Is 90/60 blood pressure dangerous?

Not by itself. NHLBI and MedlinePlus use 90/60 mm Hg as the cutoff for low blood pressure, but many healthy people run at or below it with no symptoms. It becomes a concern when it comes with dizziness, fainting, or signs of shock.

Is a low diastolic number alone a problem?

A diastolic reading below 60 mm Hg meets the usual definition of low blood pressure even if the systolic number is normal. Whether it matters depends on symptoms and the cause. Ask your clinician to review the reading alongside your medicines and history.

How do I check for orthostatic hypotension at home?

Rest lying down or seated for at least 5 minutes and take a reading. Then stand and take readings at 1 minute and 3 minutes. A drop of 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic suggests orthostatic hypotension, so share the log with your clinician.

Why do I feel dizzy after eating?

Some people have a drop in blood pressure after meals, called postprandial hypotension. MedlinePlus says it mostly affects older adults, people with high blood pressure, and people with Parkinson disease. Smaller meals and less alcohol may help, but get it checked.

Should I skip my blood pressure pill if my reading is low?

Do not skip or stop a dose on your own. Call your clinician, especially if you also feel dizzy or faint. They may lower the dose, change the timing, or switch to another drug.

What Blood Pressure Is Too Low?

The short answer: Most US health agencies call a reading below about 90/60 mm Hg low blood pressure. The number alone is not the problem. Low blood pressure matters when it causes dizziness, fainting, or signs of shock, or when it drops sharply as you stand up. A fall of 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing is the consensus definition of orthostatic hypotension.

What number counts as low blood pressure?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines low blood pressure (hypotension) as a reading lower than 90/60 mm Hg. MedlinePlus uses almost the same cutoff: 90/60 or lower. For comparison, NHLBI says normal blood pressure is usually below 120/80 mm Hg.

So the commonly used numbers look like this:

Systolic (top number) below 90 mm Hg, or
Diastolic (bottom number) below 60 mm Hg.

There is no single number that is dangerous for everyone. The MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia notes that a drop of about 20 mm Hg can cause problems for some people, even if the new reading is not below 90/60. A person who usually runs at 150/90 can feel unwell at 115/70. A fit young adult can run at 88/58 every day and feel fine.

One reading is also not enough to label you. Blood pressure moves with posture, meals, fluids, and time of day. A week of readings taken the same way tells you far more than one number. Our guide to home blood pressure monitoring covers how to take readings you can trust.

When does a low reading actually matter?

MedlinePlus puts it plainly: low blood pressure is a problem only if it causes dizziness, fainting, or, in extreme cases, shock. Many people with readings that run low all the time have no symptoms at all and need no treatment.

A low reading deserves attention in these situations:

It comes with symptoms. Lightheadedness, blurred vision, confusion, or fainting suggest the brain is not getting enough blood flow.
It is new or sudden. A fall from your usual level can point to dehydration, blood loss, infection, a heart rhythm problem, or a medicine effect.
It happens when you stand. A drop on standing raises the risk of falls, especially in older adults.
It happens after meals. MedlinePlus describes postprandial hypotension, a drop after eating that mostly affects older adults, people with high blood pressure, and people with Parkinson disease.

NHLBI adds that low blood pressure linked to a health problem can raise the risk of heart attack or stroke. That is why the cause matters more than the number.

What is orthostatic hypotension, and how is it defined?

Orthostatic hypotension means blood pressure falls when you move from lying or sitting to standing. A 2011 consensus statement from the American Autonomic Society and partner groups set the definition still used today. It is a sustained drop in systolic pressure of at least 20 mm Hg, or diastolic pressure of at least 10 mm Hg, within 3 minutes of standing or a head-up tilt.

A 2017 consensus panel on neurogenic orthostatic hypotension added two details:

In people with high blood pressure while lying down (systolic 150 or more, or diastolic 90 or more), a drop of 30 mm Hg systolic or 15 mm Hg diastolic may be a better cutoff. The size of the fall depends on the starting level.
Some people develop a delayed drop after more than 3 minutes of standing. A longer standing test or a tilt table test can find it.

The same panel describes the standard test. You rest lying down for at least 5 minutes, then stand for 3 minutes. Blood pressure is checked just before standing and at 1 and 3 minutes. In healthy people, systolic pressure usually falls by less than 10 mm Hg on standing.

Orthostatic hypotension is different from neurally mediated hypotension. MedlinePlus says the latter mostly affects children and young adults after long periods of standing, and children usually outgrow it.

What symptoms can low blood pressure cause?

NHLBI lists these symptoms of low blood pressure:

Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Confusion
Blurred vision
Fatigue or weakness
Headache, neck pain, or back pain
Nausea
Heart palpitations

Symptoms often appear right after standing up, after a large meal, or after long periods on your feet. Dizziness has many causes beyond blood pressure, from inner ear problems to low blood sugar. For a broader guide to what a symptom like that can mean, see symptom.md.

Shock is the emergency form of low blood pressure. NHLBI says to call 911 for signs of shock: cold, sweaty skin, fast breathing, bluish skin, or a weak, rapid pulse. MedlinePlus lists sudden blood loss, severe infection, heart attack, and severe allergic reaction as causes. If someone passes out, get emergency care.

Can blood pressure medication push you too low?

Yes. NHLBI names medicines for high blood pressure, depression, and Parkinson disease as causes of low blood pressure. MedlinePlus adds diuretics, other heart medicines, anti-anxiety drugs, some antidepressants, painkillers, and alcohol.

Signs that your treatment may be too strong include dizziness when you stand, a near-faint, unusual tiredness, or home readings that sit well below your target. Dehydration from heat, illness, or vomiting can make a usual dose too strong for a few days. Timing matters too. Our post on taking blood pressure medication in the morning or at night covers that question.

A low reading on its own is not always a reason to back off treatment. A 2023 individual participant meta-analysis in JAMA pooled 9 trials with 29,235 people. About 9% had orthostatic hypotension at the start. More intensive treatment lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease or death in people without orthostatic hypotension (hazard ratio 0.81) and in people with it (hazard ratio 0.83). The authors found no evidence that the benefit differed in people with low standing pressure. That study did not track dizziness, falls, or fainting as main outcomes, so symptoms still need attention.

The practical rule: do not stop or cut your medicine on your own. MedlinePlus advises talking to your provider first, who may change the dose or switch drugs. Our guide on whether you can stop blood pressure medication explains why stopping abruptly can backfire.

What can you do about symptoms of low blood pressure?

MedlinePlus suggests these self-care steps:

Sit or lie down as soon as symptoms start, and raise your feet above heart level.
Drink more fluids.
Get up slowly after sitting or lying down.
Avoid alcohol and long periods of standing.
Ask about compression stockings, which help keep blood from pooling in the legs.

Contact a provider right away for chest pain, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, fainting, black or maroon stools, or a fever above 101°F (38.3°C), per MedlinePlus. Bring a log of home readings, both seated and after 1 and 3 minutes of standing. That log helps your clinician tell a medicine effect from orthostatic hypotension or another cause.

The bottom line

A reading under 90/60 mm Hg is the usual cutoff for low blood pressure. It only matters if it causes symptoms, appears suddenly, or drops sharply when you stand. The consensus definition of orthostatic hypotension is a fall of 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing. If you take blood pressure medicine and feel dizzy or faint, check your readings and talk to your clinician before changing any dose.

Last updated: October 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before changing any blood pressure medication, and call 911 for fainting with chest pain or signs of shock.