Patient/caregiver was educated upon life-style measures in individuals with history of hypotension as follows:
- Hypotensive individuals with coexisting history of bleeding peptic ulcers, hemorrhoids, or any other condition that can cause an internal bleed, can be at higher risk for exacerbation of hypotension. Individuals with such history must keep a close watch on the color of urine and stool. Report to the physician regarding any findings of blood in the urine or stool.
- Individuals with UTI can present with increased frequency of urination, resulting in excessive fluid loss and hypotension. Hypotensive individuals with increased risk for UTI or history of multiple UTIs, must keep a close watch for any evolving UTI symptoms, which can aggravate the hypotensive findings. Report to your physician regarding any developing signs and symptoms of UTI, such as, unexplained sudden fever, cloudy urine, foul smelling urine, low back pain, burning sensation while passing the urine, sudden increased frequency of urination.
- Hypotensive individuals with coexisting history of taking diuretic medications, must keep a close watch for increasing frequency of urination, which can aggravate the hypotensive findings. Do not change dose of your diuretic medication, without your doctor’s recommendation. Increase in diuretic dose can simultaneously increase risk for hypotension.
- Individuals with history of hypotension immediately after meal, should lay down after meals, to avoid any falls and accidents. Avoid taking any antihypertensive medications before meals, as this could significantly increase the risk for hypotension. Avoid having a heavy meal. More food in the stomach could increase risk for hypotension, as it could result in more amount of blood getting directed to the gut, to help digestion and absorption. Eating small and multiple meals with low carbohydrates on the meal may help manage this situation better.
