Blue Pharmaceutical Distributors.

05/10/2015

05/10/2015

BLOOD CANCER
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~Blood cancer is an umbrella term for cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system.
~Blood cancers affect the production and function of your blood cells.
~Most of these cancers start in your bone marrow where blood is produced. ~Stem cells in your bone marrow mature and develop into three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.
~In most blood cancers, the normal blood cell development process is interrupted by uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell.
~These abnormal blood cells, or cancerous cells, prevent your blood from performing many of its functions, like fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding.

There are three main types of blood cancers:
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1)Leukaemia
2)Lymphoma
3)Myeloma

Leukaemia:-
~affects your white blood cells.
~These are an important, infection-fighting part of your immune system, made in your bone marrow.
~If you have leukaemia, you produce an abnormal number of immature white blood cells which ‘clog up’ your bone marrow and stop it making other blood cells vital for a balanced immune system and healthy blood.
~Acute leukaemia comes on suddenly, progresses quickly and needs to be treated urgently.
~Chronic leukaemia develops more slowly, over months or years.

There are four main types of leukaemia:
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1)Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
~It affects around 2,600 adults a year in the UK.
~It’s most common in people over 65, although people of any age can get it.

2)Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). ~This is the most common type of leukaemia in children.
~ALL affects around 650 people a year in the UK.
~About half the cases are in adults and half in children.

3)Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).
~It’s also quite a rare condition: only about 700 people every year are affected.

4)Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). ~Doctors diagnose just over 3,200 people with CLL a year in the UK.
~It’s much more common to get it if you’re over 60 and is very rare in people under 40.

Other types of leukaemia include:
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1)acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) 2)hairy cell leukaemia (HCL)
3)large granular lymphocytic
leukaemia (LGL)
4)t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL)
5)chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)

Lymphoma :-
~is a type of blood cancer that affects your lymphatic system, an important part of your immune system which helps to protect your body from infection and disease.
~If you have lymphoma it means you make too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
~Your lymphocytes also live longer than they should.
~This overload compromises your immune system.
~Lymphoma can develop in many parts of your body, including your lymph nodes, bone marrow, blood, spleen and other organs.

The two main types of lymphoma are:
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1)Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
~Most lymphomas are NHL – it’s the sixth most common cancer in the UK. ~Each year, around 12,000 people are diagnosed with it in the UK.
~It’s more common in older people – 1 in 6 (60%) people diagnosed with NHL are over 65.

2)Hodgkin lymphoma
(used to be called Hodgkin disease). ~This is less common, and makes up less than 1% of all cancers in the UK. ~Around 1,800 people a year are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. ~Hodgkin lymphoma can develop at any age, but it’s most common in young adults and in older men and women.

3)Myeloma :-
(also called multiple myeloma)
~is a blood cancer of the plasma cells. ~Plasma cells are found in your bone marrow and produce antibodies which help fight infection.
~In myeloma, unusually large numbers of abnormal plasma cells gather in your bone marrow and stop it producing an important part of your immune system. ~In the UK, just under 4,800 people are diagnosed with myeloma each year.
~The risk of myeloma increases as you get older – about 4 out of 10 (40%) of cases are in people aged over 75

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
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~The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood disorders where a person’s bone marrow is not producing the correct amount and quality of blood cells.
~Red, white and platelet cells can be affected.
~These problems lead to people with MDS feeling very tired, weak and bleeding or bruising more easily.
~There are different levels of severity of MDS, it’s not a type of leukaemia but can sometimes lead to acute myeloid leukaemia.
~MDS is rare – about 4 in every 100,000 people get MDS.
It mainly affects older people, and is more common in people over 70 years old.
~If you have low or intermediate risk MDS you may not need treatment straightaway, but regular blood transfusions and medication can help. ~Some people with more severe MDS can have chemotherapy and a small number of people may need to have a stem cell transplant

Treatments for blood cancer
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~When it comes to deciding on the best treatment, it all depends what type of blood cancer you have, how advanced and aggressive it is and your general health.
~Your doctor will suggest the most effective course of treatment for you.
~Common treatments are ,
and,
in some cases, a
or .

