Orthostatic hypotension

Introduction: Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension: Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden fall in blood pressure that occurs when a person assumes a standing position. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Orthostatic Hypotension Information Page: NINDS) ... more about Orthostatic hypotension.

Orthostatic hypotension: Sudden low blood pressure when a person stands up or changes posture. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Orthostatic hypotension is available below.

Symptoms of Orthostatic hypotension

• Onset of symptoms on standing up
• Hypotension on posture changes
• Hypotension when standing up
• Light-headedness
• Dizziness

See full list of 15 symptoms of Orthostatic hypotension

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Orthostatic hypotension:

• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Home Cholesterol Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Orthostatic hypotension

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Orthostatic hypotension?

• Misdiagnosis of Orthostatic hypotension
• Underlying causes of Orthostatic hypotension (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Orthostatic hypotension

Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss, there are varying degrees of severity. It is altogether too common for...read more »

Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also many cases where people fear that they have a heart attack, but actually have something milder. Some of the conditions...read more »

Rare heart condition often undiagnosed: The rare heart condition called long QT syndrome can lead to episodes of palpitations and rapid heartbeat. In...read more »

Heart attack can be over-diagnosed: Although heart attack is often undiagnosed, leading to fatality, it can also be over-diagnosed. People become concerned that a condition is a heart...read more »

Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issue with hyperension, arises in relation to the simple equipment used to...read more »

Hypertension misdiagnosis common in children: Hypertension is often misdiagnosed in adults (see misdiagnosis of hypertension), but its misdiagnosis is even more likely in children. Some...read more »

Pheochromocytoma can mimic an anxiety attack: Pheochromocytoma is a tumour of the adrenal glands which secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines such as epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. It usually occurs in young patients...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Orthostatic hypotension

Causes of Orthostatic hypotension

• Dysautonomia
• Dehydration
• Prolonged bed rest
• Addison's disease
• Atherosclerosis

See full list of 8 causes of Orthostatic hypotension

More information about causes of Orthostatic hypotension:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Orthostatic hypotension (37 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Orthostatic hypotension (550 listings)
• Underlying causes of Orthostatic hypotension
• Orthostatic hypotension as a complication caused by other conditions
• Orthostatic hypotension as a symptom

Treatments for Orthostatic hypotension

• Treatment of a fainting episode:
  • Lie down - the treatment for a faint from postural hypotension
  • See also treatment of fainting
• Treatments to avoid episodes:
  • Elevation of bed head

See full list of 10 treatments for Orthostatic hypotension

Videos for Orthostatic hypotension

Patient Surveys for Orthostatic hypotension

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Orthostatic hypotension
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Orthostatic hypotension

Prognosis for Orthostatic hypotension: The prognosis for individuals with orthostatic hypotension depends on the underlying cause of the condition. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Orthostatic Hypotension Information Page: NINDS)

More about prognosis of Orthostatic hypotension

Reseach about Orthostatic hypotension

Visit our research pages for current research about Orthostatic hypotension treatments.

Clinical Trials for Orthostatic hypotension

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Orthostatic hypotension include:

• Phase II Study of Midodrine for Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - midodrine
• Droxidopa in Treating Patients With Neurogenic Hypotension - This study has been suspended (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - droxidopa
• Efficacy of Therapeutic Interventions for Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple System Atrophy - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Fludrocortisone,Domperidone
• Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension in Autonomic Failure - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Atomoxetine 18 mg PO,Acarbose 100 mg,pyridostigmine 60 mg,Yohimbine 5.4 mg,midodrine,Nepro,placebo,modafinil 50 mg,Octreotide
• A Phase IV Study in Subjects With Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension - This study has been terminated (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - midodrine hydrochloride (ProAmatine®)

See full list of 11 Clinical Trials for Orthostatic hypotension

Stories from Users Related to Orthostatic hypotension

• Years of nausea, joint cracking/pain, headaches, and postural/orthostatic hypotension
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Related forums and stories:

• Bone Conditions (55)
  • anyone with osteoid osteoma
  • Son has Marfan's Syndrome
  • bone infection
  • after effects of broken femur??
  • extreme pain in elbow
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Orthostatic hypotension, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden fall in blood pressure that occurs when a person assumes a standing position. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Orthostatic Hypotension Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Orthostatic hypotension:

Fall in blood pressure associated with dizziness, syncope and blurred vision occurring upon standing or when standing motionless in a fixed position. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Low blood pressure occurring in some people when they stand up - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Orthostatic hypotension is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Orthostatic hypotension, or a subtype of Orthostatic hypotension, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)