[Functional disorder and arterial hypotension]

Arterial hypotension discovery (blood pressure < 110/60 mmHg for man and < 100/60 mmHg for woman) on the occasion of medical appointments for faintness is often considered as the cause of the medical problem. That causal relationship is yet far from being always established. If a disease is identified generating arterial hypotension, the symptoms reported such as loss of energy, fatigue and/or depressive mood can of course be the consequence. However, asymptomatic chronic hypotension exists. Symptoms appearance in a hypotensive patient such as fatigue, loss of vital energy, alteration of quality of life must lead to look for another explanation than (chronic) low blood pressure. This article will discuss that point.