Final answer:
Orthostatic hypotension most commonly affects older adults, particularly those over sixty-five years of age, due to various health issues like hypertension and diabetes. The condition is caused by low blood volume or autonomic failure, with potential management through medication regulation and adequate fluid intake.
Step-by-step explanation:
Orthostatic hypotension is a condition characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from sitting or lying down, which can result in dizziness or lightheadedness. This drop in blood pressure occurs when the cardiovascular system is unable to adjust quickly enough to the positional change, affecting the blood supply to the brain.
Two primary reasons for orthostatic hypotension are low blood volume (hypovolemia), which may be due to dehydration or the effects of certain medications like diuretics and vasodilators, and autonomic failure, often as a result of disorders such as diabetes or multiple system atrophy that compromise the sympathetic nervous system's ability to regulate blood pressure.
Older adults are more commonly affected by orthostatic hypotension. According to the data, individuals over sixty-five years old have reported more health issues such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, which are associated with this condition. Moreover, the regulation of medications, improved fluid intake, or managing underlying health issues such as diabetes can mitigate the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension.