Ask Dr Mel: Low blood pressure and chicken pox
blood pressure, under the microscope_jup
Every week we bring you expert advice from Woman's Weekly's health expert Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones, a GP from Stockport with 26 years' experience.
This week she answers questions on low blood pressure and chicken pox
Q My blood pressure is very low. Could this be dangerous to my health?
A Our blood pressure (BP) is the driving force that sends blood all round the body, and a “normal” BP reading is 140/90mm Hg or less. Our genes, ethnic origin and lifestyle all affect it — exercise, a low-salt diet and a low alcohol intake help to keep it down, but if blood pressure is too low (and this level varies from person to person), we can feel dizzy or faint. Low blood pressure can be a sign of shock, for example, after a haemorrhage or in serious illness. But even if we’re healthy, we can feel faint if we stand up suddenly or for too long (postural hypotension), are too hot or are very upset. This is more likely to happen if your BP is naturally low, or you take drugs that lower your BP (such as treatments for high BP or urinary problems). It’s not dangerous in itself, but if you faint you could fall and hurt yourself, so tell your GP if you notice this. Low blood pressure has traditionally been considered healthy, but the European Society of Hypertension says that it may be harmful for people with heart disease, and it plans to set lower limits (120/70 has been suggested) for people with certain conditions.
Q I’ve heard chickenpox is much worse in adults, but I’ve never had it. What should I do if I come into contact with it?
A Most of us catch chickenpox as children. It causes fever, and blisters which crust over after about a week, when it stops being infectious. Scratched spots can become infected and require antibiotics; however, soothing lotions or an antihistamine to reduce itching are usually all that’s needed. But chickenpox can be much worse in teenagers, adults, pregnant women and people whose immunity is reduced (for example, by chemotherapy), and can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia
or inflammation of other organs. So you’re right to be concerned, although if, like many people, you’ve had “subclinical” chickenpox without the telltale symptoms, a blood test might show that you
have antibodies (protective proteins that form after infection). A few people catch chickenpox more than once. Shingles is a sign that you’ve had chickenpox, but haven’t got rid of the virus completely. The incubation period is 11-20 days, so tell your GP if you come into contact with it. She may recommend an injection of immunoglobulin (antibodies obtained from people who’ve had chickenpox) to protect you, if she thinks that you’re at risk.
Read more great health advice from Dr Mel There's more expert health advice in this week's Woman's Weekly,
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is correct on date of publication. Please seek help from your own GP if
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By Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones
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