Therapist Diaries: Living with orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension can be a chronic and debilitating illness. It can get in the way of your day to day function. Therefore, learning to live with the condition is imperative. To learn to live with orthostatic hypotension, one must understand the condition.

Orthostatic hypotension, better known as postural hypotension is defined by low blood pressure when standing after sitting or lying down.

It is associated to neurologic and cardiac conditions. Certain medications such as diuretics, insulin, levodopa, and tricyclic anti-depressants are associated with orthostatic hypotension.

Education can empower a person to make lifestyle choices/changes to better manage their condition. Helping an individual to understand the situations that trigger postural hypotension and learning to recognize warning symptoms can go a long way in dealing with and minimizing orthostatic stress.

Other non-pharmacologic ways that can help to stabilize blood pressure include;

1. Wearing compression garments when up and about

2. Drinking cold water before standing up

3. Elevating the head of the bed to 10 to 20 degrees when sleeping

4. Using countermaneuvers when standing

5. Staying active and partaking in light physical activity

Always seek your physician to guide you on the non-pharmacologic strategies that can help you based on your medical conditions and symptoms before adopting these strategies.