What Is a Dangerous Low Blood Pressure for a Woman?

Conventional medicine suggests the same low, high, and normal blood pressure ranges, regardless of the sex you’re assigned at birth. Yet new research suggests blood pressures for those assigned female run lower than their male counterparts. This key difference begs the question: What is a dangerous low blood pressure for women? The Cliffnotes answer is anything below 90/60 mmHg with symptoms. But like many things in life, low blood pressure isn’t as simple as it appears.

Have you ever stood up too quickly, only to feel dizzy or see spots in your vision? If so, you might have experienced a blood pressure dip. Women are particularly susceptible to low blood pressure, and there are a few potential causes that are gender-specific. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s dive into what exactly blood pressure is and when it is (and isn’t) a cause for concern.

Understanding blood pressure basics

In medical terms, blood pressure is a measurement of force in the arteries. Our hearts pump blood, and the arteries then carry that blood to tissues throughout the body. The tissues receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood, enabling the body to function as intended. We can think of measuring blood pressure as a quick check-in to assess if blood is flowing as it should.

Blood pressure can fall into three ranges: normal, high, and low. Blood pressure in the normal range indicates that the tissues are receiving the required nutrients and oxygen. If high, the arteries are experiencing too much pressure, which can disrupt blood flow and may result in serious complications such as stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. Low blood pressure is less likely to lead to complications, since most cases are asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases, however, may indicate an underlying medical condition.

Measuring blood pressure

Most of us have probably had our blood pressure taken at one point or another. After measuring, a healthcare provider may report two numbers, such as 90/60 mmHg. These numbers indicate:

Systolic blood pressure: Measures pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. This number goes first and will be higher.

Diastolic blood pressure: This second, lower number quantifies pressure between heartbeats.

If someone’s blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, for example, that means the systolic blood pressure is 110 and the diastolic is 70. To help determine what’s high, low, or normal, we can refer to these general ranges:

What is low blood pressure?

Hypotension, low blood pressure, isn’t always a reason to worry, especially for those who work out regularly or have consistently had low blood pressure. In fact, people who exercise regularly often have slightly lower blood pressure (with male athletes having an average resting blood pressure of 116/74 mmHg and female athletes having an average of 110/71).

While neither of those numbers dips below 90/60 mmHg, they indicate that having blood pressure on the lower end isn’t always bad. Even if an individual’s blood pressure falls in the low blood pressure range, it’s a non-issue unless it drops suddenly (versus consistently being low), relates to a medical condition, or other symptoms accompany it.

How does low blood pressure differ in women

Too often, men and women are lumped together for different medical benchmarks, including blood pressure. Now, researchers are reexamining blood pressure and gender after a critical discovery that women, on average, have lower blood pressure than men.

This difference is due to the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system controls quite a few bodily functions that allow us to “rest and digest,” including regulating (and lowering) blood pressure. Women have more active parasympathetic nervous systems than men, meaning their blood pressure naturally runs lower too.

Interestingly, women are also more susceptible to orthostatic hypotension, dizziness or lightheadedness due to standing up too quickly. The female reproductive hormone estrogen interferes with the body’s ability to cope with a sudden drop in blood pressure, making women more susceptible to orthostatic hypotension.

What causes low blood pressure in women?

So women’s blood pressure is naturally lower, but does that change what causes low blood pressure? According to Mary Branch MD, a cardiologist at Cone Health, the answer is no in most cases.

However, she adds that hypotension may stem from pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, and menopause. When pregnant, and especially during the second trimester, the cardiovascular system increases blood volume, which can lower blood pressure. Pregnant people can expect a 5 to 10 mmHg drop in systolic pressure and a drop of up to 15 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure.

Menopause also seems to impact blood pressure. Interestingly, the menopause transition may raise or lower blood pressure, depending on when someone experiences perimenopause and their ethnicity. Those who are white and/or have a younger menopause age are more likely to see a blood pressure drop during menopause.

Before reaching perimenopause, someone’s period may also cause blood pressure levels to dip and increase throughout their cycle. During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which occurs in the two weeks after ovulation, the body releases progesterone, a hormone that can increase blood pressure. During the follicular phase, the two weeks after a period, there’s an increase in estrogen, resulting in lower blood pressure.

Usually, the dips and increases are minimal, and women remain in the normal blood pressure range throughout their cycle. If the drops are extreme or someone naturally has lower blood pressure, these dips could take a woman into the low blood pressure range.

But remember, symptomatic low blood pressure is when something’s awry—and pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and menopause usually cause asymptomatic dips. More common reasons for symptomatic low blood pressure include:

Adrenal insufficiency

Anaphylaxis

Arrhythmias, an irregular heartbeat

Blood loss from an injury or an extremely heavy period

Certain medications for Parkinson’s disease and depression

Dehydration

Diabetes

High blood pressure medications

Hypothyroidism

A lack of vitamin B12 or folate

Sepsis or septic shock

A leading non-hormonal cause of low blood pressure for women is Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). While this condition can occur in folks of any gender, it is more common in women, especially during adolescence, young adulthood, or pregnancy. POTS is marked by an increased heart rate, low blood pressure, and poor blood circulation. While researchers don’t fully understand what causes POTS , it is related to inflammation in the body.

