orthostatische

Orthostatische is an adjective used in medical German to describe phenomena that occur upon standing upright or as a result of standing. The term is derived from orthostasis, the maintenance or changes in posture from lying down to standing, and it is applied to physiological responses as well as clinical conditions tied to upright posture.

In medical contexts, orthostatic refers to the autonomic and cardiovascular adjustments that the body makes when moving from lying to standing. A key example is orthostatische Hypotonie (orthostatic hypotension), defined by a significant drop in blood pressure after standing, typically a decrease of 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic within minutes. Symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, weakness, or fainting. Orthostatische Dysregulation is a related concept used in some pediatric and functional contexts to describe autonomic imbalance that leads to symptoms such as tachycardia, fatigue, or syncope upon standing. Orthostatisches Syndrom or orthostatic intolerance are broader terms for a set of standing-related symptoms that lessen when lying down.

Etiology is diverse and includes dehydration, medication effects (for example, diuretics or vasodilators), prolonged bed rest, and autonomic nervous system disorders such as diabetic autonomic neuropathy or Parkinsonian syndromes. Evaluation typically involves measuring blood pressure and heart rate after standing for several minutes; tilt-table testing may be employed in unclear cases.

Treatment focuses on addressing underlying causes and may include non-pharmacological measures (slow transitions to upright, fluid and salt adjustments where appropriate, compression garments) and, when indicated, pharmacological therapy under medical supervision. The term orthostatische remains a core descriptor for posture-related physiological and pathological processes in German-language medical literature.