Low Diastolic Blood Pressure: What Causes It, What It Feels Like, and How to Treat It
Maintaining normal blood pressure is crucial for overall health and well-being. It serves as an important indicator that the body is functioning properly, especially when it comes to vital organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys. Healthy blood pressure ensures that oxygen and essential nutrients are efficiently transported throughout the body, supporting energy levels, organ function, and long-term health. When blood pressure remains within a normal range, it reflects a balanced cardiovascular system that can adapt to the body’s needs.
Problems with blood pressure are quite common, with hypertension (high blood pressure) being the most widely discussed issue today. However, low diastolic blood pressure is another condition that should not be overlooked. While it may seem less concerning than high blood pressure, it can still lead to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and even an increased risk of heart-related complications in some individuals.
Low diastolic blood pressure occurs when the lower number in a blood pressure reading falls below the normal range, which may affect how well the heart and other organs receive blood during rest periods between heartbeats. This condition can be caused by various factors, including dehydration, aging, certain medications, or underlying health issues.
Understanding the causes, symptoms, and potential risks associated with low diastolic blood pressure is important for maintaining overall cardiovascular health. By staying informed and making appropriate lifestyle choices, individuals can better manage their blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications. Read on to learn more about this condition and how it may impact your health.
A Brief on Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is defined as a measure of the force of blood against the walls of the arteries while your heart pumps blood through the circulatory system. It plays a vital role in ensuring that oxygen and nutrients are delivered efficiently to all parts of the body. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is represented as two numerical values.
The first figure represents systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart contracts and pushes blood out into circulation. This number indicates how hard the heart is working during each beat. The second figure represents diastolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats. This resting phase is equally important, as it allows the heart to refill with blood and maintain a steady flow throughout the body.
Normal blood pressure is generally considered to be less than 120/80 mmHg. Elevated blood pressure occurs when the systolic value ranges between 120 and 129 while the diastolic remains below 80. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is typically diagnosed when the systolic value is between 130 and 139 and the diastolic ranges from 80 to 89 or higher. It is important to note that both systolic and diastolic values can fluctuate throughout the day based on factors such as stress, activity levels, diet, and overall health.
While high blood pressure is widely recognized and discussed, low readings can also present concerns. In particular, understanding low diastolic blood pressure causes is important, as a lower-than-normal diastolic value may affect how well blood flows to vital organs during the heart’s resting phase. This condition can sometimes be linked to factors such as dehydration, aging, certain medications, or underlying medical conditions.
Although it may not receive as much attention as hypertension, low diastolic blood pressure is still a health issue worth monitoring. Being aware of both high and low blood pressure ranges can help individuals take proactive steps toward maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
What Is Diastolic Blood Pressure?
- Systolic top number — this is the pressure on your arteries each time your heart beats — diastolic bottom number — this is how much pressure your arteries are under between heartbeats.
- The muscles of the heart get blood when the heart is relaxing — this is different from the rest of the body which is supplied by blood when the heart is contracting. The diastolic number matters for the heart's own blood supply — not just the rest of the body.
- Normal vs low — low blood pressure is below 90/60 mmHg — normal blood pressure is above that up to 120/80 mmHg.
- Low diastolic specifically — low diastolic blood pressure is when blood pressure between heartbeats is lower than usual. A diastolic reading below 60 mmHg is the commonly used threshold.
Reference table:
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | Less than 80 |
| High (Stage 1) | 130–139 | 80–89 |
| High (Stage 2) | 140+ | 90+ |
| Low (Hypotension) | Less than 90 | Less than 60 |
Low Diastolic Blood Pressure Overview
Low diastolic blood pressure, also known as isolated diastolic hypotension, occurs when the diastolic (second) reading drops below 60 mmHg while the systolic blood pressure (first) reading remains within a normal range. Understanding low diastolic blood pressure causes is important because this condition can sometimes go unnoticed yet still impact overall cardiovascular health.
When measuring blood pressure, physicians often focus more on systolic readings, which can lead to diastolic blood pressure being overlooked. During systole, the heart contracts and pumps blood out to the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to vital organs. However, diastole is the phase when the heart relaxes between beats, allowing it to refill with blood and maintain a steady circulation.
More specifically, during this resting phase, the coronary arteries supply the heart itself with oxygen-rich blood. If the diastolic reading is too low, it means the pressure in these arteries is reduced, potentially limiting the amount of oxygen the heart receives. Over time, this may affect how efficiently the heart functions and could contribute to fatigue, dizziness, or other symptoms if not addressed properly.
