Orthostatic Hypotension Washington DC

1. Orthostatic Hypotension (OH) is a form of dysautonomia. When a person experiences a problem with their involuntary nervous system (INS), the result can be a condition called dysautonomia, which includes OH. This means that the involuntary bodily functions such as heart beat, breathing and blood pressure regulation, become imbalanced due to not being correctly regulated by the INS and as a result may cause a variety of symptoms including orthostatic hypotension.
2. Orthostatic Hypotension means you experience sudden drops in blood pressure when standing. Other medical names for this condition include Postural Hypotension and Neurally Mediated Hypotension. People with this condition experience an abnormal drop in blood pressure when standing up from lying down or from a seated position. The INS is supposed to maintain blood pressure with changes in body positions and should actually cause a temporary, mild rise in blood pressure when standing up.
3. There are a number of symptoms that can occur with OH. The drops in blood pressure after standing from supine positions usually only last a few seconds, as the blood pressure is normalizing. These symptoms include dizziness, headache, blurred vision, nausea and increased heart rate (tachycardia), but with more severe cases can also include fainting. Some people with OH also report experiencing spells of fatigue from this condition, especially after repeated episodes of OH when their activities require a great deal of postural changes throughout the day.
4. The causes of OH can include other things in addition to an abnormal INS. While dysautonomia is the most common cause for OH, things that can contribute to or serve as a cause for an abnormal INS that can result in OH include heart conditions (including murmurs), certain medications, dehydration, endocrine diseases like diabetes, neurological diseases and low sodium (salt) in the body. A more common type of heart murmur that commonly causes OH is Mitral Valve Prolapse but other diseases and illnesses that require prolonged bed rest can also be a cause.
5. Treatment for OH depends on its severity. Most people have mild cases of OH and their doctors will prescribe a healthy diet, exercise and adequate rest and sleep to help with the condition. In more severe cases, medications may be prescribed to help regulate the abnormal fluctuations in blood pressure. These would include blood pressure regulating drugs such as beta blockers, mineral corticosteroids (cortisol steroids) and/or drugs that stimulate the nervous system are prescribed, such as amphetamines and ephedrine, which help to increase adrenaline levels in the body. The type of treatment is based upon how severely the symptoms of OH are affecting the patient.

If you experience symptoms of OH, make an office visit with a medical doctor to determine the cause of the condition and to be prescribed a treatment that is best suited for you.

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