Tilt Table Test
Overview
A tilt table test helps check how a person’s body handles moving from lying down to standing up. It tracks heart rate and blood pressure changes to find out why someone may faint, feel dizzy, or get lightheaded—especially when the cause is unclear.
Healthcare providers often use this test to evaluate conditions like vasovagal syncope, neurocardiogenic syncope, or orthostatic hypotension. It may be recommended for people who frequently faint or experience episodes of nausea, weakness, or dizziness without a known reason. Common conditions linked to this test include:
| Condition | Possible Symptom |
|---|---|
| Autonomic neuropathy | Dizziness, fainting |
| Bradycardia | Light-headedness, fainting |
| Heart arrhythmia | Irregular heartbeat, fainting |
| Low blood pressure | Weakness, dizziness |
| Multiple system atrophy | Fainting spells, nausea |
| Orthostatic hypotension | Light-headedness |
| Tachycardia | Dizziness, rapid heartbeat |
| Vasovagal syncope | Brief loss of consciousness |
Possible Complications
Some people may experience certain side effects during or after a tilt table test. Common issues include low blood pressure, dizziness, and short-term weakness. Occasionally, loss of consciousness can happen as blood pools in the lower body, affecting the autonomic nervous system. These symptoms usually stop once the table moves back to a flat position.
How to Get Ready
- Do not eat or drink for at least two hours before the test.
- Keep taking your medication unless your healthcare provider says not to.
- Staff may place an intravenous line (IV) and attach electrodes on your skin.
- A blood pressure cuff and blood pressure monitor help track your status during the procedure.
What You Might Experience
Before the tilt table procedure begins, you lie flat on a motorized table with straps across your chest and legs for safety. Healthcare professionals place electrode pads on your chest, arms, or legs to monitor your heart’s rhythm and rate through connected wires.
They put a blood pressure cuff on your arm or wrist to keep track of blood pressure, and a small device on your fingertip measures oxygen levels. If needed, staff may insert a needle into a vein in your arm to give medication during the test.
| Equipment Used | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Motorized Table | Change body position safely. |
| Straps | Keep person secure. |
| Electrode Pads | Track heart rhythm and rate. |
| Blood Pressure Cuff | Measure blood pressure. |
| Fingertip Device | Monitor blood oxygen levels. |
| IV Needle* | Give medicines, if needed. |
*Not always used
While the Test Takes Place
During the test, you remain still on the table. At first, the table stays flat for around five minutes while staff check your vital signs—such as heart rate, heartbeat pattern, pulse, and blood pressure. The team then tilts the table upward, usually to an angle that mimics standing. This change can last 5 to 45 minutes. The care team watches for any changes, such as tachycardia (fast heart rate), unusual heart rhythms, or sudden drops in blood pressure.
While in a tilted position, tell staff right away if you notice symptoms like dizziness, sweating, nausea, or a racing heart. If there are no concerns after the initial period, the team might give medicine through the IV to further test how your autonomic nervous system responds. The table stays tilted for another 15 to 20 minutes.
What Happens When the Test Is Over
If you faint, the team quickly returns the table to a flat position and closely checks your vital signs. Most people recover in seconds after fainting. After the test, you can return to your regular routines.
- Normal activities can usually be resumed right after the test.
- Fainting is closely managed for safety.
- Staff remove all equipment once monitoring is complete.
Findings
Tilt table test findings help show if a person’s blood pressure or heart rate changes in ways that might cause fainting.
Positive Findings: A drop in blood pressure and changes in heart rate can lead to symptoms such as dizziness or passing out. Sometimes, either a cardioinhibitory or vasodepressor response causes this reaction. In some situations, arrhythmia, bradycardia, or even signs of cardiomyopathy may appear. Clinicians might administer medications like isoproterenol or adrenaline to observe these effects more clearly during testing.
Negative findings: The heart rate increases only a little, blood pressure remains mostly steady, and no fainting occurs.
| Possible Results | Blood Pressure | Heart Rate | Symptoms | Related Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | Drops | Changes sharply | Dizziness, faint | Vasodepressor, cardioinhibitory, arrhythmia, bradycardia, isoproterenol, adrenaline, cardiomyopathy |
| Negative | No big change | Slight increase | None | — |
If results are unclear or concerning, clinicians may recommend further tests, such as pacemaker checks.