There are several low diastolic blood pressure causes, including dehydration, aging, certain medications, and underlying health conditions that affect blood vessel elasticity. Identifying these causes early can help in managing the condition effectively and preventing further complications.
For most people, the goal is to remain normotensive, meaning maintaining a healthy and balanced blood pressure range. If you are experiencing symptoms or suspect you may have low diastolic blood pressure, it is important to seek proper medical advice and evaluation. Below are some key signs and factors to watch out for if you believe you may be affected by this condition.
Symptoms of Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
Low diastolic blood pressure symptoms vary in severity. They usually include:
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Lightheadedness or dizziness: a drop in diastolic blood pressure can decrease the flow of blood to the brain. As a result, you may experience dizziness[3], lightheadedness, or vertigo (spinning sensation). These low diastolic blood pressure symptoms tend to be more pronounced when standing up quickly.
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Fatigue: lowered diastolic blood pressure may contribute to a sense of tiredness or fatigue as the body struggles to maintain proper blood flow to meet its energy demands.
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Difficulty concentrating: inadequate blood flow to the brain could lead to brain fog or poor concentration.
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Blurry vision: decreased blood flow to the eyes can lead to blurred vision. This condition might impair or affect your daily activities.
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Syncope (fainting): in severe cases, isolated diastolic blood pressure can lead to a sudden loss of consciousness or fainting. This happens when the brain doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen.
In addition to the abovementioned low diastolic blood pressure symptoms, this problem could also manifest symptoms such as dehydration, confusion, cold or clammy and pale skin, rapid or shallow breathing, headache, palpitations, and depression. Symptoms of low diastolic blood pressure may subside when a person sits down or rests.
What Causes Low Diastolic Blood Pressure?
There are various low diastolic blood pressure causes and some of them include:
Arterial Stiffness and Ageing With age people lose artery elasticity — for some older individuals the arteries can become very stiff and unable to spring back between heartbeats — as a result the diastolic blood pressure may become low.
Dehydration Dehydration due to excess sweating may reduce both systolic and DBP — reduced water intake in old age. One of the most common and correctable causes of low diastolic blood pressure.
Medications Loss of water in stools due to medications such as diuretics prostate medications antihypertensive medications medications for Parkinson's disease and narcotics tricyclic antidepressants. Some medications like alpha-blockers can cause the blood vessels to dilate or open up — since alpha-blockers do not have the same effect on systolic pressure as they do on diastolic pressure they can lead to isolated diastolic hypotension.
Orthostatic Hypotension Moving from lying down to standing up can lead to a dip in blood pressure — this is orthostatic hypotension — symptoms may worsen in warm temperatures or after eating a large meal. Orthostatic hypotension — your blood pressure stays low for longer than three minutes after you stand up from a sitting position — the drop must be 20 mmHg or more for your systolic top pressure and 10 mmHg or more for your diastolic bottom pressure.
Heart Conditions Heart problems kidney disease endocrine disorders and severe infections can all affect blood pressure regulation. Heart valve disease, bradycardia, and heart failure all reduce the pressure generated between beats.
Prolonged Bed Rest Prolonged bed rest causes a reduction in the tone of the arteries.
Alcohol Alcohol can cause dilation of the blood vessels that may lead to lower DBP lower heart rate malfunctioning of the heart valves and heart attack — these are serious disorders that require care and treatment.
Nutritional Deficiencies Dehydration blood loss and certain nutritional deficiencies may also play a role. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies cause anaemia which reduces blood pressure; iron deficiency similarly affects cardiovascular function.
How is Low Diastolic Blood Pressure Treated?
At the moment, there is no specific doctor-recommended low diastolic blood pressure treatment. There is no medication that your doctor can prescribe to treat isolated diastolic blood pressure specifically.
If you have low diastolic blood pressure and also take an alpha-blocker, your healthcare provider may prescribe a medication that does not cause low diastolic readings. It is very crucial to always get the proper advice from your doctor to ensure that you are taking the right treatment for your condition.
The best approach in taking a low diastolic blood pressure treatment is to identify the causes. Various factors can affect diastolic blood pressure, not just medications. Knowing the underlying causes will also help you manage your condition well.
