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Nursing vocabulary · Vital Signs

Hypotension

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˌhaɪpoʊˈtɛnʃən/nounCommon term

In nursing, hypotension means: Blood pressure that is lower than normal. In adults it is often defined as below about 90/60 mmHg, but the change from the patient's usual reading also matters.

In Turkish: hipotansiyon, tansiyon düşüklüğü, düşük tansiyon

How it is used

The adjective is 'hypotensive' ('She's hypotensive at 82/45'). Patients may feel dizzy or faint, especially when they stand up ('postural' or 'orthostatic hypotension'). The opposite is 'hypertension', high blood pressure; 'hypo-' (low) and 'hyper-' (high) sound similar in fast speech.

Example sentences

  1. He's been hypotensive since he came back from theatre, so the doctor has prescribed a fluid bolus.

  2. Hypotension is a common side effect of this drug, so we check her blood pressure before each dose.

Common collocations

  • postural hypotension
  • become hypotensive
  • severe hypotension
  • episode of hypotension
  • blood pressureThe force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as two numbers such as 120/80 and measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
  • vital signsThe basic body measurements that show how well a patient's body is working: usually temperature, pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure and oxygen level.
  • withholdTo not give a prescribed dose of a medicine for a period of time, usually for a safety reason such as low blood pressure or a planned operation.
  • sepsisA life-threatening condition in which the body's response to an infection starts to damage its own organs and tissues.

More terms: Vital Signs

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.