Evaluation of postural hypotensive subjects by handgrip test

Postural syncope may be noticed in otherwise normal persons with defective postural reflexes. Vasoconstrictor reserve--the extent to which total peripheral resistance can be increased from baseline condition is an important determinant of orthostatic tolerance. Women showed low autonomic support of blood pressure. The case of neurally mediated syncope is known to be greater in females in comparison to males. The present study was designed to compare vasoconstrictor reserve in male and female participants having no complaint of postural hypotension and the vasoconstrictor reserve in female volunteers having complaints of occasional postural hypotension. Vasoconstrictor reserve was determined by asking the subjects to sustain isometric handgrip at one third of maximum handgrip contraction for one minute using a handgrip dynamometer. Vasoconstrictor reserve was noted as difference between the maximum diastolic pressures at the end of one minute of sustained isometric handgrip minus baseline diastolic pressure. Results of the present study indicated less vasoconstrictor reserve in females compared to their male counterparts. When compared, the vasoconstrictor reserve of female participants experiencing occasional postural hypotension with that of the normal female volunteers, it was noticed that the same in them was much lower than that in normal female volunteers. This less vasoconstrictor reserve might be one of the causes of postural hypotension among the women participants experiencing it in our study population.