Symptoms of low blood pressure to watch for

Symptomatic low blood pressure is what requires medical attention, but what exactly are the symptoms to watch out for? Common ones include:

Blurred or narrowed vision

Chest pain

Cold, clammy skin

Confusion

Fatigue

Nausea

Orthostatic hypotension (though not a cause for concern on its own)

Syncope, or fainting spells

Racing heart

“If you have these symptoms, I would recommend hydrating and checking your blood pressure periodically until it normalizes,” explains Dr. Branch. If blood pressure doesn’t normalize, she recommends making an appointment with a primary care doctor.

Potential health risks and complications

While high blood pressure is much more dangerous, symptomatic low blood pressure still comes with risks. A sudden dip could mean the body’s tissues aren’t getting enough nutrients or oxygen, increasing the risk for a heart attack or stroke. Plus, reduced blood flow may lead to damage in the brain, kidneys, or heart.

When blood pressure drops drastically, someone could experience one of four types of shock:

Cardiogenic shock: Insufficient blood output from the heart.

Distributive shock: A loss of blood volume due to inadequate pressure in the arteries.

Obstructive shock: When there’s an obstruction or constriction in the heart, resulting in too little blood flow.

Hypovolemic shock: When two or more of the other types occur at the same time.

Any of the four types of shock could lead to death, meaning that if blood pressure drops suddenly or is accompanied by severe symptoms, like bluish skin or a heart rate below 60 beats per minute, seek immediate medical attention.

Diagnosing low blood pressure in women

If experiencing abnormally low blood pressure and symptoms, make an appointment with a doctor. Healthcare providers who follow a more conventional approach will most likely conduct a physical exam, monitor blood pressure over time, and order blood tests.

A functional medicine provider will do the same, as well as provide a more holistic look, resulting in a better understanding of the root cause. This may include watching out for any hormonal imbalances, noting if low blood pressure correlates with pregnancy, menopause, or the folate stage of the menstrual cycle. They may also order additional tests like the ECG, echocardiograms, a diagnostic test for POTS, and tilt table tests to determine if there are wider cardiovascular concerns.

Effective ways to raise blood pressure safely

Typically, symptomatic low blood pressure resolves when the underlying medical condition is treated. Certain lifestyle habit may also help stabilize blood pressure, such as:

Avoid excessive alcohol

Incorporate more nutrient-dense foods into your diet, especially those high in B vitamins, folate, and electrolytes

Increase fluid and salt intake (under medical supervision)

Sit and stand up slower to avoid orthostatic hypotension

Wear compression socks to enhance circulation

Address any inflammatory conditions, such as POTS

A functional medicine provider may make additional recommendations based on the root cause. If, for example, hypotension stems from a specific medication, a provider may prescribe an alternative. Hypotension caused by diabetes may require insulin and dietary changes.

Long-term management and prevention

If diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, a healthcare provider may recommend monitoring blood pressure regularly. However, most of us don’t need to monitor blood pressure levels, and this is more often recommended for high blood pressure. If blood pressure monitoring is recommended, keep a journal or virtual spreadsheet to document blood pressure each day, noting any changes.

When taking blood pressure at home, the American Heart Association recommends:

Avoid exercise or caffeine within 30 minutes of taking blood pressure

Empty the bladder before measuring

Don’t measure over clothes, though you can use either arm

Relax and be still for five minutes before taking your blood pressure

Sit straight in a chair or sofa with a back

Don’t talk or use the phone when measuring of five minutes before

Measure at the same time each day

Take two readings, one minute apart

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the lowest blood pressure that is safe?

Anything below 90/60 mmHg is considered low. However, most cases of low blood pressure are asymptomatic and not dangerous. When low blood pressure drops suddenly, is due to a medical condition, and/or is accompanied by symptoms like bluish skin, dizziness, and blurred vision, low blood pressure may be deemed unsafe. In these cases, seek medical attention.

When should you go to the ER for low blood pressure?

If experiencing low blood pressure alongside symptoms like dizziness, fainting, bluish skin, or cold fingers or toes, go to the ER, especially if you have a medical condition like diabetes or sepsis. When left untreated, symptomatic low blood pressure may lead to death.

What is an alarmingly low blood pressure?

An alarmingly low blood pressure is anything below 90/60 mmHg that is accompanied by symptoms. The most common symptoms include a tight chest, dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, cold extremities, fatigue, and weakness.

How do I raise my blood pressure quickly?

One of the fastest ways to raise blood pressure quickly is to drink water, add electrolytes if low blood pressure symptoms occur after sweating, or wear compression socks.

Final thoughts

Low blood pressure isn’t always a cause for concern, especially for women who naturally have lower blood pressure. However, there are some important things to keep in mind:

If symptoms are present, make an appointment with a healthcare provider. The most common include dizziness, fainting, confusion, fatigue, weakness, blurred vision, a racing heart, and tightness in the chest.

Women experience hypotension for a range of reasons; menopause, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, dehydration, diabetes, or inflammatory conditions like POTS.

If experiencing symptomatic low blood pressure, treat any underlying medical conditions. Lifestyle modifications may help, such as dietary changes, drinking more water, and wearing compression socks may help as well.

A functional medicine provider can determine the root cause of hypotension and create an individualized treatment plan that encompasses your lifestyle and symptoms. To learn more, reach out to a Parsley Health provider today.