Good for the elderly
A typical complication of the elderly is progressive orthostatic hypotension. This is due to age-related degradation in baroreflex-mediated vasoconstriction and chronotropic responses of the heart, as well as degeneration of the diastolic filling of the heart (2).
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a serious and prevalent medical condition that affects the elderly, especially those who are fragile and have numerous comorbidities and use multiple medications. OH is a risk factor for both falls and overall mortality that is independent of other factors.
Postural hypotension, also known as orthostatic hypotension, is defined as a persistent decrease in systolic blood pressure of at least 20mmHg, or a sustained decrease in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10mmHg, that occurs within three minutes after rising up or sitting down. 1 Morbidity and adverse events among older persons are significantly increased as a result of this factor.
Eigenbrodt, M.L., Rose, K.M., Couper, D.J., and colleagues In the ARIC trial, conducted between 1987 and 1996, orthostatic hypotension was identified as a risk factor for stroke. Atherosclerosis, 2000; 31: 2307 – 13.
J. Boddaert, H. Tamim, M. Verny, and J. Belmin. Orthostatic hypotension is connected with arterial stiffness in older people who have a history of falling, according to research. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 52, pp. 568–72.
We conclude that orthostatic hypotension is widespread in the elderly and that the risk of developing it rises with age. It has been linked to cardiovascular disease, particularly those signs that can be assessed objectively, such as carotid stenosis, in particular. It is also connected with nonspecific neurological symptoms, albeit this association may not be causative in nature.
The risk of both low and high blood pressure often increases with age, in part because of the natural changes that occur over the course of life.In addition, blood flow to the heart muscle and the brain diminishes with age, which is frequently caused by plaque accumulation in the blood arteries.Postural hypotension affects between 10% and 20% of adults over the age of 65, according to estimates.
Orthostatic hypotension is associated with a number of risk factors, including age. Orthostatic hypotension is more frequent in people over the age of 65, according to the American Heart Association. As you become older, the function of special cells (baroreceptors) near your heart and neck arteries that regulate blood pressure might become less effective.
Among the most prevalent causes of low blood pressure when standing are dehydration, blood loss, and anemia (among other things). Orthostatic hypotension can be caused by a variety of drugs, including beta blockers, various high blood pressure medications, and pharmaceuticals such as sildenafil (Viagra).
Treatments for orthostatic hypotension include modifying one’s way of life. Your doctor may recommend a number of lifestyle adjustments, including drinking enough of water, consuming little to no alcohol, avoiding overheating, raising the head of your bed, avoiding crossing your legs while sitting, and standing gently when rising from a sitting position.
In the majority of instances, nonpharmacological therapies such as removal of offending drugs (where possible), physical maneuvers, compression stockings, increased consumption of salt and water, and regular exercise are used to treat orthostatic hypotension.
The non-neurogenic form of orthostatic hypotension is most commonly caused by environmental or health conditions that affect the body’s processes for maintaining blood pressure while standing for an extended period of time. Heart disease, low blood volume (hypovolemia), alcohol consumption, and advanced age are only a few of the risk factors.
The most prevalent cause of symptoms associated with orthostatic hypotension is a decrease in the amount of fluid in the blood vessels. This might occur as a result of dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, or the use of medications such as diuretics or water tablets, among other things.
Among the functions of the autonomic nervous system are the regulation of involuntary processes such as the widening or narrowing of our blood vessels. It is possible that this mechanism will fail, resulting in orthostatic hypotension, which is characterized by a fast and severe decrease in blood pressure, particularly upon rising from a laying or sitting posture.