What is chemotherapy?
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~Chemotherapy involves taking drugs that destroy cancer cells, hopefully putting it into remission or significantly slowing down the progression of the disease.
~There are many types of chemotherapy drugs and they work in different ways.
~Sometimes doctors will prescribe a single drug, but often they’ll recommend combining two or more because they often work better together.
~Chemotherapy can be used on its own, but it’s often combined with other treatments like radiotherapy. ~Chemotherapy is designed to attack cells that are growing and multiplying. ~That’s because cancer cells grow and multiply faster than healthy cells.
~Some healthy cells can be caught in the crossfire, as they can also be growing and dividing quickly.
~This can cause side effects such as nausea, tiredness and hair loss. If you’re getting ready for a stem cell, bone marrow or cord blood transplant, you’ll also need chemotherapy to suppress your immune system and stop it attacking your donor’s new ‘foreign’ cells.
~This is called conditioning therapy.

What is radiotherapy?
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~Radiotherapy works by using high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells.
~For it to be effective, doctors need to give just the right amount of radiation, targeted at the right area of the body. ~That’s why you get radiotherapy in specialist centres where doctors, physicists and radiographers work together.
~They’ll normally use a machine called a ‘linear accelerator’ for the treatment.
~Radiotherapy can treat some types of leukaemia and lymphoma.
~Doctors can also use it to prepare a patient for a stem cell, bone marrow or cord blood transplant as part of the conditioning therapy.
~A low dose of radiation will lower someone’s immune system, so they’re less likely to reject donor cells.
~The type of radiotherapy you might have before a stem cell transplant is called total body irradiation or TBI and this means it affects the whole body. ~Radiotherapy can also damage normal cells, which can cause side effects. ~These vary greatly for each person; some experiencing mild symptoms such as tiredness while for others it can be more debilitating.
~These side effects will normally have passed within a few weeks of the treatment finishing.
~When radiotherapy finishes, most of your body's healthy cells will continue to grow normally again.
~But radiotherapy can have long-term side effects.

01/10/2015

HYPERTHYROIDISM (overactive thyroid)
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Definition
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Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
~is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.
~Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body's metabolism significantly, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nervousness or irritability.
~Several treatment options are available if you have hyperthyroidism. ~Doctors use anti-thyroid medications and radioactive iodine to slow the production of thyroid hormones. ~Sometimes, treatment of hyperthyroidism involves surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland.
~Although hyperthyroidism can be serious if you ignore it, most people respond well once hyperthyroidism is diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms
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~Hyperthyroidism can mimic other health problems, which may make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose. It can also cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including:

1)Sudden weight loss,
~even when your appetite and the amount and type of food you eat remain the same or even increase

2)Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) — ~commonly more than 100 beats a minute — irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or pounding of your heart (palpitations)

3)Increased appetite

4)Nervousness, anxiety and irritability

5)Tremor
~usually a fine trembling in your hands and fingers

6)Sweating

7)Changes in menstrual patterns

8)Increased sensitivity to heat

9)Changes in bowel patterns, especially more frequent bowel movements

10)An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), which may appear as a swelling at the base of your neck

11)Fatigue, muscle weakness

12)Difficulty sleeping

13)Skin thinning

14)Fine, brittle hair

~Older adults are more likely to have either no signs or symptoms or subtle ones, such as an increased heart rate, heat intolerance and a tendency to become tired during ordinary activities. ~Medications called beta blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, can mask many of the signs of hyperthyroidism.

