Skip to main content

Orthostatic Hypotension

Meaning

Orthostatic hypotension is a clinical condition characterized by a sudden, significant drop in systemic blood pressure that occurs when an individual assumes an upright posture, such as standing up from sitting or lying down. This transient failure of the autonomic nervous system to adequately compensate for the gravitational shift in blood volume results in cerebral hypoperfusion, leading to symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or syncope. Hormonal factors, particularly those regulating fluid balance and vascular tone, are key contributors to its etiology.