Orthostatic Hypotension: Causes Symptom’s, diagnosis And Dizziness on Standing Up
March 2, 2022
What is orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)?
Orthostatic hypotension, also known as postural hypotension, is a sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when you stand up quickly.
“Orthostasis” means “standing up,” “hypotension” is the term for low blood pressure, and with it that blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries.
Let us tell you that when you stand up, gravity pulls blood to your feet and with it your blood pressure starts falling so Certainly reflexes in yours body’s compensate for This changes Plus it makes your heart beat faster to pump more blood, and at the same time your blood vessels constrict to prevent blood from pooling in your legs.
It is to be noted that some of these drugs can affect these normal reflexes and with this they can lead to orthostatic hypotension. As you age, these reflexes also start to weaken. And for this reason, orthostatic hypotension is more common in older adults.
In fact, according to a 2021 research review, only about 28 percent of the general population of older adults is affected by orthostatic hypotension.
Friends, that condition is often mild, and with it it lasts only a few minutes after standing, but in more severe cases only those people can faint and either they can lose consciousness.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of orthostatic hypotension are dizziness upon standing and lightheadedness with it. Symptoms usually go away when sitting or lying down.
Other common symptoms include:
- your nausea
- and that leg buckling
- your headache
- your weakness
- more confused
- your blurred vision
Less common symptoms include:
- you faint
- pain in your chest
- your neck and shoulder pain
- causes as well as risk factors
Note that this orthostatic hypotension can be a temporary problem, and it can either be chronic. Sometimes, the exact cause of this condition is not known. And there are other, more obvious causes, such as medications as well as this chronic bleeding.
So that’s other known Causes of the orthostatic hypotension includes:
- and that dehydration
- and some chemotherapy drugs
- and vasodilator drugs (such as those used to treat high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease)
- and that some antipsychotic drugs
- some antidepressants
- and he drinks
- and hypovolemia (low blood plasma)
- and that cardiac pump failure
- Venous pooling (when gravity causes blood to pool in the abdomen and legs)
- and underlying conditions that cause malfunction of the autonomic nervous system (such as Parkinson’s disease)
- and with that he had some spinal problems
- and Guillain Barre syndrome
- Diabetes
Friends, let us tell you that some of these risk factors can increase the chance that you may experience orthostatic hypotension. And also some of the people who are at higher risk and they include:
- It should be noted that older people (age 65 and over), especially those who spend a lot of time lying down
- and those who have recently given birth
- and the person who has taken bed rest
- And that teens (because of how fast they’re growing in a short amount of time)
- Orthostatic hypotension occurs more often in the morning and can also occur an hour or two after a large meal, and this one is especially high in carbohydrates.
Complications
Fainting is a common complication of orthostatic hypotension, which is a temporary loss of consciousness (otherwise known as fainting). Fainting, as well as these fall-related injuries, is another potential complication, especially in older adults.
In addition, living with blood pressure that frequently drops and rises can increase the risk of stroke as well as other heart conditions.
Diagnosis and treatment
Tell that if your doctor suspects that you have orthostatic hypotension, and he or she will check your blood pressure while you are sitting, lying down, and standing.
Your doctor can diagnose orthostatic hypotension with that if your systolic blood pressure (the top number) falls by 20 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and your diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) falls by either K falls by 10 mm Hg within 3 minutes.
So in order to find out the underlying cause, your doctor may also:
- Tell it to conduct a physical examination
- and you check your heart rate
- and that then order some tests
In addition, these tests your doctor may order include:
- Tell him that he should do a complete blood count to check for anemia.
- So that’s electrocardiograms to checking the rhythm of yours Heart.
- echocardiogram to check how your heart is working as well as these heart valves
- and this exercise stress test, and the one that measures your heart rate during exercise
- tilt-table test, in which you lie on a table that moves from horizontal to vertical to test for fainting
- In addition, these tests are done to rule out other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, anemia, and postural tachycardia syndrome.
Treatment
Let us tell you that treating orthostatic hypotension can sometimes be a challenge and this is because there are many reasons for it. The main goal of treatment is to improve blood pressure and that is when you lie down and stand up without increasing the blood pressure.
Explain that if the drug is causing this condition, and the first course of action would be to change or stop the drug.
Friends, if you are living with Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and that or any other condition that is causing orthostatic hypotension, and only then this treatment will focus on treating the underlying condition first.
It should be noted that people with orthostatic hypotension and those who do not experience these symptoms, and also will not require treatment.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Be aware that if you are experiencing dizziness or fainting frequently, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid a more serious problem.
And it’s only once they diagnose your condition, and that’s when your doctor can recommend certain lifestyle changes that can help you ease your symptoms, including: Huh:
- If you are dehydrated, increase your fluid intake as well as this water and limit your alcohol intake.
- Doing isometric exercises (for example, squeezing a rubber ball or towel with your hand) before getting up to help raise your blood pressure
- as well as avoiding hot baths or long walks in hot weather
- stand up slowly
- and that you wear compression stockings to help with circulation in your legs
- Add that salt to your daily diet to help you retain fluids
For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe drugs that either increase blood volume or constrict blood vessels. And with this he may then include these drugs:
- Fludrocortisone (Florinef)
- Midodrine and That(Proamatin)
- Erythropoietin (Epogen, Procrit)
Does orthostatic hypotension go away?
Friends, this orthostatic hypotension can be caused by a variety of issues, ranging from dehydration to serious conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
It should be noted that when the condition is not chronic (due to some other health problem), it usually goes away on its own. And as with the chronic case, treating the underlying condition can only help manage orthostatic hypotension Sometimes, people experiencing orthostatic hypotension can reduce or eliminate symptoms by taking certain medications.
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