Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Overnight Trials to Compare the Effects of Controlled Heat Stress Versus Sham Control on Nocturnal Supine Hypertension in Autonomic Failure Patients
Brief Summary: Patients with autonomic failure are characterized by disabling orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure on standing), and at least half of them also have high blood pressure while lying down (supine hypertension). Exposure to heat, such as in hot environments, often worsens their orthostatic hypotension. The causes of this are not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether applying local heat over the abdomen of patients with autonomic failure and supine hypertension during the night would decrease their nocturnal high blood pressure while lying down. This will help us better understand the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, and may be of use in the treatment of supine hypertension.