For example, if low diastolic blood pressure causes are attributed to dehydration or hormonal imbalances, then consider increasing your water intake or finding treatment to balance your hormones. Always consult a doctor regarding hormonal imbalances. You may also want to consider the natural way of managing your hormones. In addition, vomiting and excessive sweating may also cause dehydration. By drinking plenty of fluids during the day, you will be able to address these conditions easily.
Understanding the low diastolic blood pressure causes should help you manage this condition.
You may also need to make some lifestyle changes to address low diastolic blood pressure. Lifestyle changes are key to preventing and treating your problems with diastolic blood pressure.
Is Low Diastolic Blood Pressure Dangerous?
- Treatment is not always necessary for low diastolic blood pressure.
- The cardiovascular risk — very low diastolic pressure (below 60 mmHg) in people with cardiovascular disease may reduce coronary perfusion — the heart muscle receives blood during diastole (between beats) and very low diastolic pressure can compromise this supply.
- The J-curve phenomenon — research suggests both very high and very low diastolic pressure increase cardiovascular risk — the relationship between diastolic BP and outcomes is J-shaped
- When to worry — persistent readings below 60 mmHg with symptoms; rapidly falling diastolic pressure; in people with known heart disease
- When NOT to worry — isolated asymptomatic low diastolic readings in otherwise healthy people; athletic bradycardia is similarly low but normal.
How to Prevent Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to prevent low diastolic blood pressure symptoms or manage them when they occur. The best strategies are described below.
1. Change your diet and exercise
The food you eat has a major impact on your blood pressure. Ideally, you should keep your salt intake to 1500-2300 mg daily. Read labels thoroughly to avoid consuming too much salt. Excessive salt intake would put you at a higher risk for hypertension.
Avoid or reduce consumption of heavily processed, sugar-laden, and high in trans fats foods. Your diet should be heart-healthy and should contain plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, and lean protein.
When changing your diet, you should also strive to drink plenty of fluids. Consume healthy fruit beverages and other electrolyte-rich liquids such as sports drinks. Of course, water is also essential.
Regular exercise is an excellent low diastolic blood pressure treatment and prevention method. Being sedentary is not very healthy. Physical activity exhibits a positive effect on cardiovascular health and helps normalize your blood pressure. Ideally, you should get around 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week.
You can modify exercise by monitoring your blood pressure and adapting the workout routine accordingly. Since it’s possible for exercise to lower diastolic blood pressure, you should do milder-intensity activities when your blood pressure is lower[7].
2. Maintain a healthy weight
A healthy weight is crucial for our health and wellbeing. Changes in our weight can contribute to various health problems. They can also affect blood pressure. For that reason, maintaining weight within a healthy range is a good way to treat and prevent the lowering of diastolic blood pressure. Normal body weight helps normalize your blood pressure too.
3. Manage stress
Chronic stress can affect blood pressure due to higher levels of stress hormone known as cortisol. Evidence confirms that stress is strongly connected[8] to anxiety. When you’re stressed out and anxious, you may hyperventilate and sweat. This can lower your diastolic blood pressure.
To prevent or manage isolated diastolic blood pressure, you should be proactive when managing stress and anxiety. Practice relaxing techniques such as meditation and yoga. Engage in creative activities such as reading and writing. Taking long walks will also help you calm your nerves. With proper stress and anxiety management, you can prevent problems with diastolic blood pressure.
4. Reduce or avoid caffeine
For most people, the go-to low diastolic blood pressure treatment or prevention strategy is to drink coffee. This might not be the wisest idea though. Caffeine can temporarily increase your blood pressure. Hence, excessive consumption of caffeine could lead to fluctuations in blood pressure. Plus, caffeine tends to act as a diuretic that makes you want to go to the bathroom frequently. This can contribute to dehydration, which leads to low diastolic readings.
5. Get a good night's sleep
You might want to consider sleep-inducing strategies if you are not getting enough sleep. Insufficient sleep can disrupt the body’s natural blood pressure regulation. It is essential to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
6. Take medication
If you have an isolated low diastolic blood pressure due to specific medical conditions or medications, you should consult your healthcare provider. Your condition might call for a modification in your medications to manage your symptoms and prevent future health problems. Moreover, you should take your medications promptly and accordingly. Inform your doctor if you believe your medications are giving you adverse effects.
7. Use supplements
Dietary supplements are a good choice for prevention of diastolic blood pressure problems. They contain natural ingredients that keep your blood pressure within a normal and healthy range. For example, Vazopril Blood Pressure Support Supplement is specifically formulated to normalize blood flow and thereby support healthy blood pressure.
