Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 20 mm Hg or a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg within three minutes of standing when compared with blood pressure from the sitting or supine position.
This condition is due to disturbances of the autonomic nervous system, and is the second most frequently observe cause of transient loss of consciousness in the dental patient after fainting.
Almost any disease of the spinal cord can be accompanied by orthostatic hypotension. Many conditions usually manifesting as peripheral neuropathies can be accompanying autonomic neuropathy and orthostatic hypotension. These include amyloidosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, diabetes, bronchogenic carcinoma.
What is orthostatic hypotension?
