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Glite Dictionary
postural hypotension

postural hypotension

1 7.6
A drop in blood pressure when a person stands that causes dizziness or fainting
  • noun
  • /ˈpoʊstʃərəl haɪpəˈtɛnʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hipotensión postural
  • When she stood up quickly, her postural hypotension made her feel dizzy.

Examples

  • He appeared hyperpigmented and had severe postural hypotension.

    Academic text (1995)

  • * To detect postural hypotension

    Academic text (2012)

  • Postural hypotension can also be an issue and is a significant cause of falls in the elderly.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Doctors often test for postural hypotension in patients who experience frequent fainting spells.

  • Postural hypotension can lead to falls, especially among older adults who may be more vulnerable.

Synonyms

orthostatic hypotension
vspostural hypotension
  • Specialized
7.5

A sudden fall in blood pressure when a person stands up, causing dizziness

is an alternative medical term for the same condition

Surface Forms

postural hypotension singular
postural hypotensions plural

Morphology

postural + hypotension

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'postural' (pertaining to body posture) + 'hypotension' (low blood pressure): a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to low blood pressure related to body position/standing that causes dizziness. This is a compositional medical compound following common cross‑linguistic patterns (often called orthostatic or postural hypotension), so prior exposure is not required for comprehension.

Etymology

Postural hypotension comes from its parts: postural (about your body's position when you stand) and hypotension (meaning 'low blood pressure'). When you stand up, blood can pool in your legs and your blood pressure may drop, making you feel dizzy, so the term means 'a drop in blood pressure when someone stands, causing dizziness'.