In Check

Dr Sarin also said that thin people can also have unhealthy fat that may cause fatty liver. He recommended yearly screens to keep liver health in check.

He said, "Even thin people can have excess body fat and low muscle mass, which may affect their health. Being thin does not necessarily mean being healthy. Maintaining good muscle mass is important."

In a significant step toward advancing xenotransplantation—the transplantation of organs or tissues from animals into humans—in India, a dedicated department has been established, with research and regulatory work underway. The country’s first animal-to-human organ transplant could follow, subject to government approval and the establishment of legal and ethical guidelines.

The initiative aims to help bridge the organ shortage in the country, Dr. Shikhar Tripathi, Director of the Department of Xenotransplantation Sciences at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, helming the project, told HealthandMe.

Dr. Tripathi, who has trained with Dr. David K. C. Cooper, a British surgeon-scientist and pioneer of modern xenotransplantation, believes India could perform its first xenotransplant within six months of receiving government permission.

The push comes as xenotransplantation continues to make progress internationally. In 2025, a patient received a genetically engineered pig kidney and lived without dialysis for 271 days before subsequently receiving a human kidney transplant.

India recorded 20,138 organ transplants in 2025, ranking third globally. However, the gap between the demand for and supply of organs remains significant, with deceased-donor donations accounting for a small share of transplants.

Dr. Tripathi estimates India’s annual organ shortage at around 90,000. According to data reported by hospitals and transplant centers on the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) National Registry Portal, the waiting list for major organs stood at 89,839 as of March 3, 2026.

Kidneys accounted for the largest share of patients on the waiting list, followed by livers, hearts, lungs and pancreases.

In an interview with HealthandMe, Dr. Tripathi, who is also working with Dr. Cooper at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute in Pittsburgh, US, discussed the scientific barriers, infection risks, regulatory requirements and potential of xenotransplantation in India.

Also read: Pig Kidney Works In Human Body For 271 Days: Why Xenotransplants Could Bridge The Organ Transplant Gap

Q. A pig kidney functioned for 271 days without dialysis in a human. What does this milestone mean for xenotransplantation?

Dr. Shikhar Tripathi: Xenotransplantation has achieved significant milestones, but researchers are still working toward long-term viability. For now, it could serve as a bridge for patients who need an organ while researchers work to address complications and improve graft survival.

“Xenotransplantation has achieved some really significant milestones in the last year or so.”

Q. What are the main barriers to long-term survival of a transplanted animal organ?

Dr. Tripathi: Genetic engineering has helped researchers modify the pig genome to reduce the risk of early rejection. The challenge now is managing late complications, particularly in kidney xenotransplantation.

Two major concerns are proteinuria, or leakage of proteins through the kidney, and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which involves injury to microscopic blood vessels.

“The current barrier we face is late complications of xenotransplantation.”

He added that his group has published research identifying potential pathways involved in proteinuria and TMA and is investigating ways to address these complications.

Read More: World Organ Donation Day 2026: Too Old Or Too Sick To Donate Organs? Doctors Bust Key Myths

Q. What are the infection risks associated with xenotransplantation, and why is lifelong monitoring important?

Dr. Tripathi: One concern is zoonosis, or the transmission of infection from an animal or animal organ to a human. Genetic modifications are intended to address this risk.

“There have been as many as 69 gene edits that have been done by eGenesis,” he said, referring to the company developing genetically engineered organs for transplantation.

Dr. Tripathi believes the risk of zoonotic infection is minimal, but this does not eliminate the risk of infection. Patients also face infections associated with immunosuppression, which is used to prevent their immune systems from rejecting a transplanted organ.

Dr. Tripathi’s group is also working toward accommodation and tolerance, which could allow transplanted organs to function with less immunosuppression.

He said lifelong monitoring of recipients will be needed to track outcomes and ensure continued medical care.

Q. India continues to face a significant organ shortage. How could xenotransplantation help bridge the gap between demand and supply?

Dr. Tripathi: India’s annual organ shortage is around 90,000, and it is increasing. The challenge is not just finding donors but ensuring they are medically fit and compatible with recipients.

He recalled a case in which an 85-year-old father-in-law was willing to donate a kidney to his daughter-in-law, but his age made him unsuitable, and no other family member was a match.

“The question is not whether you have a donor available. It’s also whether your donor is healthy or not,” he said.

He also raised ethical concerns about dependence on deceased-donor organs, arguing that patients should have alternatives that do not depend on another person’s death.

“I think xenotransplantation is not just going to solve a medical problem. It’s going to solve a moral problem,” he said.

READ: India Records 20,138 Organ Transplants In 2025; Deceased Donor Transplants Reach 3,526

Q. What is Sir Ganga Ram Hospital doing to advance xenotransplantation in India?

Dr. Tripathi: The aim is to carry out the first procedure with scientific support and within the necessary legal and ethical framework.

