[Dysphagia] Liquids and meals

[eripley at yahoo.com (Irene Campbell-Taylor)]

CASK51454 at aol.com wrote:        In a message dated 8/27/2007 4:14:06 P.M. Central Daylight Time, eripley at yahoo.com writes:
  does he/she have marked post prandial hypotension etc
  
  Could you please elaborate on this?
  ***  Postprandial hypotension is an excessive decrease in blood pressure that occurs after a meal. Dizziness, light-headedness, and falls may occur. Doctors measure blood pressure before and after a meal to diagnose postprandial hypertension. Eating small, low-carbohydrate meals frequently may help. Postprandial hypotension occurs in up to one third of older people. It is more likely to occur in people who have high blood pressure or disorders that impair the brain centers controlling the autonomic nervous system such as Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy (Shy-Drager syndrome), and diabetes.
People who have symptoms of postprandial hypotension should not take antihypertensive drugs before meals and should lie down after meals. Taking a smaller dose of the antihypertensive drugs may help. For some people, walking after a meal helps improve blood flow, but blood pressure may fall when they stop walking. If one adds to this the dehydration caused by various means, the results can be devastating.  



    
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Dr I Campbell-Taylor
Clinical Neuroscientist
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www.interactivetherapy.com