8. Get a massage
Massage helps you relax and is an excellent self-care treatment for people who are stressed out and anxious. Plus, it promotes healthy blood flow. Good circulation is crucial for normalizing blood pressure.
Complications of Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
When left unmanaged, isolated diastolic blood pressure can lead to several complications such as:
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Higher risk of falls: sometimes a drop in diastolic blood pressure causes dizziness and fainting. This increases the risk of falling which could cause injuries such as head trauma and fractures.
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Heart damage: isolated diastolic blood pressure can lead to heart damage and or heart disease. It can also be associated with[9] heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
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Impaired kidney function: when your diastolic blood pressure is low, the reduction in blood flow affects the kidneys' ability to filter waste products from the blood. This can lead to kidney dysfunction over time.
Low Diastolic Blood Pressure : Special Considerations
Older Adults Ageing increases a person's risk of low diastolic blood pressure. Arterial stiffening is the primary mechanism — the most common demographic affected.
People on Blood Pressure Medication Over-treatment of hypertension is the most common cause of isolated diastolic hypotension in clinical practice — the goal of antihypertensive therapy should be to reach but not overshoot the target range.
Athletes Highly trained athletes often have lower resting blood pressure — including lower diastolic pressure — due to cardiac adaptation. This is physiological and not concerning when asymptomatic. Cross-link to Sinus Bradycardia article — the same athletic adaptation principle applies.
Pregnant Women Blood pressure naturally falls during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy — mild diastolic hypotension is common and usually self-limiting.
Frequently asked questions
How do you increase diastolic blood pressure?
You can increase diastolic blood pressure by adding electrolyte-rich foods to your diet. Exercising regularly and managing your stress and anxiety are very useful in normalizing your blood pressure. You should also consult your doctor about the medications if you’re experiencing side effects. Modifying dosages could help increase diastolic blood pressure.
What affects low diastolic blood pressure?
Various factors affect isolated diastolic blood pressure including medications, dehydration, hormonal imbalances, and even the natural aging process.
Is low diastolic blood pressure an emergency?
Lowered diastolic blood pressure isn’t always an emergency, but it can indicate underlying problems and you shouldn’t ignore it. If you get a very low reading on your diastolic blood pressure and if you’re experiencing rapid breathing, weakness, rapid pulse, and if your skin is turning blue, cold, and sweaty, you must seek emergency treatment immediately.
Can low diastolic blood pressure cause a stroke?
Lowered diastolic blood pressure may increase[10] the risk of stroke because it reduces blood flow to the brain. However, this is a complicated issue. Not everyone with isolated diastolic blood pressure will develop a stroke.
Bottom line
This post mainly focuses on low diastolic blood pressure, its causes, symptoms, and treatment. A drop in diastolic blood pressure can stem from various factors, including certain medications, dehydration, and the natural aging process, which may reduce the elasticity of blood vessels. In some cases, underlying health conditions may also contribute to this issue, making it important to identify the root cause early.
Additionally, this condition can manifest through a range of symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, or even fainting in more severe cases. These symptoms may become more noticeable during sudden movements, such as standing up quickly. Although there is no single, specific medication designed solely to treat this condition, there are several effective ways to manage it.
Making healthy lifestyle changes—such as staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet, and engaging in regular physical activity—can play a key role in improving blood pressure levels. Some individuals may also benefit from targeted supplements that support cardiovascular health. Regular monitoring and consistent check-ups with a medical professional are equally important to ensure the condition is managed properly and does not lead to further complications.
References
1] ↑https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings
2] ↑https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/10393-diastolic-blood-pressure-how-low-is-too-low
3] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1858602/
4] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10085810/
5] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7283563/
6] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7581570/
7] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2094526/
8] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6712367/
9] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7267217/
10] ↑https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-low-blood-pressure-cause-a-stroke
Dr. Ahmed Zayad
Dr. Zayed, has years of experience in the field and has been contributing to public health awareness. Dr. Ahmed Zayed holds a baccalaureate of Medicine and Surgery. Egypt. Dr. Zayed believes in providing knowledgeable information to readers. His articles were featured on many websites like HuffingtonPost, Chicagotribune . Other than his passion for writing, Dr. Zayed spends his time outside the hospital, either reading or at the gym.
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