When you stand, if your blood pressure drops temporarily, it takes some time for your vessels to clamp down and get the blood up to your brain, so you may feel temporarily dizzy.
If that is happening consistently, then you want to make sure you get your pressure checked when you’re lying down, when you’re sitting and when you’re standing, and make sure that when you’re standing, the blood pressure is not consistently lower than when you’re lying down. That’s something to do at the doctor’s office.
It’s always good advice to take your time when you’re going from lying to a standing position, especially when you wake up in the morning, when your blood pressure’s already been low all night because you’ve been sleeping. You want to sit up, stay sitting for 30 seconds or a minute and then stand, especially if you’ve had dizziness like this in the past.
“Many falls are due to dizziness, or vertigo, which is a common medical problem,” says Julie Honaker, PhD, Vestibular and Balance Disorders expert. “Dizziness is a serious condition because it increases your risk of falling by 13 times.”
With winter approaching, people should be especially cautious, Dr. Honaker says.
“Ice and snow are huge amplifiers for falls,” Dr. Honaker says. “But so are wet floors, uneven pavement and even rugs. If you have any concerns about your balance, get checked by a doctor — before you fall.”
It’s important to tell your doctor if you feel these symptoms because it can be caused by a variety of issues, including:
A problem in your inner ear, brain or neck
Neurological issues
Heart-related issues
Changes in your medication or dosage
“The most important thing is to seek medical attention in order for a doctor to make appropriate assessments and diagnoses,” Dr. Kucinic says.
She says your doctor may recommend further diagnostic tests, including an MRI and/or CT of the brain and/or neck; cardiac tests; or vestibular test battery, a gold standard in assessing inner ear function. The primary doctor may also refer you to an ENT or neurologist, Dr. Kucinic says.
When it’s an emergency
If dizziness is ever accompanied by any of the following, go to the Hospital fast.
Slurred speech
Blurred vision
Pain or numbness/tingling in the arm(s)
Nausea
Severe headache
Chest pain
Pressure or heaviness
Shortness of breath