Dizziness after standing up suddenly, what is the cause?

You've probably had it, at least once in your life: suddenly jumping out of bed to open the door (or answering the phone, or hearing a child with tantrums) and suddenly the world is spinning. You blink and suddenly black shadows cover your entire vision and wuush…! The fireflies disappeared instantly. You weren't sure what it was just now, and you went on with life as usual. Why do some people get dizzy suddenly after standing up, huh?

What causes lightheadedness and dizziness after standing up suddenly?

Feeling lightheaded and dizzy after standing up suddenly is caused by a condition called orthostatic hypotension (HO). This increase in heart rate is influenced by the earth's gravitational force when you change positions, for example from sitting for a long time or lying down to standing quickly. Other symptoms that may appear are the sensation of a shaky body and a pounding heart due to a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Usually when you slowly get up to stand up, the blood gradually flows down to your feet. But when you stand in a hurry, the earth's gravitational force pulls most of the bloodstream rushing towards your feet and pooling in the lower veins. Imagine the swift flow of a waterfall. As a result, the brain experiences a lack of blood.

To work around this, the brain immediately forces the heart to work extra hard to pump more blood so that it can be distributed to the brain and other parts of the body. The harder the heart works, the more the heart rate increases. At the same time it tightens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. This mechanism actually aims to restore blood pressure to normal.

Unfortunately, this compensation response can sometimes appear late or not work at all. As a result, the blood supply to the brain remains far from sufficient, even though in order to function optimally, the brain requires adequate blood intake. This is what then triggers a sudden sensation of dizziness after standing up and shaking as if you want to pass out.

In addition, standing suddenly can also cause confusion, nausea and vomiting, or blurred vision. This series can occur immediately and last up to several minutes after rushing away (especially after lying in bed or sitting for a long time).

Who is vulnerable to experiencing this?

These symptoms often appear when you get up quickly after exercising, consume alcohol and / or eat large portions, are lightly dehydrated, have low blood pressure or low blood sugar, are too long active in the sun, take a hot bath, or in a sauna. Older people are also prone to experiencing this condition.

Is it dangerous?

Headache dizziness or lightheadedness after standing up suddenly is not usually a condition to worry about, said Christopher Gibbons, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

But in fact, a number of recent studies have shown that a sudden feeling of dizziness after standing up can signal a more serious health issue. Orthostatic hypotension has been found to be associated with many major health conditions, including hypertension, Parkinson's, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure.

Dizziness after standing up suddenly can result in strokes and heart failure

In most cases, the sensation of head dizziness after standing suddenly occurs only occasionally. If you experience it very often, you should consult your doctor further. Recurring sudden low blood pressure after standing can lead to more serious complications, especially in older adults. These complications include:

• Fall injury - in very rare cases: brief seizures resulting from temporary loss of consciousness
• Stroke. A drop in blood pressure when you change positions too quickly from sitting to standing can be a risk factor for stroke because of the poor blood supply to the brain.
  
• Heart problems. Orthostatic hypotension can be a risk factor for heart disease and a range of complications, such as chest pain, heart rhythm problems, or heart failure.

People with orthostatic hypotension (HO) have a nearly twofold higher chance of developing heart failure than those without HO. Your risk can increase by more than 1.5 times if you also have high blood pressure as an underlying condition. This increased risk will be stronger in people aged 45-55 years compared with those aged 56-64 years.

What can be done to prevent or treat dizziness after standing up suddenly?

These complaints generally subside quickly if you return to sitting or lying down. Lie down with your head propped up by a pillow can also help relieve your symptoms.

To prevent this, you need to get up slowly and need to stay hydrated throughout the day. Electrolyte fluids can help speed up recovery. Regular exercise with light intensity on a regular basis is also able to increase muscle strength in the walls of blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pooling in the legs.

People who arebed rest due to long-term illness should try to sit every day and exercise in bed whenever possible.

If you have heart problems and often experience dizziness when you stand up suddenly, consult your doctor immediately to get the right treatment.