When a person suffers from lightheadedness or faints without any known reasons, a tilt table test can come in very handy. This test diagnoses heart rate and blood pressure. The test is initiated with a person lying flat on his back on a table. Then to make it seem as if the person stands up the table is tilted upwards. The cardiovascular responses of a person’s body can be checked by using this test.

As a person stands up, blood flows to his legs and thus a lower amount goes to the heart. Naturally this lowers the blood pressure and the body’s autonomic nervous system handles this by increasing the heart rate. However, if this is not done properly the lower blood pressure can cause a person to faint.

The tilt table test is effective because it is a quick method of detecting orthostatic hypotension. Being aware of the reasons to this condition is of utmost importance as they can lead to more fatal consequences. One should be aware of the fact the autonomic nervous system may be affected by diseases and thus should take prompt action to cure the disease before such harmful effects can take place.