Hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure readings, which may be found among very ill or elderly individuals or among those with severe hyperthyroidism, pituitary failure and Addison’s disease. Clinically, when the systolic blood pressure is less than 9 mm Hg, it is considered hypotension.
There are two types of hypotension: orthostatic hypotension and Shy-Grager syndrome. Idiopathic orthostatic hypotension also known as postural hypotension is a syndrome of symptoms due to degeneration of postganglionic sympathetic neurons confined to the autonomic system. It is sudden drop in blood pressure (about 20 mm Hg in the systolic pressure) that occurs when person changes from a lying down to a sitting-up position or from sitting-up to a standing position.
Shy-Grager syndrome is due to multiple systems degeneration with more widespread neurologic damage, including autonomic dysfunction with cerebrellar atraxia, parkinsonism, corticospinal, and corticobulbar tract dysfunction, and amyotrophy.
Hypotension can be dangerous because it can impair people so much they experience severe falls and fractures.
Definition of Hypotension
