Patient/caregiver was educated upon life-style measures for individuals with history of orthostatic hypotension as follows:
- Avoid hot summer climates and sauna units. Hot climates and warm room temperatures can result in excessive sweating, increased fluid loss, dehydration, and eventually contribute to orthostatic hypotension. Be aware of signs and symptoms of dehydration, such as, poor urine volume output, dark yellow colored concentrated urine, episodes of dizziness and confusion, rapid heart rate, dry skin, and elevated temperature. Consider increasing the volume of daily fluid intake recommendation, secondary to risk for increased fluid loss due to warm environmental temperature.
- Individuals with history of excessive alcohol consumption can present with increased frequency of urination, contributing to fluid loss and volume deficit. This can lower the blood pressure, increasing risk for episodes of orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotensive patients must observe compliance with recommendation for moderation or abstinence on alcohol intake.
- Individuals with history of varicose veins can have difficulty draining the blood in the deep veins. As a result, increased volumes of blood get accumulated in the veins, become stagnant, and does not return to the circulation. Poor volume in circulation can lower the blood pressure and contribute to orthostatic hypotension. Poorly managed varicose veins patients must rest in the bed with the BLE elevated above heart level on a pillow. Gravity acting in this position can help better drainage of the deep veins into circulation.
