Wondering if there’s a link between spinal cord injury and low blood pressure? In general, individuals with spinal cord injury are more susceptible to low blood pressure, especially in the early stages of recovery. Additionally, orthostatic hypotension is a condition many people experience after spinal cord injury.

It’s characterized by a drop in blood pressure (and associated dizziness/lightheadedness) when you change positions quickly, usually when trying to sit or stand up after laying down for long periods.

This article will explain how spinal cord injury can cause low blood pressure and what you can do to manage it.

How Spinal Cord Injury Causes Low Blood Pressure

A spinal cord injury interferes with communication between your brain and body. As a result, many of your major body functions may not work properly.

One of the main roles of the autonomic nervous system is to control involuntary functions like blood pressure and heart rate.

A spinal cord injury can disrupt the reflexes that make blood vessels constrict and relax. When blood vessels relax too much, there isn’t enough force to keep blood flowing efficiently, which causes low blood pressure.

Consequently, blood will start to pool in your arms and legs, reducing the total amount of blood circulating back to your heart.

The less blood your heart receives, the less blood can be pumped back to the body.