Orthostatic Hypotension
Alternate Names : Postural Hypotension
Orthostatic hypotension is low blood
pressure that occurs when a person stands up. It results in decreased blood flow to the brain.
What is going on in the body?
When a person goes from sitting or lying to a standing position, gravity can cause blood to pool in the lower half of the body. This can lower the blood pressure. However, the body has many ways to prevent this from happening, such as the heart pumping harder. In various conditions, the body is unable to prevent abnormally low blood pressure from happening when a person stands up.
This can lead to symptoms and is called orthostatic hypotension.
What are the causes and risks of the infection?
Orthostatic hypotension has many possible causes, including:
dehydration, often from excessive vomiting, or severe
diarrhea
decreased blood volume, which can occur with excessive bleeding
drugs or medications, such as alcohol, the blood pressure medication prazosin, or the diuretic called furosemide
prolonged bed rest
old age, which can decrease the body's natural ability to maintain the blood pressure when a person stands up
damage to the nervous system, such as that from
diabetes,
Parkinson's disease, and
spinal cord injury
heart conditions, such as a heart attack, congestive heart failure, or a problem with a valve in the heart called
aortic stenosis
anemia, or a low red blood
cell count
blood vessel problems, such as severe varicose veins
low adrenal hormone levels, also called adrenal insufficiency
Other causes are also possible. Sometimes, no cause can be found.
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