A therapist assesses the blood pressure of a patient that repeatedly reports feeling dizzy when changing positions. Which blood pressure measurement would be most likely to produce this type of clinical finding?

In assessing a patient who experiences dizziness when changing positions, it is important to consider the phenomenon of orthostatic hypotension, which is a drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands up from sitting or lying down. Patients with lower blood pressure levels, especially those below normal, are more susceptible to this condition.

The blood pressure measurement of 96 mm Hg systolic and 73 mm Hg diastolic indicates a lower than average systolic pressure. This low systolic blood pressure can result in insufficient blood flow to the brain during postural changes, leading to symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness. Additionally, it is generally accepted that a systolic blood pressure below 100 mm Hg may increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension particularly when combined with a drop in pressure upon standing.

In the other choices, the systolic values are higher, which would typically be associated with more stable blood pressure upon position changes. This makes them less likely to produce the dizziness described in the scenario, as they are less likely to trigger significant drops in blood pressure when changing positions. Thus, the lower blood pressure reading of 96/73 aligns more closely with the symptom of dizziness upon postural changes.