Have you ever stood up from a chair or bed and suddenly felt light-headed, as though the room was spinning? This experience can be frightening, especially when it happens repeatedly. One possible explanation is orthostatic hypotension, a temporary drop in blood pressure when someone stands up. Here are seven possible reasons.
1. A sudden change in blood pressure: When you stand, blood briefly moves towards your legs. Your body normally adjusts quickly, but sometimes blood pressure drops.
2. Dehydration: Not drinking enough water, heavy sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea can reduce the amount of fluid circulating in your body.
3. Skipping meals: Going for long periods without eating may contribute to weakness or light-headedness, particularly in people whose blood sugar becomes low.
4. Certain medications: Some medicines for high blood pressure, heart conditions and other illnesses can contribute to dizziness.
5. Anaemia: Low haemoglobin can reduce the amount of oxygen carried in the blood and may cause dizziness, tiredness and breathlessness.
6. Heart-related conditions: Certain heart rhythm problems and other cardiovascular conditions can affect blood flow to the brain.
7. Inner-ear problems: Not every dizzy spell comes from blood pressure. Conditions affecting the inner ear can cause a spinning sensation, known as vertigo.
What should you do? Stand up slowly, especially after lying down for a long time. Drink enough water unless your doctor has restricted your fluid intake. If dizziness keeps happening, arrange a medical assessment.
Seek urgent care if dizziness occurs with chest pain, fainting, severe headache, weakness on one side, difficulty speaking or sudden vision problems.
Final thoughts: Occasional light-headedness may have a simple explanation, but repeated dizziness should not be ignored.
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