Darah rendah (low blood pressure, or hypotension) is a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg; it often causes no symptoms and only needs treatment if it does. Symptoms include dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, weakness, feeling sick, confusion and fainting, especially when standing up quickly. It can be normal for fit, healthy people, run in families, or be caused by pregnancy, conditions such as diabetes, or some medicines. Getting up slowly, drinking more water, eating small, frequent meals and limiting alcohol all help. Medicines are rarely needed. See a doctor if you keep feeling dizzy or fainting.
What is darah rendah (low blood pressure)?
Darah rendah or tekanan darah rendah means low blood pressure (hypotension). According to the NHS:
- low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg;
- it does not always cause symptoms;
- you may need treatment only if it causes symptoms.
Do not confuse it with two similar-sounding terms:
- kurang darah means anaemia, a low level of haemoglobin in the blood, not low blood pressure; see our guide to kurang darah;
- darah tinggi is the opposite problem, high blood pressure; see our guide to darah tinggi.
Bacaan tekanan darah rendah: what reading counts as low?
A blood pressure reading has two numbers, for example 130/80 mmHg. According to the NHS:
- the first (top) number is the systolic pressure, the highest level when your heart pumps blood around the body;
- the second (bottom) number is the diastolic pressure, the lowest level when your heart relaxes between beats.
| Reading | What it means (NHS) |
|---|---|
| Less than 90/60 mmHg | Low blood pressure (darah rendah) |
| 140/90 mmHg or higher at a clinic, or 135/85 mmHg or higher at home | High blood pressure (darah tinggi) |
A single low reading without symptoms is usually nothing to worry about. Blood pressure changes during the day and with activity and emotions. What matters most is whether you have symptoms. You can check your blood pressure at a pharmacy, clinic or at home with a home blood pressure monitor.
Tanda darah rendah: what are the symptoms?
According to the NHS, get your blood pressure checked if you keep getting symptoms such as:
- lightheadedness or dizziness;
- feeling sick;
- blurred vision;
- generally feeling weak;
- confusion;
- fainting.
These symptoms might mean your blood pressure is too low, but dizziness has many other causes too; see our guide to vertigo and pening kepala.
Why do you feel dizzy when you stand up?
If you get symptoms when you stand up or suddenly change position, you may have a type of low blood pressure called postural hypotension (also called orthostatic hypotension). The NHS also lists standing up too quickly as one cause of fainting that could be a sign of low blood pressure.
To reduce these episodes, get up slowly: move from lying to sitting, then sitting to standing, especially when getting out of bed.
Punca darah rendah: what causes low blood pressure?
Your blood pressure can vary with the time of day, what you are doing and how you are feeling. According to the NHS, there are many possible causes of low blood pressure:
- you may be fit and healthy;
- it may run in your family;
- some people develop it as they get older;
- pregnancy;
- some medical conditions, such as diabetes (see our guide to kencing manis);
- some medicines.
Not eating or drinking enough and being too hot can also make you more likely to faint, according to the NHS.
Cara menaikkan tekanan darah rendah: what can you do?
The NHS suggests these steps to help with symptoms of low blood pressure:
Do:
- get up slowly from sitting to standing;
- take care when getting out of bed: move slowly from lying to sitting to standing;
- eat small, frequent meals; lying down or sitting still for a while after eating may also help;
- drink more water.
Don't:
- sit or stand for long periods;
- bend down or change posture suddenly;
- drink too much alcohol.
Makanan untuk darah rendah: what should you eat and drink?
There is no special "darah rendah diet", but eating and drinking habits can help:
- Small, frequent meals rather than large ones, with a rest afterwards (NHS).
- More water through the day (NHS).
- Limit alcohol (NHS).
- Salt: Cleveland Clinic notes that a doctor who diagnoses low blood pressure may advise increasing salt. Do not add extra salt on your own: in Malaysia, too much salt is already a common problem and raises blood pressure, so only do this if your doctor advises it.
Many people search for fruits or foods to avoid (buah yang dilarang untuk darah rendah). The NHS does not list any specific foods or fruits to avoid for low blood pressure; focus on regular meals, enough fluids and limiting alcohol.
Ubat darah rendah: how is it treated?
If a cause for low blood pressure can be found, a doctor can recommend treatment to ease your symptoms. According to the NHS, they may suggest:
- changing a medicine or its dose, if it is the cause (do not stop or change a medicine on your own);
- wearing support stockings, which can improve circulation and increase blood pressure.
Medicine to increase blood pressure is rarely needed, because simple lifestyle measures or treating the underlying cause usually work.
What should you do if someone faints?
If you feel like you are about to faint, the NHS suggests:
- lie down with your legs raised, or if you cannot, sit with your head lowered between your knees;
- drink some water;
- cross your legs while standing, or rock up and down on your toes;
- clench your fists.
If someone faints and is breathing normally, lay them on their back and raise their legs (if they are pregnant, especially more than 28 weeks, lay them on their side). Most people wake up within 30 seconds. See a doctor after fainting to find the cause.
Call 999 if someone who has fainted:
- is not breathing, or cannot be woken up within 1 minute;
- has not fully recovered, or has difficulty with speech or movement;
- has chest pain or a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat;
- has seriously hurt themselves, or is shaking or jerking (a seizure);
- fainted while exercising or while lying down.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is darah rendah (low blood pressure)?
Darah rendah, or tekanan darah rendah, means low blood pressure (hypotension). According to the NHS, it is a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg. It does not always cause symptoms and is often harmless; it only needs treatment if it causes symptoms such as dizziness or fainting. It is different from kurang darah (anaemia), which means a low level of haemoglobin.
What blood pressure reading is too low (bacaan tekanan darah rendah)?
Low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg. The first number is the systolic pressure, when your heart pumps, and the second is the diastolic pressure, when your heart relaxes. A low reading without symptoms is usually not a problem; what matters is whether you feel dizzy, weak or faint.
What are the signs of low blood pressure (tanda darah rendah)?
Symptoms can include lightheadedness or dizziness, feeling sick, blurred vision, feeling generally weak, confusion and fainting. If symptoms happen when you stand up or change position suddenly, you may have postural hypotension. Get your blood pressure checked if you keep getting these symptoms.
What causes low blood pressure (punca darah rendah)?
Blood pressure varies with the time of day, what you are doing and how you feel. According to the NHS, it may be low because you are fit and healthy, because it runs in your family, or as you get older. It can also be caused by pregnancy, some medical conditions such as diabetes, and some medicines.
What should I eat if I have low blood pressure (darah rendah makan apa)?
The NHS suggests eating small, frequent meals, resting for a while after eating, drinking more water and not drinking too much alcohol. A doctor may sometimes advise adding more salt, but do not increase salt on your own without medical advice, as too much salt raises blood pressure and is already a common problem in Malaysia.
How can I raise low blood pressure (cara menaikkan tekanan darah rendah)?
Get up slowly from sitting or lying down, avoid sitting or standing still for long periods, avoid bending down or changing position suddenly, drink more water and eat small, frequent meals. A doctor may suggest support stockings or changing a medicine that is causing it. Medicine to raise blood pressure is rarely needed.
When is low blood pressure dangerous?
See a doctor if you keep getting dizzy or fainting. Call 999 if someone who has fainted is not breathing, cannot be woken within 1 minute, has not fully recovered or has difficulty speaking or moving, has chest pain or palpitations, fainted while exercising or lying down, has a seizure, or was seriously hurt.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
