Postural Blood Pressure

In addition to using blood pressure to rule out hypertension, measuring the changes in blood pressure in different positions can provide clues about body function. Checking the blood pressure in the lying, sitting, and standing positions can provide additional information. Normally, when you quickly stand up from a lying or sitting position, the systolic blood pressure also rises. This is a normal compensation for the stress of gravity, and if this did not happen, there would be reduced blood flow to the brain. The rise in pressure assures the brain gets the same amount of blood flow as before. From a lying to a standing position, the pressure should increase six to eight millimeters. If this change doesn’t take place, it may indicate dysfunction in the adrenal glands or other problems.

Normally, the adrenal glands react to gravitational stress by releasing more norepinephrine hormone, causing a sympathetic reaction. This is, in part, what increases the blood pressure when we stand. No increase or a drop in systolic pressure upon standing is called postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension. Sometimes, the drop in blood pressure upon standing results in light-headedness lasting only a few seconds. Though a variety of other factors need to be ruled out, this problem is often the result of a functional adrenal problem.

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