Chronically low blood pressure is accompanied by a variety of complaints including fatigue, reduced drive, faintness, dizziness, headaches, palpitations, and increased pain sensitivity [1–4]. In addition, hypotensive individuals report cognitive impairment, above all deficits in attention and memory. Nevertheless, it is generally the case that in research, as well as in clinical practice, relatively little importance is ascribed to hypotension. One reason for this is that, despite mental symptoms, cerebral dysfunction generally is not taken into account [1]. This is a consequence of the current doctrine that low systemic blood pressure is compensated by autoregulatory processes which prevent reduced blood perfusion of the brain [5, 6].
Some recent findings challenge this doctrine: reduced cognitive performance in hypotension has been demonstrated by neuropsychological testing, and EEG studies have revealed diminished cortical activity. Moreover, the assumption of unimpaired brain perfusion in hypotension no longer holds. In the present review the necessity of a reappraisal concerning hypotension is discussed in light of the relationship between blood pressure and cerebral functioning.
Clin Auton Res. 2007 April; 17(2): 69–76. Published online 2006 November 14. doi: 10.1007/s10286-006-0379-7. | PMCID: PMC1858602 |
and Rainer SchandryStefan Duschek, Phone: +49-89/2180-5297, Fax: +49-89/2180-5233, Email: duschek@psy.uni-muenchen.de
