Dawn Simulation and Postural Hypotension
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Cardiology, Cardiology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Cardiology / Vascular Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 55 - 85 |
| Updated: | 1/7/2018 |
| Start Date: | September 2016 |
| End Date: | February 2019 |
| Contact: | Yvonne Quevedo |
| Email: | pavasleepstudy@gmail.com |
| Phone: | 650-493-5000 |
Dawn Simulation as a Passive Countermeasure to Postural Hypotension in Healthy Older Adults
One of the most physiologically demanding things that older people do every day is to get up
in the morning. After spending a night laying flat, where the blood distributes evenly across
the body, when they stand in the morning (and the blood rushes to their feet), their
cardiovascular system may not be able to compensate and maintain blood flow to the brain.
This phenomenon is known as orthostatic or postural hypotension. The investigators have found
in a group of young individuals that use of a dawn-simulation light that gradually wakes the
brain is able to increase cardiovascular tone prior to arising. The goal of this experiment
is to determine whether this dawn simulation light is able to increase cardiovascular tone in
older adults such that they would have reduced or absent postural hypotension when they
awaken in the morning. This would greatly reduce the risks of falls and their associated
morbidities in older adults.
in the morning. After spending a night laying flat, where the blood distributes evenly across
the body, when they stand in the morning (and the blood rushes to their feet), their
cardiovascular system may not be able to compensate and maintain blood flow to the brain.
This phenomenon is known as orthostatic or postural hypotension. The investigators have found
in a group of young individuals that use of a dawn-simulation light that gradually wakes the
brain is able to increase cardiovascular tone prior to arising. The goal of this experiment
is to determine whether this dawn simulation light is able to increase cardiovascular tone in
older adults such that they would have reduced or absent postural hypotension when they
awaken in the morning. This would greatly reduce the risks of falls and their associated
morbidities in older adults.
Inclusion Criteria:
- History of falls or dizziness at exit from bed in the morning (at least two incidents
in the past year)
- At least 20/200 corrected visual acuity
- Stable health
- Normal hearing
Exclusion Criteria:
- Regular cigarette smoker
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug abuse
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