What is the Difference Between Orthostatic Hypotension and Vasovagal Syncope

The key difference between orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope is that orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that occurs when standing after sitting or lying down and causes dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting, while vasovagal syncope is a form of syncope where one faints because his body reacts to certain triggers like the sight of blood or emotional distress.

Orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope are two related medical conditions. Fainting is common in both medical conditions. Moreover, some patients with vasovagal syncope experience orthostatic hypotension. This is because this condition keeps blood vessels from getting smaller when patients stand, and this causes blood to collect in the legs, leading to a quick drop in blood pressure.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Orthostatic Hypotension
3. What is Vasovagal Syncope
4. Similarities – Orthostatic Hypotension and Vasovagal Syncope
5. Orthostatic Hypotension vs Vasovagal Syncope in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Orthostatic Hypotension vs Vasovagal Syncope

What is Orthostatic Hypotension?

Orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that happens when standing after sitting or lying down. It causes dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting. It is also known as postural hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension can be mild and brief. However, long-lasting orthostatic hypotension can be a signal of more serious problems.

Orthostatic hypotension occurs when something interrupts the body in dealing with low blood pressure. The conditions that cause orthostatic hypotension include dehydration, heart problems, endocrine problems, nervous system disorders, and eating meals. The symptoms of orthostatic hypotension include light-headedness, blurry vision, weakness, fainting, and confusion. The risk factors for this condition include age (older than 65), medications (diuretics, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc.), certain diseases (Parkinson’s disease, diabetes), heat exposure, bed rest, and alcohol.

Moreover, this condition can be diagnosed through blood pressure monitoring, blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, stress test, tilt table test, and Valsalva maneuver. Furthermore, treatments for orthostatic hypotension include medication increasing blood pressure and blood volumes, such as midodrine, droxidopa, fludrocortisone, or pyridostigmine.

What is Vasovagal Syncope?

Vasovagal syncope is a form of syncope where an individual faints because his body reacts to certain triggers like the sight of blood or emotional distress. It is also called neurocardiogenic syncope. The common symptoms of this condition include pale skin, tunnel vision, blurred vision, light-headedness, nausea, feeling warm, a cold, clammy sweat, abnormal jerky movements, a slow weak pulse, and dilated pupils. Vasovagal syncope normally occurs when the part of the nervous system that regulates heart rate and blood pressure malfunctions due to a trigger like the sight of blood. Vasovagal syncope is caused due to other common triggers such as standing for long periods of time, seeing blood, heat exposure, having blood drawn, fear of bodily injury and straining like bowel movements as well.

Vasovagal syncope can be diagnosed through electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, exercise stress test, blood test, and tilt table test. Furthermore, treatments for vasovagal syncope include medications such as (fludrocortisone acetate), therapies to decrease the pooling of blood in the legs, and surgery (inserting a pacemaker to keep up the heartbeat).

What are the Similarities Between Orthostatic Hypotension and Vasovagal Syncope?

• Orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope are two related medical conditions.
• Symptoms like fainting, light-headedness, and blurred vision are more common in both medical conditions.
• Some patients with vasovagal syncope experience orthostatic hypotension.
• Both conditions are treated through specific medications.

What is the Difference Between Orthostatic Hypotension and Vasovagal Syncope?

Orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that occurs when standing after sitting or lying down, causing dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting, while vasovagal syncope is a form of syncope that occurs when one faints because the body reacts to certain triggers like the sight of blood or emotional distress. Thus, this is the key difference between orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope.

Furthermore, orthostatic hypotension is caused by the conditions such as dehydration, heart problems, endocrine problems, nervous system disorders, and eating meals. On the other hand, vasovagal syncope occurs when the part of the nervous system that regulates heart rate and blood pressure malfunctions due to a trigger like the sight of blood, standing for long periods of time, seeing blood, having blood drawn, heat exposure, fear of bodily injury, and straining like bowel movements.

The below infographic presents the differences between orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Orthostatic Hypotension vs Vasovagal Syncope

Fainting happens when people lose consciousness for a short time. It is caused by a sudden drop in blood flow to the brain. Orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope are two related medical conditions that show fainting episodes. Orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that occurs when standing after sitting or lying down and causes dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting. Vasovagal syncope is a form of syncope where fainting occurs due to the body reacting to certain triggers like the sight of blood or emotional distress. So, this summarizes the difference between orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope.

Reference:

1. “Low Blood Pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension): Causes, Symptoms & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Vasovagal Syncope.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Orthostatic Hypertension demonstration” By RadioSmith – I filmed my friend over webcam demonstrating Orthostatic Hypotension (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia