participants in the study consisted of 22 women with an average of 33 years old. women with a history of fainting after standing, and who experienced more than four episodes of the dizzy sensation after standing per month were selected for the study. there were originally 24 participants in the study, but two were excluded due to insufficient heart rate data.
“our study provides a novel and cost-free symptom management technique that patients with ioh can use to manage their symptoms,” nasia a. sheikh, first author of the study said. “since it is a physical maneuver, it simply requires the lower body limbs, which patients can utilize at any time and from anywhere to combat their symptoms.”
by tensing the muscles as blood pressure would normally drop, patients were able to effectively offset the effect. the tense muscle decreased the drop in blood pressure and led to a reduction in symptoms of dizziness when standing.
the study demonstrates the physiology of initial orthostatic hypotension, and how patients can help to manage their own symptoms, co-investigator mary runté said.
“a diagnosis of ioh is identified by patients as the critical first step to empowering them to understand and master their symptoms and thus minimize the disruptions to daily living caused by this common, but not commonly understood, condition,” runté said.
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