Orthostatic Hypotension Research Paper

Orthostatic Hypotension has several key factors that help contribute to the cause of this condition. This condition usually occurs when something disrupts the body's normal course of counteracting low blood pressure. This condition is common in people over the age of 65. Dehydration causes orthostatic hypotension by your body losing blood volume. Some heart conditions such as bradycardia, heart valve problems, heart attack, and heart failure can cause this condition by preventing the body from responding fast enough for the heart to pump enough blood. Some endocrine problems such as thyroid problems, adrenal insufficiency, low blood sugar, and diabetes can assist in causing low blood pressure. There are also some nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, Lewy body dementia, pure autonomic failure, and amyloidosis that can interrupt the body's natural blood pressure regulation system. Sometimes in older adults low blood pressure is experienced after eating meals. …show more content…
When a person ages the heart tends to work harder to beat and blood pressure is slowed due to the baroreceptors not working as good as before. Certain medications that help with other diseases or conditions for high blood pressure can also cause low blood pressure. Heat exposure is another risk factor because it can cause dehydration from the sweating which can lower a person's blood pressure. Immobility or bed rest can cause orthostatic hypotension because a person may become weak by being in bed for long periods of time. Pregnancy can cause a person to have low blood pressure due to the circulatory system expanding rapidly during a pregnancy. Alcohol can also pose an increased risk of developing this