Graves' ophthalmopathy
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~Sometimes an uncommon problem called Graves' ophthalmopathy may affect your eyes, especially if you smoke.
~In this disorder, your eyeballs protrude beyond their normal protective orbits when the tissues and muscles behind your eyes swell.
~This pushes the eyeballs forward so far that they actually bulge out of their orbits.
~This can cause the front surface of your eyeballs to become very dry.
~Eye problems often improve without treatment.
~Signs and symptoms of Graves' ophthalmopathy include:

*Protruding eyeballs
*Red or swollen eyes
*Excessive tearing or discomfort in one or both eyes
*Light sensitivity, blurry or double vision, inflammation, or reduced eye movement

When to see a doctor
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~If you experience unexplained weight loss, a rapid heartbeat, unusual sweating, swelling at the base of your neck or other symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, see your doctor.
~It's important to completely describe the changes you've observed, because many signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be associated with a number of other conditions.
~If you've been treated for hyperthyroidism or currently are being treated, see your doctor regularly as advised so that he or she can monitor your condition.

Causes
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~A number of conditions, including Graves' disease, toxic adenoma, Plummer's disease (toxic multinodular goiter) and thyroiditis, can cause hyperthyroidism.
~Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. ~Although it weighs less than an ounce, the thyroid gland has an enormous impact on your health.
~Every aspect of your metabolism is regulated by thyroid hormones.
~Your thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3), that influence every cell in your body.
~They maintain the rate at which your body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control your body temperature, influence your heart rate, and help regulate the production of protein. ~Your thyroid also produces calcitonin, a hormone that helps regulate the amount of calcium in your blood.

How it all works
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~The rate at which T-4 and T-3 are released is controlled by your pituitary gland and your hypothalamus — an area at the base of your brain that acts as a thermostat for your whole system.

~Here's how the process works:

*The hypothalamus signals your pituitary gland to make a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
*Your pituitary gland then releases TSH — the amount depends on how much T-4 and T-3 are in your blood.
*If you don't have enough T-4 and T-3 in your blood, your TSH will rise; if you have too much, your TSH level will fall. *Finally, your thyroid gland regulates its production of hormones based on the amount of TSH it receives.
*If the thyroid gland is diseased and is releasing too much thyroid hormone on its own, the TSH blood level will remain below normal; if the diseased thyroid gland cannot make enough thyroid hormone, the TSH blood level will remain high

Reasons for too much thyroxine (T-4)
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~Normally, your thyroid releases the right amount of hormones, but sometimes it produces too much T-4. ~This may occur for a number of reasons, including:

1)Graves' disease.
~Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies produced by your immune system stimulate your thyroid to produce too much T-4, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. ~Normally, your immune system uses antibodies to help protect against viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances that invade your body.
~In Graves' disease, antibodies mistakenly attack your thyroid and occasionally attack the tissue behind your eyes (Graves' ophthalmopathy) and the skin, often in your lower legs over the shins (Graves' dermopathy). ~Scientists aren't sure exactly what causes Graves' disease, although several factors — including a genetic predisposition — are likely involved.

2)Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules (toxic adenoma, toxic multinodular goiter, Plummer's disease).
~This form of hyperthyroidism occurs when one or more adenomas of your thyroid produce too much T-4.
~An adenoma is a part of the gland that has walled itself off from the rest of the gland, forming noncancerous (benign) lumps that may cause an enlargement of the thyroid.
~Not all adenomas produce excess T-4, and doctors aren't sure what causes some to begin producing too much hormone.

3)Thyroiditis.
~Sometimes your thyroid gland can become inflamed for unknown reasons. ~The inflammation can cause excess thyroid hormone stored in the gland to leak into your bloodstream.
~One rare type of thyroiditis, known as subacute thyroiditis, causes pain in the thyroid gland.
~Other types are painless and may sometimes occur after pregnancy (postpartum thyroiditis).

Risk factors
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~Hyperthyroidism, particularly Graves' disease, tends to run in families and is more common in women than in men.
~If another member of your family has a thyroid condition, talk with your doctor about what this may mean for your health and whether he or she has any recommendations for monitoring your thyroid function.

