The Venous Distension Reflex and Orthostatic Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Are capable of giving informed consent * Are of any race or ethnicity * Are fluent in written and spoken English * Whose history and physical exam did not uncover any exclusion criteria * Are 18 years of age For subjects with elevated standing BP * Systolic BP (SBP) during standing is at least 10 mmHg \> the supine SBP * Patients with a diagnosis of stage I hypertension without other chronic diseases may be INCLUDED For normal subjects without elevated standing BP * The change in SBP by standing is within ± 5 mmHg from the supine SBP * Matched gender, similar age and BMI (within 10%) to participants with elevated standing BP * Free of acute or chronic medical conditions Exclusion Criteria: * Age \< 18 years of age * Are a pregnant or nursing woman * Are a prisoner or institutionalized individual or unable to consent * Have chronic diseases (e.g. heart, lung, neuromuscular disease, or cancer) other than stage I hypertension * Have orthostatic hypotension or a history of syncope * Current smoker * History of blood clots