Low Blood Pressure
Download this low blood pressure chart for quick and accurate cardiovascular health assessment. Monitor, interpret, and track crucial blood pressure measurements easily and effectively here!
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What is a Low Blood Pressure Chart?
Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, occurs when the blood pressure is lower than normal, and insufficient blood flow is accessing the heart. The normal range for blood pressure is typically considered to be around 120/80 mm Hg. However, what's considered low can vary from person to person, as individuals may have different baseline blood pressure levels, and factors such as age and sex can shift the parameters.
Blood pressure is the measurement of the force by which blood hits the artery walls and is identified by two values. The systolic value measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, whereas diastolic measures the pressure in the arteries as it rest between beats. Patients with a reading of 90/60 or less are considered as having hypotension and may experience some of the related symptoms, such as:
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Light-headedness
- Blurred vision
- Irregular heartbeat
- Nausea
- Weakness
- confusion
The cause of low blood pressure varies from person to person and some factors possess a daily, even hourly, effect on circulation. It is expected for people's blood pressure to drop overnight, meaning that levels will present as low if tested first thing in the morning. The patient's age, stress levels, exercise, temperature, and food intake are all factors that can affect blood pressure readings. In consultation, it is important to determine what medication the patient is on as some beta-blockers and anti-depressants can increase the risk of hypotension. Low blood pressure charts are a fantastic tool to use in the long-term monitoring of blood pressure in patients with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple system atrophy.
Downloadable Low Blood Pressure Chart PDF
Access our free Low Blood Pressure Chart PDF here
How Does It Work?
Step One: Gather your Resources
Low blood pressure charts are a valuable resource and essential to keep on hand. Make sure that you have one when the need arises by either clicking the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button or by searching “ Low Blood Pressure Chart” on Carepatron’s template library’s search bar on the website or app.
Step Two: Collate Essential Information
Fill out all essential patient information, including any relevant medical history that may impact the parameters. Age and lifestyle factors such as smoking and exercise should be indicated, as well as medication use. After conducting the blood pressure test, analyze the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure against the recommended parameters to determine what category the patient falls under and if there is any change or need for intervention.
Step Three: Store the Template Securely
After reviewing the results, you need to secure the low blood pressure chart so that access is only granted to relevant parties. As blood pressure is a commonly recorded result, easy access to the blood pressure chart both by medical practitioner and patient is essential.
Ensure this through Carepatrons HIPAA-compliant free patient records software. Here, all relevant medical records can be safely stored and collated for ease and security.
Low Blood Pressure Chart Example (Sample)
Want to make the most of this essential recording tool? Get a free, downloadable, and printable PDF of a completed blood pressure chart.
We've crafted this template with simulated data to help you effectively use the chart and interpret normal blood pressure ranges. It conveniently includes space for clinical notes and serves as an ongoing recording platform for both practitioners and patients.
You can access your copy by previewing the sample below or clicking the "Download Example PDF" button.
Download our Low Blood Pressure Chart Example PDF here
When Would You Use This Chart?
A blood pressure chart is a well-utilized tool used in a variety of healthcare settings by both medical practitioners and patients for various reasons, some of which are outlined below:
Routine Health Checks and Monitoring
Blood pressure charts are a key aspect of regular health checks and can be carried out at home once the patient has been educated on how to take and record their own blood pressure measurements. This is common and encouraged for patients with abnormal blood pressure measurements to mitigate associated risks.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The utilization of blood pressure charts is key in the diagnosis and management of conditions associated with hypotension. The chart can be used to help determine an appropriate treatment plan, and the measurements can be kept and regularly checked to monitor the intervention's effectiveness.
Preventative Care
Continuous and regular charting of an individual's blood pressure measurements acts as a preventative measure that indicates the need for change or intervention before conditions develop.
Research
These measurements are well utilized in clinical studies as a means of analyzing and predicting trends in blood pressure levels across different populations. This information is invaluable in the identification of risk factor groups and who should be receiving regular blood pressure tests to decrease the risk of hypertension and hypotension.
Fitness and Well-Being
A blood pressure chart is often incorporated into well-being and fitness programs to monitor the impact that specific diet and lifestyle changes have on cardiovascular health.
What Do the Results Mean?
Typically, low blood pressure is considered to be a reading of 90/60 or less. Low blood pressure may still be present if only one of these measurements sits at this level. Low blood pressure is not as concerning as high blood pressure, and often the goal for patients is to have low blood pressure, yet if the results are low and symptoms are present, then medical intervention and regular readings may be needed. If the patient experiences the symptoms associated with hypotension after moving positions, such as standing up, a condition known as postural or orthostatic hypotension may be present. If the symptoms present themselves after consuming a meal, postprandial hypotension may be present.