Complications
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~Hyperthyroidism can lead to a number of complications:

1)Heart problems.
~Some of the most serious complications of hyperthyroidism involve the heart. ~These include a rapid heart rate, a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure — a condition in which your heart can't circulate enough blood to meet your body's needs.
~These complications generally are reversible with appropriate treatment.

2)Brittle bones.
~Untreated hyperthyroidism can also lead to weak, brittle bones (osteoporosis).
~The strength of your bones depends, in part, on the amount of calcium and other minerals they contain.
~Too much thyroid hormone interferes with your body's ability to incorporate calcium into your bones.

2)Eye problems.
~People with Graves' ophthalmopathy develop eye problems, including bulging, red or swollen eyes, sensitivity to light, and blurring or double vision. ~Untreated, severe eye problems can lead to vision loss.

3)Red, swollen skin.
~In rare cases, people with Graves' disease develop Graves' dermopathy, which affects the skin, causing redness and swelling, often on the shins and feet.

4)Thyrotoxic crisis.
~Hyperthyroidism also places you at risk of thyrotoxic crisis — a sudden intensification of your symptoms, leading to a fever, a rapid pulse and even delirium.
~If this occurs, seek immediate medical care.

01/10/2015

HYPOTHYROIDISM
=(underactive thyroid)
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Definition
********
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
~is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones.
~Women, especially those older than age 60, are more likely to have hypothyroidism.
~Hypothyroidism upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body.
~It seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, but, over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.
~The good news is that accurate thyroid function tests are available to diagnose hypothyroidism, and treatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective once you and your doctor find the right dose for you.

Symptoms
********
~The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary, depending on the severity of the hormone deficiency.
~But in general, any problems you have tend to develop slowly, often over a number of years.
~At first, you may barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. ~But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms.
~Hypothyroidism signs and symptom may include:

*Fatigue
*Increased sensitivity to cold
*Constipation
*Dry skin
*Unexplained weight gain
*Puffy face
*Hoarseness
*Muscle weakness
*Elevated blood cholesterol level
*Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
*Pain, stiffness or swelling
in your joints
*Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
*Thinning hair
*Slowed heart rate
*Depression
*Impaired memory

~When hypothyroidism isn't treated, signs and symptoms can gradually become more severe.
~Constant stimulation of your thyroid gland to release more hormones may lead to an enlarged thyroid (goiter).
~In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow, or you may feel depressed.

~Advanced hypothyroidism, known as myxedema, is rare, but when it occurs it can be life-threatening.
~Signs and symptoms include low blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased body temperature, unresponsiveness and even coma.
~In extreme cases, myxedema can be fatal.

Hypothyroidism in infants
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~Although hypothyroidism most often affects middle-aged and older women, anyone can develop the condition, including infants.
~Initially, babies born without a thyroid gland or with a gland that doesn't work properly may have few signs and symptoms.
~When newborns do have problems with hypothyroidism, they may include:

*Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
~In most cases, this occurs when a baby's liver can't metabolize a substance called bilirubin, which normally forms when the body recycles old or damaged red blood cells.
*Frequent choking.
*A large, protruding tongue.
*A puffy appearance to the face.

~As the disease progresses, infants are likely to have trouble feeding and may fail to grow and develop normally.
~They may also have:

*Constipation
*Poor muscle tone
*Excessive sleepiness

~When hypothyroidism in infants isn't treated, even mild cases can lead to severe physical and mental retardation.

