Orthostatic hypertension is defined as what change when moving from supine to standing?

• A. A drop in systolic BP of more than 20 mmHg
• B. A drop in diastolic BP of more than 20 mmHg
• C. An increase in systolic BP of more than 20 mmHg
• D. No change in BP

Answer: (A)

When you stand up, gravity pulls blood into the legs, lowering venous return. In a person with an intact reflex, the heart rate and vascular tone rise to keep blood pressure stable. If the systolic blood pressure drops by about 20 mmHg or more within the first few minutes of standing, this signals orthostatic hypotension, meaning the body isn’t compensating adequately for the positional change. That’s why a drop in systolic BP of more than 20 mmHg is the best descriptor here.

The other patterns don’t fit: a diastolic drop of more than 20 mmHg isn’t the standard diagnostic threshold, an increase in systolic BP would point to orthostatic hypertension, and no change would be normal.