Hypotension
Blood pressure is the vital sign reflecting the function of the heart, vascular system, and blood volume and the central nervous system's response to changes in these systems. Hypotension is associated with a full spectrum of symptoms, including dizziness, nausea and vomiting, syncope, palpitations, blurred vision, angina, and fatigue. Complications of hypotension include falls and subsequent morbidity, and it is associated with cardiovascular disease and decreased quality of life. Hypotensive conditions that classically affect the older adult population are orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension, and hypotension with carotid sinus syndrome. Older adults are more susceptible to these conditions due to cardiac, hemodynamic, and autonomic changes with ageing. Many of the pharmacologic treatments are associated with intolerable side effects. More research is needed to find more effective therapies and their impact on morbidity and mortality.
