Patient was educated on chronic complications of orthostatic hypotension as follows:
- Complications of orthostatic hypotension result from recurrent episodes of hypoperfusion of many oxygen dependent vital organs with oxygen enriched blood.
- They can be classified as acute and chronic, depending on the rapidity at which they present.
- Chronic complications could include
- Stroke – Hypoperfusion and reduced oxygen delivery to brain, secondary to prolonged episodes of orthostatic hypotension can result in stroke.
- Angina and MI – Hypoperfusion and reduced oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, secondary to prolonged episodes of orthostatic hypotension can result in angina and Myocardial infarction.
- Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia – Hypoperfusion and reduced oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, secondary to prolonged episodes of orthostatic hypotension can result in compromised function of cardiac muscle and pacemaker tissues, thus resulting in cardiomyopathy, heart failure and arrhythmias.
- Chronic renal failure – Hypoperfusion and reduced oxygen delivery to the renal tissues, secondary to prolonged episodes of orthostatic hypotension can result in compromised function of kidneys, thus resulting in increased accumulation of waste products like creatinine and uric acid.
