Syncope Due To Low Blood Pressure After Standing Up
Low blood pressure after standing up
Normal blood pressure control after standing
When someone stands up, more blood moves down into the blood vessels in the legs. Normally the body's blood pressure control systems make up for this change to keep the blood pressure the same. If the blood pressure control systems are not working properly, the blood pressure falls when someone stands up.
Low blood pressure after standing up
When someone stands up, if their drop blood pressure drops, they can feel light-headed, vague, unsteady, collapse or blackout.
Doctors call this Postural Hypotension or Orthostatic Hypotension.
Diagnosis
Postural Hypotension can be tested for by checking a person's blood pressure when lying down, and then rechecking it again after standing up.
In some people this drop in blood pressure is not always present and only comes on at certain times of the day, if they don’t drink enough fluid or after certain medications so the blood pressure may need to be checked this way a number of times.
Treatments
Treatments your doctor may recommend include:
- Maintaining Fluid and Salt Intake
- Altering the timing of blood pressure or heart tablets – may be better taken at night time
- Getting up slowly from lying or sitting
- Compression stockings
- Leg exercises to help pump blood back to the heart
- Rarely medication is required to increase the blood pressure
