National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

During patient assessment, which symptom would be characteristic of an orthostatic hypotension scenario?

1. Rapid heartbeat

2. Dizziness upon standing

3. Nausea after eating

4. Frequent headaches

The correct answer is: Dizziness upon standing

In the context of orthostatic hypotension, dizziness upon standing is a hallmark symptom. Orthostatic hypotension occurs when there is a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, typically due to a failure of the vascular system to adequately compensate for the change in body position. As a result, when a patient stands up, the reduced cerebral blood flow can lead to feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness, which is why this symptom is particularly significant. Other symptoms such as rapid heartbeat may occur as a compensatory mechanism to restore blood pressure, but they are not as directly representative of orthostatic hypotension itself. Nausea after eating or frequent headaches can be related to a variety of other medical conditions or states, but they do not specifically characterize the physiological response associated with a change in posture leading to orthostatic hypotension. This distinct connection between standing and the onset of dizziness underpins why this symptom is the most characteristic in this scenario.