Orthostatic hypotension?

• A. A rise in systolic BP when standing.
• B. A drop in systolic BP greater than 20 mm Hg or diastolic BP greater than 10 mm Hg when standing.
• C. No BP change with position.
• D. A drop in heart rate when standing.

Answer: (B)

Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure that happens when you move from lying down to standing. The defining change is a decrease in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg or a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg within about three minutes of standing. This drop occurs because blood pools in the legs when you stand, and the body's usual reflexes to maintain blood pressure—like narrowing blood vessels and increasing heart rate—aren’t enough in that short window.

That’s why the correct description is the one that states a significant BP drop with standing. An increase in systolic BP would not be orthostatic hypotension, and no change in BP wouldn’t indicate a problem. A decrease in heart rate on standing contradicts the typical compensatory response (the heart rate usually rises to help maintain blood flow to the brain).