Final answer:
Patients taking antihypertensive medications for the first time should be advised to stand up slowly to reduce the risk of orthostatic hypotension, a condition where blood pressure drops when changing position.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient is taking antihypertensive medication for the first time, it is crucial to instruct them on how to minimize the risks of orthostatic hypotension, a common side effect of these medications. Orthostatic hypotension occurs when a person's blood pressure drops significantly upon standing up, causing symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness due to reduced blood flow to the brain. To help prevent this, patients should be advised to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position to a standing position, allowing their cardiovascular system time to adjust to the change in posture and maintain adequate blood flow to the brain.