Rapid Heart Rate
It would be logical to assume that your blood pressure would go up the faster your heart pumps blood. While that is the case, most of the time, there are always exceptions to the rule. A rapid heart rate is one of the symptoms of low blood pressure in some cases.
This happens when the blood pressure is particularly low and the circulatory system struggles to deliver enough oxygenated blood to the organs. The body tries to compensate for this low pressure by increasing the heart rate to supply enough oxygen-rich blood to where it’s needed, which results in the unusual combination of a high pulse rate and low blood pressure.
Heart rhythm specialist Tyler Taigen, MD, explained that this could happen if the heart’s electrical circuits are not properly functioning. A fast, abnormal heart rhythm over 100 and closer to 160 beats per minute, means it can’t adequately fill with blood. This chaotic electrical signaling makes the heart muscles out of sync between the top chamber and the bottom chamber. If the heart is less efficient, it means less blood is pumped through the body, an indication of low blood pressure.
Experts recommend seeing a doctor if the low blood pressure and high pulse rate scenario is accompanied by shortness of breath, feeling lightheaded, fainting, or chest pain.
