People who have orthostatic hypotension are more prone to falls as they feel dizzy when they stand up from a resting position and can easily lose their balance.
A local study has found that being
older than 70 is one of the links to
low blood pressure, which could
cause falls.
The 2013 study of 364 patients,
aged 64 to 98, from Geylang Polyclinic
found that around one in 10 of
these patients has a form of low
blood pressure called orthostatic
hypotension.
This is a condition in which the
blood pressure drops when a person
changes his or her posture,
such as from lying or sitting down
to standing up.
People who have this condition
are more prone to falls as they feel
dizzy when they stand up from a
resting position and can easily lose
their balance.
While the study did not find the
causes of orthostatic hypotension,
researchers noted links between
the condition and older age, and inactivity
at work.
It also found links between the
condition and medical conditions
which affect blood circulation,
such as heart failure, stroke and
kidney disease.
There was also a link between orthostatic
hypotension and patients
who use loop diuretics, a kind of diuretic
or medicine that causes an increase
in urine. It is used to treat hypertension and
fluid retention.
The study was conducted by SingHealth Polyclinic researchers and
students from the Yong Loo Lin
School of Medicine at the National
University of Singapore.
“Singapore’s population is rapidly
ageing... healthcare workers who
are aware of this condition can look
out for it, try to prevent it and educate
patients,” said Dr Gilbert Tan,
assistant director of clinical services
at SingHealth Polyclinics,
who is one of the researchers involved
in the study.
“For doctors, they could be a bit
more cautious in giving medication
such as loop diuretics, advising the
patients and monitoring their condition,”
he said.
All SingHealth Polyclinics offer a
risk assessment for falls.