Dizziness When Standing Up: Harmless Occurrence or Sign of a Serious Illness?

Although often just a temporary discomfort, recurring dizziness may indicate more serious health problems that should not be ignored.

The feeling of dizziness or brief lightheadedness after standing up from a sitting or lying position is extremely common. Many simply attribute it to moving too quickly and continue with their day without thinking much about the cause. This phenomenon is actually a form of low blood pressure that occurs only when the body changes position, and medically it is called orthostatic or postural hypotension.

Although episodes are usually mild and last only a few seconds, prolonged and frequent dizziness can be a signal of more serious health problems. It is important to understand why this happens and to recognize the moment when medical advice is needed, because ignoring the symptoms may lead to dangerous falls and injuries, especially in older people.

While occasional episodes are usually harmless, chronic and recurrent orthostatic hypotension is often a sign of another underlying health issue.

Various conditions can interfere with the body’s ability to properly regulate blood pressure. Heart problems such as extremely slow heart rate (bradycardia), heart valve disease, previous heart attack, or heart failure prevent the body from pumping enough blood at the necessary speed.

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Endocrine disorders, including thyroid diseases, adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease), and low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), can also trigger orthostatic hypotension.

Diabetes is especially important to mention, as over time it can damage the nerves responsible for sending signals that control blood pressure.

There are also neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, and dementia, which can directly damage the autonomic nervous system that controls this vital function.

Dizziness Is Not a Disease but a Symptom – When Should We Worry?

Don’t ignore the symptoms: There are multiple causes of dizziness, and one of them can be quite serious
In many cases, occasional dizziness upon standing is caused by something obvious and can be easily corrected. Dehydration is one of the most common culprits; when the body lacks fluids, blood volume decreases, leading to a drop in blood pressure and making symptoms more likely, especially in the morning after a night without drinking. Conditions such as fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, or intense exercise followed by heavy sweating have a similar effect.

Prolonged bed rest due to illness or injury can also weaken the body’s mechanisms for regulating blood pressure.

Additionally, exposure to high temperatures, which causes blood vessels to dilate and sweating, as well as alcohol consumption, which also dilates blood vessels and can lead to dehydration, are frequent triggers for orthostatic hypotension.

The reason for this phenomenon is simple – gravity. When you stand up suddenly, gravity pulls blood into the lower part of the body, especially the legs. As a result, less blood is temporarily delivered to the heart and therefore to the brain, causing a drop in blood pressure. A healthy body reacts immediately: the heart begins to beat faster to compensate, and blood vessels constrict to raise blood pressure. This quick response ensures that the brain receives enough oxygen. However, if this mechanism is slowed or insufficient, dizziness occurs.

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The most common and obvious symptom is dizziness or lightheadedness immediately after standing up, but the range of possible manifestations is wider. People may experience blurred vision, general weakness, confusion, nausea, and in more severe cases, fainting, known as syncope.

Symptoms usually last less than a few minutes and disappear as soon as the person sits or lies down again, allowing blood to return more easily to the heart and brain.

Sometimes there may also be chest, neck, or shoulder pain, as well as shortness of breath, which can be additionally distressing for the person experiencing them.

It is important to monitor the frequency and intensity of these symptoms so you can provide accurate information to your doctor – writes B92.