DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Low blood pressure

Why: to determine if acute or chronic.

Why: e.g. faintness with standing, fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness.

Why: This suggests orthostatic hypotension, which may be due to several causes, including hypopituitarism (low pituitary gland function), diabetic neuropathy, anemia and various cardiovascular disorders.

Why: e.g. trauma, external bleeding, rectal bleeding, bloody stool, vomiting blood, coffee-ground colored vomit, excessive vomiting, excessive diarrhea.

Why: may suggest significantly inadequate intake of fluid and dehydration as cause of low blood pressure e.g. poor fluid intake due to illness, anorexia, malnutrition or neglect.

Why: diastolic blood pressure normally drops with pregnancy until around 26 weeks gestation and then it increases back to pre-pregnancy blood pressure or higher. This is why women in early pregnancy are often prone to fainting. An ectopic pregnancy may also cause low blood pressure due to shock.

Why: e.g. may suggest internal or external bleeding as cause of low blood volume or anemia; injuries to the spinal cord above the level of T4 may cause low blood pressure.

Why: e.g. congestive cardiac failure, heart attacks, peptic ulcers, diabetes, Addison's disease.

Why: Many medications can cause low blood pressure including nitroglycerine, vasodilators, quinidine and tricyclic antidepressants.

Why: Hypotension is a common feature of drug overdose.

Why: severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis may cause shock and low blood pressure e.g. antibiotics, X-Ray dyes, foodstuffs such as shellfish, strawberries and peanuts, bee stings.

Why: may suggest septic shock due to infection as possible cause of low blood pressure. Low blood pressure is a late sign in septic shock.

Why: may suggest heart attack or pulmonary embolism.

Why: may suggest pulmonary embolism, allergy, anemia, pneumonia, pulmonary edema.

Why: e.g. shortness of breath on exertion, bilateral ankle swelling that is usually symmetrical and worse in the evenings, with improvement during the night. As the heart failure progresses, swelling ascends to involve the legs, thighs, genitalia and abdomen.

Why: e.g. frequency of urination, excessive thirst, weight loss (especially in Type 1 Diabetes mellitus), tiredness, fatigue, increased infections especially of the skin and genitals, blurry vision. Diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes mellitus may cause low blood pressure.

Why: e.g. pigmentation on the nipples, palmar creases, pressure areas and mouth, tiredness, weight loss, reduced appetite, nausea, diarrhea, passing urine at night. Addison's disease may cause reduced blood pressure.

Why: e.g. lethargy, weight gain, constipation, puffiness of face and eyes, hair loss, dry skin. Hypothyroidism may cause low blood pressure.

Why: e.g. heavy periods, rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, melena. Anemia may cause low blood pressure.

Why: e.g. wheeze, swollen tongue and lips, shortness of breath, hives, generalized skin redness, abdominal pain, seizures.

Why: e.g. slow onset usually in the sixth or seventh decades. Features include urinary incontinence, postural dizziness, fainting, impotence and reduced sweating. Later may develop rigidity of limbs, slowing of voluntary movements and lack of co-ordination of moveents.