Dizziness Lightheadedness

Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Passing out
Vision changes
WHAT’S HAPPENING
WHEN I STAND UP?
Learn more and talk with
your doctor about symptomatic
neurogenic orthostatic
hypotension—a sudden drop in
blood pressure when you stand
up that may be related to your
Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple
system atrophy (MSA), or pure
autonomic failure (PAF).
TM
Understanding
Symptomatic nOH
Symptomatic nOH is a type of orthostatic
hypotension (OH), which is a sudden drop
in blood pressure that happens when you
stand up. Symptomatic nOH may occur
in people who also have nervous system
disorders, such as PD, MSA, or PAF. (The
word neurogenic in nOH means “caused
by the nervous system.”) But, there’s a bit
more to it than that.
What’s supposed to happen
when you stand up
When you stand, gravity pulls the blood
from the upper part of your body down
into the lower part of your body, away from
the brain. In response, your nervous system
releases a chemical called norepinephrine.
Norepinephrine “talks” to the sensors on
your blood vessels and tells them to tighten,
or constrict, which raises your blood pressure
and helps bring blood back up to your brain.
Symptomatic neurogenic
orthostatic hypotension
(nOH): a complex condition
that’s caused by a sudden
drop in blood pressure
If you or your loved one has PD, MSA,
or PAF and get dizzy or lightheaded,
experience vision changes, or feel like
you are about to pass out when you stand
up, you may have a type of low blood
pressure called symptomatic nOH.
While symptomatic nOH may be linked
to your nervous system disorder, it’s actually
a separate condition that can be diagnosed
and managed by your doctor.
So, if you think that you or
someone you care for may have
symptomatic nOH, read this
brochure to learn more. Then
talk with your doctor about
managing those symptoms.
What’s happening if you have
a nervous system disorder
Unfortunately, some people with nervous
system disorders, such as PD, MSA, or PAF,
may develop symptomatic nOH. That’s
because of the way these diseases can
damage the nervous system.
As a result, your nervous system may
not be able to make or release enough
norepinephrine, which may lead to a
communication breakdown with the
blood vessels. This means that when you
stand up from sitting or lying down, the
blood is pulled down into the lower part
of your body. But since the blood vessels
don’t receive the message that they need
to constrict, blood pressure drops and not
enough blood reaches your brain. This
is what leads to symptoms like dizziness,
lightheadedness, vision changes, or
passing out.
The many symptoms of nOH
The drop in blood pressure usually
happens within 3 minutes of standing up,
and some people have described the
start of the symptoms like “sliding down
a deep, dark hole,” or “having a dark
cloud drop down on you.”
While dizziness, lightheadedness, vision
changes, and passing out are common
symptoms, you may have other types of
symptoms, such as
ain running down your
P
neck and across your shoulders
Muscle weakness
Nausea
Shortness of breath
eeling like your legs will
F
buckle underneath you
Inability to think clearly
Symptomatic nOH, while linked to your PD,
MSA, or PAF, is a separate condition that can
be diagnosed by your doctor. He or she may
be able to help you manage your symptoms.
TM
If you experience
symptoms of nOH,
talk with your doctor.
There may be ways for you
to stand with confidence.
© 2014 Lundbeck. All rights reserved. UBR-D-00162 10/2014
www.lundbeck.com