Post by norbert1 on Feb 12, 2005 9:37:59 GMT -5
A poster once wrote - "She gets very dizzy when she stands"
This may be orthostatic hypotension (orthostasis). This happens when the body does not compensate for blood that stays in the legs when a person stands up. Normally, a pressure sensor in the neck detects falling blood pressure and signals blood vessels in the legs to contract and send blood out of the legs. This mechanism fights gravity when the person stands up and blood "pools" in the legs.
As a purely medical condition, it is a failure of the autonomic nervous system. Additionally some drugs can cause orthostasis; and dehydration or salt depletion can contribute to it also.
She needs to be tested, which is very simple to check. A drop in blood pressure of 20 points or more when standing is orthostatic hypotension.
This is a condition many doctors are not familiar with and it goes undetected, even with repeated trips to the hospital. It is often overlooked and the patient is given massive workups, looking for some heart condition to explain the feinting.
A note of caution -
A person who feints must be left in a lying position until blood pressure supplying blood to the brain is restored. In a worse case, repeated feinting and taking a feinted person off the floor and putting them in a seated position (while still unconcious) will contribute to additional brain damage.
Please note -
orthostatic hypotension frequently occurs in people with DLB (difuse Lewy Body) because this disease process causes damage to the autonaumic nervous system as well as to the thinking parts of the brain.
This may be orthostatic hypotension (orthostasis). This happens when the body does not compensate for blood that stays in the legs when a person stands up. Normally, a pressure sensor in the neck detects falling blood pressure and signals blood vessels in the legs to contract and send blood out of the legs. This mechanism fights gravity when the person stands up and blood "pools" in the legs.
As a purely medical condition, it is a failure of the autonomic nervous system. Additionally some drugs can cause orthostasis; and dehydration or salt depletion can contribute to it also.
She needs to be tested, which is very simple to check. A drop in blood pressure of 20 points or more when standing is orthostatic hypotension.
This is a condition many doctors are not familiar with and it goes undetected, even with repeated trips to the hospital. It is often overlooked and the patient is given massive workups, looking for some heart condition to explain the feinting.
A note of caution -
A person who feints must be left in a lying position until blood pressure supplying blood to the brain is restored. In a worse case, repeated feinting and taking a feinted person off the floor and putting them in a seated position (while still unconcious) will contribute to additional brain damage.
Please note -
orthostatic hypotension frequently occurs in people with DLB (difuse Lewy Body) because this disease process causes damage to the autonaumic nervous system as well as to the thinking parts of the brain.
I am no longer able to hold your hand my beloved but I cherish the remembrance of your hand in mine...and the wonderful person that touched so many lives with joy. : )