Understand & manage
- Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure when changing to an upright position. It may cause lightheadedness, blurred vision, or fainting.
- Change positions slowly and pause sitting before standing. If dizzy, sit or lie down safely; do not keep walking. Avoid overheating.
- Ask about medicines, blood-pressure checks, hydration, and compression garments. Increasing salt or fluids is not safe for everyone, especially with heart or kidney disease or fluid restrictions.
When to get medical help
Call 911 for fainting with chest pain, breathing trouble, injury, new neurological symptoms, or failure to recover promptly. Recurrent fainting needs medical evaluation.
Bring this question to your visit
What are my safe fluid, salt, and blood-pressure targets?
Education & translation notice
For educational and informational purposes only. This content is not medical advice and does not replace medical consultation or evaluation. Call 911 for any medical emergency. Do not change medicines or begin exercises based only on this page. Ask your clinician about new or worsening symptoms, falls, medication side effects, and the right level of care. For severe or sudden symptoms, serious injury, breathing difficulty, or another medical emergency, call 911; do not wait for a website, form, or chatbot reply. English and translated summaries can contain errors or become outdated. Spanish and other translations may lose medical meaning; confirm important instructions with your clinician and a qualified interpreter. Linked materials may have different regional emergency numbers; in the United States use 911.