Dizziness in the morning These Schwank symptoms may indicate dementia

Dizziness in the morning should not be ignored

Some people find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, but this is not really unusual. However, if you often feel dizzy or dizzy when getting up, these could be warning signs of dementia.

The scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland found in their recent research that drowsiness or dizziness in the morning may indicate the onset of dementia.

What is orthostatic hypotension?

When people feel dizzy or start to feel light-headed after getting up, this indicates a so-called orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension occurs when the blood pressure suddenly drops when moving from a sitting to a standing position. The results of the study show that people with this symptom picture are about 1.5 times more likely to suffer from dementia in middle-aged and twice as likely to suffer from a stroke. The team from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland said the results show a new marker that physicians can detect early to prevent or delay the onset of age-related illnesses.

What are the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension??

When you get up after sitting or lying down, the body has to send blood and oxygen to the brain. If this does not happen, your blood pressure can drop significantly, which is the case with so-called orthostatic hypotension, say the doctors. Symptoms of the disorder include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, and fainting. There are many possible causes, including age, anemia, dehydration, and certain drugs such as beta-blockers.

How is orthostatic hypotension treated??

The treatment of orthostatic hypotension depends on the underlying cause. If the disease occurs due to dehydration, doctors will suggest an increase in fluid intake. If a drug is the cause, your doctor may change the way you prescribe or dose you. Another treatment is in the form of a compression stocking, which prevents backflow of fluid in the legs when a person lies down or sits down.

Connection between orthostatic hypotension and heart disease?

Orthostatic hypotension has been associated with heart disease, fainting and falling, study author Dr. Andreea Rawlings of Johns Hopkins University quoted by BBC News. Therefore, the researchers wanted to conduct a large study to determine if this form of low blood pressure is also related to problems in the brain, especially dementia.

Examination had more than 11,700 participants

More than 11,700 participants were studied and medically monitored for a period of 25 years for the study. The participants, who were on average 54 years old, did not have a stroke or heart disease at baseline. At the beginning of the study, the team asked the subjects to lie down for 20 minutes and then stand up quickly. Blood pressure was measured once at rest and five times while standing. The physicians found that about five percent of the group suffered from orthostatic hypotension at the beginning of the study.

How strong was the increased risk of dementia?

In the course of the study, about nine percent of participants developed dementia and just over seven percent developed ischemic stroke. This occurs when an artery in the brain is blocked due to a blood clot. The results showed that the participants with orthostatic hypotension at the beginning of the study had a 54 percent higher likelihood of developing dementia compared to those who did not have this disease. Nine percent of participants without orthostatic hypotension developed dementia, compared to 12.5 percent of those with dementia. In addition, people with orthostatic hypotension were twice as likely to suffer ischemic stroke, the researchers explain.

Further research is needed

The measurement of middle-aged orthostatic hypotension could be a new way to identify people who should be carefully monitored for dementia or stroke. Rawlings. Further studies are now needed to clarify what these compounds might cause and to investigate possible prevention strategies. (As)