Word parts
What it means
Blood pressure that falls when the body moves upright, because the blood vessels and heart do not adjust fast enough. It is defined as a drop of at least 20 mm Hg in the systolic pressure or 10 mm Hg in the diastolic pressure within 3 minutes of standing. The person may feel dizzy or lightheaded, see spots or faint. Dehydration, blood loss, bed rest, older age and drugs such as diureticdy-yoo-RET-ikA drug that makes the kidneys pass more water and salt out of the body as urine.dia- throughur/o urine-etic relating toFull entry and blood pressure medicines make it more likely. Also called postural hypotension.
For the nurse
Check blood pressure and pulse lying, then sitting, then standing. Teach the client to change position slowly: sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before standing, and call for help if dizzy. It is a common cause of falls.
In a chart
"BP 132/78 lying, 104/66 standing at 1 minute; client reports lightheadedness."
At a glance
| Spanish | hipotensión ortostática |
|---|---|
| Also written | postural hypotension |
Related terms
ortho-
A word beginning that means straight, upright or correct.
blood pressure
The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as systolic over diastolic in mm Hg.
dehydration
A state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in.
hypotension
Blood pressure lower than normal, generally below 90/60 mm Hg in an adult.
dizziness
A feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady or off balance, or that the room is spinning.