It is called orthostatic hypotension and is associated with mid-late stage PD. It is defined as 20 millimeters mercury (Hg) drop in systolic BP (top number) or 10 mm drop in diastolic BP. Your dr can see if you have OH by measuring your BP over a period of about 3 minutes after standing. If your BP continues to drop over time you likely have OH if your BP drops immediately upon standing and then recovers then you likely dont have OH. Buy a BP cuff and you can check yourself at home and find out pretty easily. Chart for a week or so and there you go.

Happy Holidays,
Brer T

or if its like that all the time even when your siting it can be related to the fact that with PD not only do we lose dopamine producing cells but also the nerve endings that produce norepinephrine in the heart tend to die off in PWP affecting the sympathetic nervous system and you might suggest this to your Doc if they will even listen to you. PD is more than just loss of dopamine producing cells.


Brer T

Thank you for the replies, I have a doctors appt tomorrow with my neuro and I will mention this to him. This light headed feeling and weakness in my leg seem to be my biggest problem right now. The Sinermet has done a good job helping my tremors and speech thus far.

Vic

I get light headed & dizzy when rising from a chair or crouching. I'm also on blood pressure pills & Sinemet which probably intensifies it.
I try to remember to rise up a little slower & pause before I start walking. Sinemet is really helping with my tremors, walking & going up & down stairs.

I also have orthostatic hypotension. I was always very proud of my low BP until I found out after being diagnosed with PD that it is a part of PD symptoms. Mine really got bad when I started taking Azilect but I did as the dr. said and drank plenty of water all the time and after I got used to the Azilect it got better. Then when I started commuting to NYC I got really bad dizziness from OH and would have to rest against the wall when I came up out of the NJ Transit tracks. This has been all this past year and I figured that it was a combination because I am going under the Hudson up off the tracks then up more stairs then down to the subway tunnels then up 68 stairs to go out of the subway. I would get the most dizzy in the mornings so I decided to move my Azilect to the evening and I no longer get dizzy in the mornings. Thank God!! Another thing I noticed before I moved the Azilect is that when I am on vacation and do not do that commute I do not get dizzy - and this was when I was still taking Azilect in the mornings. It's all strange. I still have low BP but I don't get dizzy.

OLDNSLOW,

I bid you greetings and best wishes for the new year,
from down under AUSTRALIA.

Re; Feeling tired and light headed.

The learned previous posts notwithstanding, feeling tired and light headed are yet more common symptoms of Parkinson's Condition.

Light headedness could also be caused by low blood pressure as indicated in the previous replies to the original post.

As for feeling tired, this definitely comes with the territory, definitely another symptom of the condition we call Parkinson's.

How can it dealt with? Blood pressure in relation to Parkinson's, is best dealt by those whom know best, the treating specialists.
I think it courts danger if one changes their medications and dosages without first consulting their treating specialist.

Tiredness, common as it is, can and is caused by depression, yet another symptom of Parkinson's, although this is not the only cause.

I think, feel and believe that tiredness in Parkinson's can be dealt with. The Parkinson like tradition of lying down in the afternoon, I believe plays straight into the hands of Parkinson's. I've been there and it doesn't work. It only leads to compound depression and tiredness, and is habit forming.

Energy creates energy, it's vital to be active and to maintain activities and interests. Doing nothing guarantees failure.

Conversely,by trying and being self responsible, giving100%, then you are in with a chance, and a good one at that.
It's all a matter of attitude, best make it positive.

DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A WINNING POSITION.

Best Wishes OLDNSLOW, I wish you well.

ALIVEO /Stewart

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