Hypothyroidism in children and teens
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~In general, children and teens who develop hypothyroidism have the same signs and symptoms as adults do, but they may also experience:

*Poor growth, resulting in short stature
*Delayed development of
permanent teeth
*Delayed puberty
*Poor mental development

When to see a doctor
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~See your doctor if you're feeling tired for no reason or have any of the other signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as dry skin, a pale, puffy face, constipation or a hoarse voice.
~You'll also need to see your doctor for periodic testing of your thyroid function if you've had previous thyroid surgery; treatment with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications; or radiation therapy to your head, neck or upper chest.
~However, it may take years or even decades before any of these therapies or procedures result in hypothyroidism.
~If you have high blood cholesterol, talk to your doctor about whether hypothyroidism may be a cause.
~And if you're receiving hormone therapy for hypothyroidism, schedule follow-up visits as often as your doctor recommends.
~Initially, it's important to make sure you're receiving the correct dose of medicine.
~And over time, the dose you need may change.

Causes
******
~When your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, the balance of chemical reactions in your body can be upset.
~There can be a number of causes, including autoimmune disease, treatment for hyperthyroidism, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery and certain medications.
~Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of the front of your neck, just below your Adam's apple.
~Hormones produced by the thyroid gland — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — have an enormous impact on your health, affecting all aspects of your metabolism.
~They maintain the rate at which your body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control your body temperature, influence your heart rate, and help regulate the production of proteins.
~Hypothyroidism results when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones.
~Hypothyroidism may be due to a number of factors, including:

1)Autoimmune disease.
*People who develop a particular inflammatory disorder known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis suffer from the most common cause of hypothyroidism. *Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system produces antibodies that attack your own tissues. *Sometimes this process involves your thyroid gland.
*Scientists aren't sure why the body produces antibodies against itself.
*Some think a virus or bacterium might trigger the response, while others believe a genetic flaw may be involved. *Most likely, autoimmune diseases result from more than one factor.
*But however it happens, these antibodies affect the thyroid's ability to produce hormones.

2)Treatment for hyperthyroidism. *People who produce too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) are often treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications to reduce and normalize their thyroid function. *However, in some cases, treatment of hyperthyroidism can result in permanent hypothyroidism.

3)Thyroid surgery.
*Removing all or a large portion of your thyroid gland can diminish or halt hormone production.
*In that case, you'll need to take thyroid hormone for life.

4)Radiation therapy.
*Radiation used to treat cancers of the head and neck can affect your thyroid gland and may lead to hypothyroidism.
Medications.
*A number of medications can contribute to hypothyroidism.
*One such medication is lithium, which is used to treat certain psychiatric disorders.
*If you're taking medication, ask your doctor about its effect on your thyroid gland.

~Less often, hypothyroidism may result from one of the following:

1)Congenital disease.
*Some babies are born with a defective thyroid gland or no thyroid gland. In most cases, the thyroid gland didn't develop normally for unknown reasons, but some children have an inherited form of the disorder.
*Often, infants with congenital hypothyroidism appear normal at birth. *That's one reason why most states now require newborn thyroid screening.

2)Pituitary disorder.
*A relatively rare cause of hypothyroidism is the failure of the pituitary gland to produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) — usually because of a benign tumor of the pituitary gland.

3)Pregnancy.
*Some women develop hypothyroidism during or after pregnancy (postpartum hypothyroidism), often because they produce antibodies to their own thyroid gland.
*Left untreated, hypothyroidism increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and preeclampsia — a condition that causes a significant rise in a woman's blood pressure during the last three months of pregnancy.
*It can also seriously affect the developing fetus.

4)Iodine deficiency.
*The trace mineral iodine — found primarily in seafood, seaweed, plants grown in iodine-rich soil and iodized salt — is essential for the production of thyroid hormones.
*In some parts of the world, iodine deficiency is common, but the addition of iodine to table salt has virtually eliminated this problem in the United States.
*Conversely, taking in too much iodine can cause hypothyroidism.

Risk factors
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~Although anyone can develop hypothyroidism, you're at an increased risk if you:

*Are a woman older than age 60
*Have an autoimmune disease
*Have a close relative, such as a parent or grandparent, with an autoimmune disease
*Have been treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications
*Received radiation to your neck or upper chest
*Have had thyroid surgery (partial thyroidectomy)
*Have been pregnant or delivered a baby within the past six months

Complications
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~Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to a number of health problems:
1)Goiter.
~Constant stimulation of your thyroid to release more hormones may cause the gland to become larger — a condition known as a goiter.
~Hashimoto thyroiditis is one of the most common causes of a goiter. ~Although generally not uncomfortable, a large goiter can affect your appearance and may interfere with swallowing or breathing.

