Fig. 1

Change in heart rate and blood pressure. Heart rate and blood pressure changes upon 60° head-up tilt in a normal individual (top panel) and in a patient with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (autonomic failure due to pure autonomic failure; bottom panel) [9]. Normally, heart rate increases upon standing to counteract the effects of gravity on blood pressure, while in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, there is little or no increase in heart rate to compensate for the decrease in blood pressure upon standing. bpm = beats per minute; nOH = neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. Adapted and republished with the permission of Clinical Medicine from Mathias CJ. To stand on one’s own legs. Clin Med 2002;2:237–245; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.