Postural or Orthostatic Hypotension
Postural or orthostatic hypotension manifests as a drop in blood pressure following sudden movements. For instance, transitioning from lying to sitting or from sitting to standing might result in dizziness or faintness. This shift in posture could lead to imbalance and potential falls accompanied by sensations of lightheadedness, blurred vision, or even temporary loss of consciousness.
Typically, these symptoms should resolve within a few minutes as your blood pressure readjusts to accommodate the new position. However, this form of low blood pressure tends to impact individuals more as they age, potentially increasing the frequency of falls. Additionally, similar symptoms might arise post-exercise.
Postprandial Hypotension
Following a meal, a drop in blood pressure might occur, leading to sensations like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and an increased risk of falls. This condition, termed postprandial hypotension, is more prevalent among older individuals, especially those dealing with conditions such as hypertension, Parkinson's disease, or diabetes.
Post-meal, the digestive system requires a significant level of blood supply, prompting an increase in heart rate while blood vessels in other body areas narrow and constrict to uphold blood pressure. Should the patient's blood vessels not contract enough or have an inadequately raised heart rate, blood pressure will consequently fall and contribute to these symptoms.
Why use Carepatron as your Low Blood Pressure app?
Choosing Carepatron as your preferred application for Low blood pressure charting and identification of hypotension offers healthcare practitioners numerous benefits.
Carepatron has created a centralized workspace, letting you efficiently manage clinical documents and electronic patient records, set reminders for patient appointments, as well as seamlessly handle medical billing all within one platform. This multi-faceted platform eliminates the need for additional software downloads, offering an integrated and comprehensive approach that simplifies low blood pressure charting and various other tasks. This streamlined process allows you to focus the majority of your time, attention, and effort on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
Committed to providing an efficient and productive platform for healthcare professionals, Carepatron has designed interactive and fully customizable workflows and tools to meet individual needs. Having a system that works for you empowers both practitioners and patients to manage their administrative tasks like service booking and paperwork completion. The app also facilitates easy sharing of essential documents and data, ensuring a high-quality customer experience.
We are committed to radical accessibility, meaning that our app is available on any device on hand! Our portable medical dictation software simplifies clinical note-taking and ensures an effortless process. We prioritize the security of all notes, clinical records, results, and practitioner data by adhering to global security requirements, including HIPAA, GDPR, and HITRUST.
References
Cedars Sinai. (n.d.). Articles. Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/i/ischemic-stroke.html#:~:text=A%20less%20common%20cause%20of
Medical News Today. (2023, February 1). Can low blood pressure cause a stroke? Risks and more. Www.medicalnewstoday.com. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-low-blood-pressure-cause-a-stroke
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022, March 24). Low Blood Pressure - Low Blood Pressure | NHLBI, NIH. Www.nhlbi.nih.gov. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/low-blood-pressure
NHS. (n.d.). Low blood pressure (hypotension). NHS Inform. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/heart-and-blood-vessels/conditions/low-blood-pressure-hypotension/#symptoms-of-low-blood-pressure
Rawlings, A. M., Juraschek, S. P., Heiss, G., Hughes, T., Meyer, M. L., Selvin, E., Sharrett, A. R., Windham, B. G., & Gottesman, R. F. (2018). Association of orthostatic hypotension with incident dementia, stroke, and cognitive decline. Neurology, 91(8), e759–e768. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000006027
Verschoof, M. A., Groot, A. E., Vermeij, J.-D., Westendorp, W. F., van den Berg, S. A., Nederkoorn, P. J., van de Beek, D., & Coutinho, J. M. (2020). Association Between Low Blood Pressure and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke, 51(1), 338–341. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.119.027336
Commonly asked questions
Healthcare professionals, such as physicians, often request blood pressure charts for tracking and diagnosing cardiovascular health concerns. Individuals may also use this chart to record their own blood pressure measures for monitoring.
Blood pressure charts are used in a variety of contexts to monitor and assess blood pressure levels. Both practitioner and patient can utilize blood pressure charts.
Blood pressure charts are used as visual tools to track and interpret blood pressure readings over time gathered through a sphygmomanometer or automated blood pressure monitor.
A single measurement takes a matter of minutes to complete, with the recording into a blood pressure chart taking around a minute.
