10 Facts About Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension, known as postural hypotension, is a medical condition wherein a person's blood pressure drops when standing up or sitting down.

Orthostatic hypotension is characterized by symptoms that occur after standing, particularly when done rapidly.

Orthostatic hypotension can be a side effect of certain antidepressants, such as tricyclics or monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Patients prone to orthostatic hypotension are the elderly, post partum mothers, and those having been on bed rest.

Orthostatic hypotension happens when gravity causes blood to pool in the lower extremities, which in turn compromises venous return, resulting in decreased cardiac output and subsequent lowering of arterial pressure.

Orthostatic hypotension can be confirmed by measuring a person's blood pressure after lying flat for 5 minutes, then 1 minute after standing, and 3 minutes after standing.

Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mmHg between the supine reading and the upright reading.

Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure upon standing.

Orthostatic hypotension can be subcategorized into three groups – initial, classic, and delayed.

Classic orthostatic hypotension is frequently characterized by a systolic blood pressure decrease of =20 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure decrease of =10 mmHg between 30 seconds and 3 min of standing.