The team is prepared to move forward once the required guidelines are established and government permission is granted.

Q. How soon could India perform its first xenotransplant, and which type of transplant might reach clinical practice first?

Dr. Tripathi: I believe pancreatic islet-cell xenotransplantation could reach clinical practice before whole-organ transplantation.

Islet cells in the pancreas produce insulin, making them a potential area of research for conditions such as type 1 diabetes.

“It’s my scientific belief that islet-cell xenotransplantation would be the first one to hit the clinics,” he said.

As for India’s first xenotransplant, the timeline depends on government approval. “Potentially, six months from the day of the permission, we can perform the first transplant,” he said.

Q. What scientific, regulatory and biosecurity hurdles must India overcome before its first xenotransplant, and what lessons does the 1997 pig-organ transplant case involving Dr. Dhaniram Baruah in Assam offer today?

Dr. Tripathi: India’s first xenotransplant will have scientific, legal and ethical backing, along with patient consent. He said there was no comparison with the 1997 case involving Dr. Dhaniram Baruah in Assam, in which the patient died seven days after the procedure following multiple infections.

“We will not take a single step out of the legal ambit or the ethical ambit,” he said.

Q. Looking ahead five years, could India become a global leader in xenotransplantation?

Dr. Tripathi: India could play a leading international role. “India will be one of the leaders,” he said.

India can also establish its own xenorgan facilities over the next five to eight years. Until then, transporting organs from overseas companies could be an option, provided a secure transportation system is established in coordination with government authorities.

Mostly experienced by women, sexual objectification is a dehumanising tendency that distorts perception of the opposite gender. So researchers from University of Exeter have attempted to curb through physical intervention.

A new study, published in journal Social Neuroscience, suggests that it may be possible to change how people perceive sexualised images of women, at least temporarily.

Researchers at the University of Exeter found that ten minutes of mild electrical stimulation to the scalp could remove bias linked to sexual objectification of women.

It improved participants’ ability to recognise upright images of sexualised female models. It also removed the difference in the way such images of women and men were processed by the participants. Researchers associated that visual pattern with sexual objectification.

“Sexual objectification means treating a person as a body to be looked at or used, rather than as a whole person. It’s dehumanising and most often experienced by women,” said Professor Ciro Civile, author who led the research.

How Did the Experiment Work?

The study included 76 students, including 54 women and 22 men. Participants were asked to memorise photographs of male and female models wearing underwear in sexualised poses. The images were presented both upright and upside down.

They were subsequently shown a mixture of previously seen and new images and asked to identify the models they recognised.

Half the participants received ten minutes of mild electrical stimulation through two electrodes placed on the scalp. The other half received a sham treatment involving just 30 seconds of stimulation. Neither the participants nor the experimenters knew who had received the active stimulation.

The technique, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), uses a weak electrical current to influence brain activity. Participants generally experienced a mild sensation like tingling.

Also read: Experimental Male Contraceptive Pill May Immobilise Sperm, Work Within 30 Minutes & Give Protection For 8 Hours

Results After Brain Stimulation

People typically recognise faces and bodies more easily when they are upright than when they are upside down. This is called the inversion effect. It reflects the brain’s ability to process a person as a whole, rather than as a collection of separate features.

Previous research has found that this upright recognition feature is smaller for sexualised images of women than for images of men. Researchers interpret this difference as a sign that sexualised female bodies are being processed more like objects.

In the new study, participants who received the sham treatment showed this pattern. Those who received active stimulation, however, became better at recognising upright images of women, and there was no significant difference between the processing of male and female images.

Civile said, “Our findings are initial evidence that the way our visual system processes sexualised images of women can be changed, at least temporarily, by mildly stimulating the brain.”

He added, “This was a lab study – we didn’t measure attitudes or behaviour, and brain stimulation is no cure for sexism – but it gives us a new way to study how objectification works.”

Also read: Can Mental Health Improvement Help Lower High Blood Pressure? Study Points Towards 3 Habits

Can Electrical Stimulation Reduce Sexism?

The experiment basically measured performance on a specific visual-recognition task, not participants’ beliefs, behaviour or their outlook on women.

The researchers also tested recognition during stimulation or immediately afterwards. They did not identify how long the change lasted or whether the findings would apply outside the laboratory.

The sample was also small and consisted entirely of university students, so further research is needed to test the findings in bigger sample sizes

Sexual objectification is behind various harmful outcomes, including body shame, anxiety, eating disorders and greater tolerance of sexual harassment. Understanding how objectifying perceptions arise may help researchers investigate ways to address these sexist biases.