Orthostatic hypotension: Difference between revisions

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Orthostatic Hypotension

Chemical structure of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Orthostatic hypotension (OH), also known as postural hypotension, is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. It can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even cause you to faint.

Pathophysiology

Orthostatic hypotension occurs when the body's normal mechanisms for maintaining blood pressure fail to respond adequately to the change in posture. Normally, when a person stands up, gravity causes blood to pool in the veins of the legs and trunk. This pooling reduces the amount of blood returning to the heart, and consequently, the heart pumps less blood, leading to a drop in blood pressure. The body compensates by increasing heart rate and constricting blood vessels to maintain blood pressure and blood flow to the brain.

In individuals with orthostatic hypotension, these compensatory mechanisms are impaired. This can be due to various reasons, including dehydration, prolonged bed rest, certain medications, or underlying medical conditions such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, or autonomic neuropathy.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms of orthostatic hypotension include:

Dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing
Blurred vision
Weakness
Fatigue
Nausea
Palpitations
Headache

In severe cases, it can lead to syncope (fainting), which can result in falls and injuries.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension is typically made by measuring blood pressure in different positions. A significant drop in blood pressure when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position is indicative of the condition. A drop of 20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure within three minutes of standing is considered diagnostic.

Treatment

Treatment of orthostatic hypotension focuses on the underlying cause and may include:

Increasing salt and fluid intake to expand blood volume
Wearing compression stockings to reduce blood pooling in the legs
Medications such as fludrocortisone or midodrine to increase blood pressure
Lifestyle changes, such as rising slowly from a sitting or lying position, avoiding alcohol, and eating smaller, more frequent meals

Related Pages

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-{{Redirect|Head rush|the television science series|Head Rush (TV series)}}
+== Orthostatic Hypotension ==
-{{Infobox medical condition (new)
-| name            = Orthostatic hypotension
-| synonyms        = Orthostasis, postural, positional hypotension
-| image           =
-| caption         =
-| field           = [[Cardiology]], [[Neurology]]
-| symptoms        = symptoms that are worse when sitting or standing and improve when lying down, <br>including lightheadedness, vertigo, tinnitus, slurred speech, <br>confusion, coathanger pain in neck and shoulders, <br>grayed or blurred vision, severe fatigue, <br>fainting or near fainting
-| complications   = cumulative brain damage, sudden death from falls
-| onset           =
-| duration        =
-| types           =
-| causes          =
-| risks           =
-| diagnosis       = in-office (lay down for at least 20 minutes, take BP;<br> stand for 3 minutes, take BP), or tilt-table testing by an autonomic specialist
-| differential    =
-| prevention      =
-| treatment       = identify and treat causes (medications, dehydration),<br> midodrine, compression garments, bed tilting
-| medication      =
-| prognosis       = depends on frequency, severity, and underlying cause; <br>neurogenic orthostatic hypotension is a chronic, <br>debilitating, and often progressively fatal condition
-| frequency       =
-| deaths          =
-}}
-Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a type of [[low blood pressure]] that occurs upon standing or when changing from a lying or seated position to standing. This transition can cause light-headedness, fainting, and falls, posing a significant health risk, particularly in older adults.
-=== Understanding Orthostatic Hypotension ===
+[[File:Tetrahydrocannabinol.svg|thumb|right|Chemical structure of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)]]
-Orthostatic hypotension is a physical finding defined by the American Autonomic Society and the American Academy of Neurology as a systolic blood pressure decrease of at least 20 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure decrease of at least 10 mm Hg within three minutes of standing.
+'''Orthostatic hypotension''' (OH), also known as postural hypotension, is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. It can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even cause you to faint.
-It's the result of the body's inadequate response to the shift in gravitational stress when moving from a reclining or seated position to standing. Normally, when an individual stands, gravity pulls blood into the lower extremities, leading to a decrease in blood pressure. The body typically compensates by narrowing blood vessels and increasing heart rate to maintain blood flow to the brain. However, in individuals with orthostatic hypotension, these compensatory mechanisms fail, leading to decreased cerebral blood flow and symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion.
+== Pathophysiology ==
+Orthostatic hypotension occurs when the body's normal mechanisms for maintaining blood pressure fail to respond adequately to the change in posture. Normally, when a person stands up, gravity causes blood to pool in the veins of the legs and trunk. This pooling reduces the amount of blood returning to the heart, and consequently, the heart pumps less blood, leading to a drop in blood pressure. The body compensates by increasing heart rate and constricting blood vessels to maintain blood pressure and blood flow to the brain.
-=== Symptoms and Consequences ===
+In individuals with orthostatic hypotension, these compensatory mechanisms are impaired. This can be due to various reasons, including dehydration, prolonged bed rest, certain medications, or underlying medical conditions such as [[Parkinson's disease]], [[diabetes]], or [[autonomic neuropathy]].
-People with orthostatic hypotension may experience dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, weakness, fatigue, nausea, palpitations, headache, and syncope (fainting). In severe cases, it can lead to falls and injuries, particularly in the elderly.
+== Symptoms ==
+The primary symptoms of orthostatic hypotension include:
+* Dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing
+* Blurred vision
+* Weakness
+* Fatigue
+* Nausea
+* Palpitations
+* Headache
-=== Causes and Risk Factors ===
+In severe cases, it can lead to syncope (fainting), which can result in falls and injuries.
-Orthostatic hypotension can occur for various reasons, including [[dehydration]], prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, diabetes, heart problems, burns, excessive heat, varicose veins, certain neurological disorders, and advanced age. Certain medications, like diuretics, beta-blockers, and drugs for Parkinson's disease, may also induce orthostatic hypotension.
+== Diagnosis ==
+Diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension is typically made by measuring blood pressure in different positions. A significant drop in blood pressure when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position is indicative of the condition. A drop of 20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure within three minutes of standing is considered diagnostic.
-=== Diagnosis ===
+== Treatment ==
+Treatment of orthostatic hypotension focuses on the underlying cause and may include:
+* Increasing salt and fluid intake to expand blood volume
+* Wearing compression stockings to reduce blood pooling in the legs
+* Medications such as fludrocortisone or midodrine to increase blood pressure
+* Lifestyle changes, such as rising slowly from a sitting or lying position, avoiding alcohol, and eating smaller, more frequent meals
-The diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension is based on a physical examination, patient history, and the characteristic decrease in blood pressure upon standing. Further tests may be conducted to ascertain the cause of the condition, such as blood tests, electrocardiograms, stress tests, or tilt-table tests.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Hypotension]]
-=== Treatment and Management ===
+* [[Autonomic nervous system]]
+* [[Syncope]]
+* [[Blood pressure]]
-Treatment of orthostatic hypotension focuses on the underlying cause, if identifiable, and symptomatic relief. Depending on the cause, treatment options might involve lifestyle changes, medications, or compression stockings to improve blood flow. It's important to speak with a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
+{{Cardiovascular system}}
-== References ==
+[[Category:Cardiovascular diseases]]
-<references />
-== See Also ==
-* [[Hypotension]]
-* [[Syncope (medicine)|Syncope]]
-* [[Autonomic nervous system]]
-* [[Dehydration]]
-[[Category:Cardiology]]
-[[Category:Blood pressure]]
-[[Category:Medical symptoms]]
-{{stub}}
-{{Autonomic diseases}}
-{{Vascular diseases}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Orthostatic Hypotension}}
-[[Category:Vascular diseases]]
-[[Category:Hypotension]]
-[[Category:Peripheral nervous system disorders]]