Orthostatic hypotension is defined as an excessive drop in blood pressure when standing. Which option reflects this?

Orthostatic hypotension is defined as an excessive drop in blood pressure when standing. Which option reflects this?

• A. Increase in BP when standing
• B. Excessive drop in BP when standing
• C. Dizziness with no BP change
• D. No change in BP

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that orthostatic hypotension is an excessive drop in blood pressure when you stand. When you move from lying to standing, gravity pulls blood toward the legs, and your body normally increases heart rate and tightens vessels to keep BP steady. If that compensatory response is impaired, the BP falls more than normal, often within a few minutes of standing, and this drop can bring dizziness or lightheadedness. So the option that describes an excessive drop in BP when standing is the one that matches this definition. The other descriptions—an increase in BP on standing, dizziness with no BP change, or no BP change—do not fit the defining pattern of orthostatic hypotension.

The key idea is that orthostatic hypotension is an excessive drop in blood pressure when you stand. When you move from lying to standing, gravity pulls blood toward the legs, and your body normally increases heart rate and tightens vessels to keep BP steady. If that compensatory response is impaired, the BP falls more than normal, often within a few minutes of standing, and this drop can bring dizziness or lightheadedness. So the option that describes an excessive drop in BP when standing is the one that matches this definition. The other descriptions—an increase in BP on standing, dizziness with no BP change, or no BP change—do not fit the defining pattern of orthostatic hypotension.