You can probably think of a time that you were sitting down, or laying in bed and quickly stood up. What happened next may have come across as alarming – your vision blurred and you suddenly felt light-headed. You had just been feeling fine when you were laying down, what happened?
This phenomenon is called orthostatic hypotension and may be nothing to worry about if they happen infrequently. But if you find yourself feeling this way often, it may be something you should address with your provider as it could be related to a larger issue.
What is Orhostatic Hypotension?
When you get up, your blood pressure can drop suddenly, in part because blood may have gathered towards your feet and needs to quickly move to other parts of your body. Your body can usually move your blood in this manner quite quickly, which is why you should not consistently experience this.
However, digestion can impact blood flow, so if you recently ate, that is one factor that can slow down your ability to adjust your blood pressure when standing up. Dehydration or the length of time you have been laying or sitting down can also play a role.
How can I Prevent Dizziness After Standing?
The simplest solution – just get up slower. If you have been laying on your bed, sit up on the edge of the bed for a few seconds to allow your body to adjust before stepping off onto your feet.
If you frequently experience this issue after eating, you may be eating too large of a meal. Eating smaller, but more frequent meals can provide other benefits that are worth exploring.
When Should I Talk to My Provider?
This happens to everyone from time to time. However, if it is happening regularly you will want to talk to your provider to get to the root of the issue.
Additionally, if this results in prolonged dizziness or fainting, you should see a medical professional. The fainting is of particular concern since after just getting up, you may be at risk of immediately falling back down.