2)Heart problems.
~Hypothyroidism may also be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, primarily because high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the "bad" cholesterol — can occur in people with an underactive thyroid. ~Even subclinical hypothyroidism, a more benign condition than true hypothyroidism, can cause an increase in total cholesterol levels and impair the pumping ability of your heart. ~Hypothyroidism can also lead to an enlarged heart and heart failure.

3)Mental health issues.
~Depression may occur early in hypothyroidism and may become more severe over time.
~Hypothyroidism can also cause slowed mental functioning.
~Peripheral neuropathy. Long-term uncontrolled hypothyroidism can cause damage to your peripheral nerves — the nerves that carry information from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body, for example your arms and legs.
~Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may include pain, numbness and tingling in the area affected by the nerve damage. It may also cause muscle weakness or loss of muscle control.

4)Myxedema.
~This rare, life-threatening condition is the result of long-term, undiagnosed hypothyroidism.
~Its signs and symptoms include intense cold intolerance and drowsiness followed by profound lethargy and unconsciousness.
~A myxedema coma may be triggered by sedatives, infection or other stress on your body.
~If you have signs or symptoms of myxedema, you need immediate emergency medical treatment.

5)Infertility.
~Low levels of thyroid hormone can interfere with ovulation, which impairs fertility.
~In addition, some of the causes of hypothyroidism — such as autoimmune disorder — also impair fertility. ~Treating hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone replacement therapy may not fully restore fertility.
~Other interventions may be needed, as well.

6)Birth defects.
~Babies born to women with untreated thyroid disease may have a higher risk of birth defects than may babies born to healthy mothers.
~These children are also more prone to serious intellectual and developmental problems.
~Infants with untreated hypothyroidism present at birth are at risk of serious problems with both physical and mental development. But if this condition is diagnosed within the first few months of life, the chances of normal development are excellent.

bluepharma_team

29/09/2015

29/09/2015

28/09/2015

LOW BLOOD PRESSUREL(hypotension)
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~Low blood pressure (hypotension) would seem to be something to strive for.
~However, for many people, low blood pressure can cause symptoms of dizziness and fainting.
~In severe cases, low blood pressure can be life-threatening.
~Although blood pressure varies from person to person, a blood pressure reading of 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or less systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) or 60 mm Hg or less diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is generally considered low blood pressure.
~The causes of low blood pressure can range from dehydration to serious medical or surgical disorders. Low blood pressure is treatable, but it's important to find out what's causing your condition so that it can be properly treated.

Symptoms
°°°°°°°°°°
~For some people, low blood pressure can signal an underlying problem, especially when it drops suddenly or is accompanied by signs and symptoms such as:
*Dizziness or lightheadedness
*Fainting (syncope)
*Lack of concentration
*Blurred vision
*Nausea
*Cold, clammy, pale skin
*Rapid, shallow breathing
*Fatigue
*Depression
*Thirst

When to see a doctor
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~In many instances, low blood pressure isn't serious.
~If you have consistently low readings but feel fine, your doctor is likely to monitor you during routine exams.
~Even occasional dizziness or lightheadedness may be a relatively minor problem — the result of mild dehydration from too much time in the sun or a hot tub, for example. In these situations, it's not a matter so much of how far, but of how quickly, your blood pressure drops.
~Still, it's important to see your doctor if you experience any signs or symptoms of hypotension because they sometimes can point to more-serious problems. It can be helpful to keep a record of your symptoms, when they occur and what you were doing at the time.

