Patient/caregiver was educated upon life-style measures in individuals with history of hypotension as follows:
- Observe compliance with log maintenance of everyday blood pressure readings. Report to your physician regarding any consistent systolic readings below 90 and diastolic readings below 60.
- Any cause of fluid loss in the body, such as, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can contribute to low blood volume, which lowers the blood pressure, resulting in hypotension. Report to your physician regarding any poorly controlled nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can worsen the symptoms of hypotension. Consider increasing the volume of daily fluid intake recommendation, secondary to risk for increased fluid loss due to poorly controlled nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Senior citizens could be poorly responsive to the thirst sensation and can be at increased risk for poor fluid intake, dehydration, resulting in hypotension. Low fluid volume can contribute to increased thickening of blood, leading to increased risk for clot formation and DVT. Caregivers must provide frequent reminders regarding observing compliance with 2.5 – 3 liters of daily fluid intake recommendation, which can help prevent hypotensive episodes and DVT.
- 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 hypotension. Be aware of signs and symptoms of dehydration, such as, poor urine volume output, 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.
