ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION

Course overview

ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION IS DEFINED AS A SUDDEN DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE UPON STANDING FROM A SITTING OR SUPINE POSITION. CLINICALLY, THIS IS DIAGNOSED BY A SUSTAINED REDUCTION IN SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE OF AT LEAST 20 MMHG OR DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE OF 10 MMHG WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF STANDING AFTER BEING SUPINE FOR FIVE MINUTES OR AT A 60-DEGREE ANGLE ON THE TILT TABLE. THIS SUDDEN DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE IS USUALLY SECONDARY TO FAILURE OF THE AUTONOMIC REFLEX, VOLUME DEPLETION, OR ADVERSE REACTION TO A MEDICATION. SYMPTOMS ON PRESENTATION ARE COMMONLY RELATED TO CEREBRAL HYPOPERFUSION, BUT PATIENTS CAN ALSO BE ASYMPTOMATIC. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH RATE OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY RELATED TO THIS DISEASE PROCESS DUE TO FREQUENT FALLS, LEADING TO MULTIPLE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.