Causes
°°°°°°°
~Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure in your arteries during the active and resting phases of each heartbeat.
Here's what the numbers mean:

1)Systolic pressure.
*The first (top) number in a blood pressure reading, this is the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood through your arteries to the rest of your body.

2)Diastolic pressure.
*The second (bottom) number in a blood pressure reading, this refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats.

3)Current guidelines identify
*normal blood pressure as lower than 120/80 mm Hg.

~Although you can get an accurate blood pressure reading at any given time, blood pressure isn't always the same.
~It can vary considerably in a short amount of time — sometimes from one heartbeat to the next, depending on body position, breathing rhythm, stress level, physical condition, medications you take, what you eat and drink, and even time of day.
~Blood pressure is usually lowest at night and rises sharply on waking.

Blood pressure:
~How low can you go?
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
~What's considered low blood pressure for you may be normal for someone else.
~Most doctors consider chronically low blood pressure too low only if it causes noticeable symptoms.
~Some experts define low blood pressure as readings lower than 90 mm Hg systolic or 60 mm Hg diastolic — you need to have only one number in the low range for your blood pressure to be considered lower than normal.
~In other words, if your systolic pressure is a perfect 115, but your diastolic pressure is 50, you're considered to have lower than normal pressure.
~A sudden fall in blood pressure also can be dangerous.
~A change of just 20 mm Hg — a drop from 110 systolic to 90 mm Hg systolic, for example — can cause dizziness and fainting when the brain fails to receive an adequate supply of blood.
~And big plunges, especially those caused by uncontrolled bleeding, severe infections or allergic reactions, can be life-threatening.
~Athletes and people who exercise regularly tend to have lower blood pressure and a slower heart rate than do people who aren't as fit.
~So, in general, do nonsmokers and people who eat a healthy diet and maintain a normal weight.
~But in some rare instances, low blood pressure can be a sign of serious, even life-threatening disorders.

Conditions that can cause
low blood pressure
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~Some medical conditions can cause low blood pressure.
~These include:

1)Pregnancy.
~Because a woman's circulatory system expands rapidly during pregnancy, blood pressure is likely to drop.
~This is normal, and blood pressure usually returns to your pre-pregnancy level after you've given birth.

2)Heart problems.
~Some heart conditions that can lead to low blood pressure include extremely low heart rate (bradycardia), heart valve problems, heart attack and heart failure.

*These conditions may cause low blood pressure because they prevent your body from being able to circulate enough blood.

Endocrine problems.
1)Thyroid conditions
~such as parathyroid disease — adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and, in some cases, diabetes can trigger low blood pressure.

2)Dehydration.
~When you become dehydrated, your body loses more water than it takes in. ~Even mild dehydration can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
~Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can all lead to dehydration.
~Far more serious is hypovolemic shock, a life-threatening complication of dehydration.
~It occurs when low blood volume causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and a reduction in the amount of oxygen reaching your tissues.
~If untreated, severe hypovolemic shock can cause death within a few minutes or hours.

3)Blood loss.
~Losing a lot of blood from a major injury or internal bleeding reduces the amount of blood in your body, leading to a severe drop in blood pressure.

4)Severe infection (septicemia). ~Septicemia can happen when an infection in the body enters the bloodstream.
~This condition can lead to a life-threatening drop in blood pressure called septic shock.

5)Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
~Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
~Common triggers of anaphylaxis include foods, certain medications, insect venoms and latex.
~Anaphylaxis can cause breathing problems, hives, itching, a swollen throat and a drop in blood pressure.

6)Lack of nutrients in your diet.
~A lack of the vitamins B-12 and folate can cause a condition in which your body doesn't produce enough red blood cells (anemia), causing low blood pressure.

