Lightheaded and Dizzy When Standing Up - Things to Know

Dizziness is more of a symptom than an actual medical ailment, and many circumstances can bring it on. People get headaches and dizzy when standing up. Orthostatic hypotension, often postural hypotension, is the medical term for this peculiar condition. Despite its complicated-sounding nomenclature, its explanation is actually quite straightforward. However, working at a standing desk can surely avoid dizziness, as standing is better than sitting.

A moment of feeling dizzy when standing up is quite normal. Postural or orthostatic hypotension, a type of low blood pressure caused by a change in body position, is the most common cause of this sensation.

Read this article further to learn more about what causes dizziness when standing up, and how you can overcome it.

Why Do I Get Dizzy When Standing up?

It's annoying and alarming to suffer dizziness and lightheadedness upon standing. Low blood pressure and inner ear issues are potential triggers for these signs and symptoms. You can better control your symptoms and experience less discomfort if you have a firm grasp of their likely origins and available treatments. Following are some answers to what causes dizziness when standing up.

1. Standing Up Too Fast

When you're standing up, your heart has to work harder to circulate blood throughout your body than when you're lying down. To maintain homeostasis, a state of equilibrium that permits your body's numerous systems to work effectively, your blood pressure really varies spontaneously depending on your posture. Too rapid a rise to standing might make one lightheaded.

2. Orthostatic Hypotension

This happens when a person's blood pressure decreases too quickly upon standing, causing insufficient blood to reach the brain.

3. Dehydration

Dehydration causes a decline in blood volume and blood pressure, contributing to feeling dizzy when standing up.

4. Inner Ear Problems

Meniere's disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) are two conditions that affect the inner ear and are known to bring on vertigo and other balance issues.

5. Medications

Dizziness is a common adverse effect of several prescription pharmaceuticals, including those used to treat high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. So, medications can be a cause of it too.

6. Anemia

If your red blood cell count is low, less oxygen will be carried to your brain, and you may feel lightheaded. So you will feel dizzy when standing up.

7. Neurological Conditions

The symptoms of vertigo and loss of balance are common in people with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

8. Cardiovascular Problems

Standing and dizziness can be a symptom of cardiac disorders, including arrhythmias or heart disease. This can lead to feeling lightheaded when standing up.

9. Vigorous Exercise

Muscle contraction during exercise increases blood flow to the heart. It's normal for blood to return to the extremities after a period of rest. After working out, you may feel a little lightheaded because of the rush of blood to your brain and the strain on your lungs.

10. Vitamin Deficiencies

Dizziness and balance issues are common symptoms of vitamin insufficiency, especially vitamin B12 deficiency. This can cause the feeling of being lightheaded when standing up.

11. Alcohol

When you drink alcohol, your blood vessels can become damaged and narrow, reducing blood flow and increasing your body's effort to maintain healthy blood pressure. As a result, you may feel a bit lightheaded while standing up after a few drinks.

12. Over Heating

Sweating excessively in hot weather is a major contributor to dehydration. Because of the direct correlation between blood volume and blood pressure, dehydration can trigger dangerous swings in blood pressure.

Is It Normal to Experience Dizziness When Standing up?

Dizziness is a typical symptom when getting up too abruptly after sitting, lying down, or otherwise staying inactive for a long time. This is because standing up causes blood to pool in the legs, and it may take a few seconds for the body to readjust and pump blood back up to the brain.

Since this correction often results in a transient reduction in blood pressure, it might produce some dizziness. Talking to a doctor is a must if this is frequently happening, though, so that any underlying illnesses may be ruled out. You should also get medical help immediately if you develop any additional symptoms, such as dizziness, chest discomfort, or trouble breathing.

What to Do When You Feel Dizzy?

• Sit or lie down: If you feel lightheaded, sit or lie down right away.
• Close your eyes: If you close your eyes, the dizziness and vertigo should subside.
• Take deep breaths: If you're feeling lightheaded, try taking several deep breaths; this can help calm your heart rate and increase blood flow to the brain, making you feel less unsteady.
• Stay calm: Staying still and not moving around too much will help alleviate your discomfort. Wait for the episode to pass. Your dizziness may be just a passing phase that may go away.
• Seek medical attention if necessary: Get medical help right away if you have episodes of severe or persistent dizziness, fainting, chest discomfort, or trouble breathing. Also, you should talk to your doctor if you already have a disease that makes you more likely to feel dizzy. Meditation workout can also help you avoid it.
• Avoid triggers: If you know that being in a heated environment or a moving vehicle brings on your dizziness, you can take steps to prevent it.

Using a Standing Desk to Avoid Dizziness

There is evidence that there are many benefits of standing desks, and it might help with the dizziness that some people feel when they first stand up. This is because working at a standing desk makes the change from sitting to standing feel more natural. More calories burned standing vs sitting as well. It's best to rise gently and stretch your legs and arms as you get out of your chair. So the blood flows better, and there is less chance of low blood pressure from blood pooling in the legs. Blood pooling in the legs can cause a short dip in blood pressure and contribute to dizziness; therefore, taking many pauses during the day to walk about and stretch is important.

Making sure your standing desk is ready to go is also crucial. To avoid dizziness caused by neck and back strain, adjust your workspace so that the display is at eye level and the keyboard and mouse are at a comfortable working height. It's also wise to check in with your doctor if you've been experiencing regular dizziness since switching to a standing desk or if you have any pre-existing health issues that put you at risk for lightheadedness.