Orthostatic hypotension is defined as?

• A. High blood pressure in standing.
• B. Sudden drop in blood pressure when a person quickly rises from lying down to a sitting position.
• C. Dizziness when standing up.
• D. Slow pulse when standing.

Answer: (B)

Orthostatic hypotension is about a drop in blood pressure that happens when you go from lying down to an upright position, because the body doesn’t adjust quickly enough to the change in posture. This BP drop typically occurs within a few minutes of standing and can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. The best option describes a sudden decrease in blood pressure when moving from lying to an upright position, which is the defining feature. The other statements point to high blood pressure in standing, dizziness as a symptom without defining the BP change, or a slow pulse—neither of which capture the core definition of orthostatic hypotension.