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Orthostasis, or postural hypotension, is a condition where people develop low blood pressure within three minutes of standing, which can cause dizziness or fainting. It is more common in the elderly and can be diagnosed with a tilt test. There is no treatment, but patients are advised to be careful when transitioning from sitting to standing and to alert friends and family members. It can also be caused by underlying medical problems.
Orthostasis is a term that means “standing”. This term is often used interchangeably with “orthostatic hypotension,” a condition in which people develop low blood pressure within three minutes of standing. While this is technically incorrect, this usage is very common.
People of all ages can develop this condition, but it is more common in the elderly, due to vascular changes and general physical changes that occur with age. When someone with this condition suddenly moves from a lying position to a sitting position, or from a sitting position to a standing position, there is a momentary drop in blood pressure.
The patient may feel lightheaded or lightheaded. Sometimes people feel dizzy and may be at risk of falling. In some cases, the patient develops syncope or fainting, in which there is a temporary loss of consciousness that may be accompanied by disorientation. For the elderly, dizziness and fainting can be especially dangerous because the patient may be at risk of a serious fracture if they fall. After the patient has been standing for a while, the low blood pressure usually resolves.
Also known as postural hypotension, orthostasis can be diagnosed with the use of a tilt test. A doctor may suspect that a patient has this condition based on symptoms reported by patients. On the tilting couch, the patient is moved rapidly from a lying to a standing position while strapped in place for safety. If the patient’s blood pressure drops due to the move, the patient has orthostasis.
There is no treatment for orthostasis. Patients who develop this condition are usually advised to be careful when transitioning from sitting to standing and to be careful when getting out of bed after a night’s sleep or rest. Moving slowly allows your body to adjust to the change in position so your blood pressure remains relatively stable. It may also be recommended that friends and family members be alerted to the problem so that the patient can receive care and accommodations as needed.
Sometimes, a patient may have this condition due to an underlying medical problem. If a patient is diagnosed with postural hypotension, the doctor may order additional medical tests to evaluate the patient’s overall health in order to look for other medical problems that could be contributing to blood pressure problems. If the patient has other conditions, treatment for these can also resolve the blood pressure problem.
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