Medications that can cause low blood pressure
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~Some medications you may take can also cause low blood pressure, including:

*Diuretics (water pills), such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic)

*Alpha blockers, such as prazosin (Minipress) and labetalol

*Beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal, Innopran XL, others) and timolol

*Drugs for Parkinson's disease, such as pramipexole (Mirapex) or those containing levodopa

*Certain types of antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants),
~including doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), protriptyline (Vivactil) and trimipramine (Surmontil)

*Sildenafil (Vi**ra) or tadalafil (Cialis), particularly in combination with the heart medication nitroglycerin

Types of low blood pressure
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~Doctors often break down low blood pressure (hypotension) into different categories, depending on the causes and other factors.
~Some types of low blood pressure include:

1)Low blood pressure
~on standing up (orthostatic, or postural, hypotension).
~This is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from a sitting position or if you stand up after lying down.
~Ordinarily, gravity causes blood to pool in your legs whenever you stand.
~Your body compensates for this by increasing your heart rate and constricting blood vessels, thereby ensuring that enough blood returns to your brain.
~But in people with orthostatic hypotension, this compensating mechanism fails and blood pressure falls, leading to symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision and even fainting.
~Orthostatic hypotension can occur for a variety of reasons, including dehydration, prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, diabetes, heart problems, burns, excessive heat, large varicose veins and certain neurological disorders.
~A number of medications also can cause orthostatic hypotension, particularly drugs used to treat high blood pressure — diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors — as well as antidepressants and drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease and erectile dysfunction.
~Orthostatic hypotension is especially common in older adults, with as many as 20 percent of those older than age 65 experiencing orthostatic hypotension.
~But orthostatic hypotension can also affect young, otherwise healthy people who stand up suddenly after sitting with their legs crossed for long periods or after working for a time in a squatting position.

2)Low blood pressure after eating (postprandial hypotension). ~Postprandial hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure after eating. It affects mostly older adults.
~Just as gravity pulls blood to your feet when you stand, a large amount of blood flows to your digestive tract after you eat.
~Ordinarily, your body counteracts this by increasing your heart rate and constricting certain blood vessels to help maintain normal blood pressure. But in some people these mechanisms fail, leading to dizziness, faintness and falls.
~Postprandial hypotension is more likely to affect people with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
~Lowering the dose of blood pressure drugs and eating small, low-carbohydrate meals may help reduce symptoms.

3)Low blood pressure from
faulty brain signals (neurallymediatedhypotension).
~This disorder causes blood pressure to drop after standing for long periods, leading to signs and symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and fainting.
~Neurally mediated hypotension mostly affects young people, and it seems to occur because of a miscommunication between the heart and the brain.
~When you stand for extended periods, your blood pressure falls as blood pools in your legs. Normally, your body then makes adjustments to normalize your blood pressure.
~But in people with neurally mediated hypotension, nerves in the heart's left ventricle actually signal the brain that blood pressure is too high, rather than too low.
~As a result, the brain lessens the heart rate, decreasing blood pressure even further. This causes more blood to pool in the legs and less blood to reach the brain, leading to lightheadedness and fainting.

4)Low blood pressure due to nervous system damage (multiple system atrophy with orthostatic hypotension). ~Also called Shy-Drager syndrome, this rare disorder causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and digestion.
~Although this condition can be associated with muscle tremors, slowed movement, problems with coordination and speech, and incontinence, its main characteristic is severe orthostatic hypotension in combination with very high blood pressure when lying down.

Risk factors
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~Low blood pressure (hypotension)
*can occur in anyone, though certain types of low blood pressure are more common depending on your age or other factors:

1)Age.
Drops in blood pressure on standing or after eating occur primarily in adults older than 65. Orthostatic, or postural, hypotension happens after standing up, while postprandial hypotension happens after eating a meal.

~Neurally mediated hypotension happens as a result of a miscommunication between the brain and heart. It primarily affects children and younger adults.

2)Medications.
~People who take certain medications, such as high blood pressure medications like alpha blockers, have a greater risk of low blood pressure.

3)Certain diseases.
~Parkinson's disease, diabetes and some heart conditions put you at a greater risk of developing low blood pressure.

bluepharma_team