Postural Hypotension
Postural hypotension—or What it is & How to orthostatic hypotension— Manage it is when your blood pressure drops when you go from lying down to sitting up, or from sitting to standing.
When your blood pressure drops, less blood can go to your organs and muscles. This can make you more likely to fall.
For information about fall prevention, visit go.usa.gov/xN9XA
For more information about hypotension, visit www.mayoclinic.com www.webmd.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Stopping Elderly Accidents,
2017 Deaths & Injuries What are the symptoms? When might symptoms happen? What can I do to manage my postural hypotension? Although many people with • When standing or sitting up suddenly postural hypotension have no • In the morning when blood pressure • Tell your healthcare provider about symptoms, others do. is naturally lower any symptoms. These symptoms can differ from • After a large meal or alcohol • Ask if any of your medicines should be reduced or stopped. person to person, and may include: • During exercise • Get out of bed slowly. First sit up, sit • Dizziness or lightheadedness • When straining on the toilet on the side of the bed, then stand up. • Feeling about to faint, passing out, • When you are ill • Take your time when changing or falling • If you become anxious or panicky position, such as when getting up • Headaches, blurry or tunnel vision from a chair. • Feeling vague or muddled • Try to sit down when washing, showering, dressing, or working • Feeling pressure across the back of What causes postural hypotension? in the kitchen. your shoulders or neck Postural hypotension can be caused • Exercise gently before getting up • Feeling nauseous, or hot and clammy by or linked to: (move your feet up and down and • Weakness or fatigue clench and unclench your hands) or • High blood pressure after standing (march in place). • Diabetes, heart failure, atherosclerosis, • Make sure you have something to or hardening of the arteries hold on to when you stand up. • Taking some diuretics, antidepressants, • Do not walk if you feel dizzy. or medicines to lower blood pressure • Drink 6-8 glasses of water or • Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s low-calorie drinks each day—unless disease and some types of dementia you have been told to limit your • Dehydration fluid intake. • Vitamin B12 deficiency or anemia • Avoid taking very hot baths or showers. • Alcoholism • Try sleeping with extra pillows to • Prolonged bed rest raise your head.