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Orthostatic Hypotension is a medical condition, where excessive decrease in blood pressure occurs when an individual stands up, causing lowered blood flow to the brain and leads to fainting. Many episodes of this disease are caused by side effects of medications, especially specific drugs, indicated for treatment of cardiovascular disorders and in elderly individuals. Such drugs of a group called diuretics, in high doses may lower volume of blood by removing the body’s fluid and reducing blood pressure. Medications, dilating the blood vessels, such as calcium blockers, angiotensin inhibitors, and nitrates increase the vessel’s capacity, also reducing blood pressure. Ilnesses that injure the nerves that regulate vessel diameter may also result in Orthostatic Hypotension. Such injuries usually occur in complications in people with diabetes, spinal cord damages, and amyloidosid. Orthostatic Hypotension may also occur, when an individual suddenly stands up, causing rapid heartbeat, stronger contractions, constricting of blood vessels and vessels capacity become smaller. Symptoms of Orthostatic Hypotension include light-headedness, faintness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, especially when people are getting out of bed suddenly or stand up after a long time of sitting. Alcohol, heavy meal, exercise, and fatigue make symptoms worse. A significant drop in blood flow to the brain may result and individual to faint and in some cases convulsions. A doctor confirms Orthostatic Hypotension, if the blood pressure reduces severely in standing position, and is back to normal in a liying position. After that, a physician looks for the cause of the patient’s Orthostatic Hypotension. In cases, where the cause of this disease may not be cured, the symptoms may frequently be eliminated or reduced. If a person suspect an Orthostatic Hypotension, he or she should not stand up or sit up suddenly or remain standing for a long time. If low blood pressure caused by pooling of blood in the legs, elastic fitted hose can be helpful. In cases, where this medical condition is caused by prolonged bed rest, an individual can improve condition by sitting up for a long time as possible. Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension may include phenylephrine or ephedrine, which helps blood pressure from dropping. Blood count may also be expanded by increasing salt use in diet and, if needed, by using hormones that result in salt retention, such as fluid rocortisone. Elderly people with this disorder must drink plenty amount of fluids and no or little alcohol. Because of fluid and salt retention, a patient can quickly gain few pounds and the high salt meal may cause failure of the heart, especially in the elderly. If these measures described above fail for treating Orthostatic Hypotension, other medications, such as Dehydroergotamine, Metoclopramide, Indomethacin, and Propranolol can help relieve the symptoms.
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