Sudden Dizziness When Standing

When standing up, your blood vessels narrow to prevent low blood pressure. However, if the blood vessels do not tighten as you stand up, it can lower your blood pressure and cause dizziness.  

Dizziness when standing up can make you feel unsteady and like you may want to fall even if you are standing still.  This is because the change in gravity makes your blood pool in your legs for a short time. 

It may indicate an underlying issue if you have frequently or occasionally experienced sudden dizziness when you stand up. This article explores the common causes of dizziness when standing up and how physical therapy in Scottsdale, AZ, can help.

Causes of Dizziness When Standing Up

When you stand up suddenly, gravity makes your blood pool in your legs and trunk. This lowers your blood pressure and reduces the blood your brain receives from your heart. Your nervous system then increases your heart rate and constricts your blood vessels to return your blood pressure to normal before your symptoms worsen.

Dizziness when standing up and walking should be temporary. However, in some cases, it can signify an underlying health condition. Some of the causes of dizziness when standing up include the following:

Dehydration

Dehydration reduces your blood volume, causing a drop in your blood pressure. This causes you to feel dizzy whenever you stand up. You will likely be dehydrated when you do not drink enough water or sweat a lot all day. In addition, severe diarrhea or vomiting can cause dehydration.

Low Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar reduces the amount of fuel your brain needs to function. This leads to dizziness when you stand up. You may also experience weakness, tiredness, hunger, and headaches.

You are likely to have low blood sugar if you take insulin or certain diabetes medications. 

Inner Ear Problems

Your inner ear responds to your head rotation. The organs in the ear are also known as the vestibular system. If there is a problem with this system, you will feel dizzy when you stand up. 

You may also experience accompanying symptoms like hearing loss and vertigo. Vertigo is a condition where you feel like everything around you is moving, which may be mild or severe. 

An ear infection is the most likely cause of inner ear problems.

Medications

When you visit your doctor about dizziness when you stand, they will ask you for your medications. This is because certain drugs lower your blood pressure. Some drugs may also interact with each other and cause dizziness.

Some medications that may cause dizziness include drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, depression, and high blood pressure. 

Ageing

Older people have a higher risk of feeling dizzy when they stand up. This is because the inner ears and neck degenerate with age. In addition, sudden dizziness in older adults is most likely a result of other underlying health conditions.  

Prolonged Bed Rest

Your body position can also affect your blood pressure. Sitting or lying down for long periods slows down your heart rate and blood pressure. So, when you stand upright, your blood pools down in your lower body and causes dizziness.

Health Conditions

If you frequently experience dizziness when you stand, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. These conditions include adrenal insufficiency, congestive heart failure, and Parkinson’s disease.

Alcohol 

Alcohol is another cause of dizziness when standing. Drinking alcohol can lower your blood pressure. It can narrow your blood vessels and slow your blood flow. You are likely to feel weird and dizzy when you stand up after taking alcohol. 

Food

Eating and digestion require extra blood supply to your intestines. You will likely feel dizzy for about 15 to 45 minutes after eating. Dizziness after meals is more likely to occur if you eat a lot in one sitting or eat more rapidly digested carbohydrates, like white bread.

When Should You See A Doctor?

Dizziness when you stand up should be temporary. However, there are instances where you must see your doctor. For instance, if you experience dizziness frequently or if it impacts your daily life, you should seek immediate medical attention.  

Also, if you experience chest pain, faint, fall, or notice blood in your stool, you should seek immediate medical attention. 

Treatment for Sudden Dizziness When Standing 

The best treatment for your condition will depend on the underlying cause of the dizziness. Some of the treatments for sudden dizziness when standing up include:

Lifestyle Changes

Your doctor will recommend increasing your fluid intake if the cause of your dizziness is dehydration. You may also need to adjust your diet if you have low blood sugar or if your dizziness strikes after meals. 

Avoid standing in a place or sitting for too long to prevent blood pooling in your legs. However, if you do, try to rise slowly to a standing position to reduce the likelihood of dizziness.

Your doctor may also recommend eating smaller but more frequent portions of food. This is better than eating large portions in one sitting. Limiting sugary beverages and foods made with highly refined flour is also best.

In addition, moving frequently can help your blood move quickly and stabilize your blood pressure. You can get a bit of light exercise in the morning. You should also limit your consumption of alcohol. 

Medication Adjustments

If your drugs make you dizzy, your doctor can adjust your dose. In some cases, you will have to stop using that particular drug and switch to a new one. Your doctor may also prescribe drugs that can increase your blood pressure to reduce the likelihood of dizziness.

How Can Physical Therapy Help with Sudden Dizziness When Standing?

Physical therapy is a treatment that does not involve surgery. Instead, your physical therapist will ask you questions and review your medical history to diagnose the cause of your sudden dizziness.

Afterward, you will get a personalized treatment plan that addresses your condition. This treatment plan will include several techniques, including exercises and lifestyle modifications, to help reduce your symptoms and restore your balance.

Vestibular Rehabilitation For Sudden Dizziness When Standing

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy in South Scottsdale, AZ, is a treatment that minimizes dizziness. This specialized treatment will help identify the cause of your dizziness and address your symptoms to make you feel better. Your physical therapist will also assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure effective treatment. 

Treatment techniques used in vestibular rehabilitation include

Gaze Stabilization Exercises

Your physical therapist will recommend gaze stabilization exercises to help you control your eye movements. These exercises may be the best for you if you feel things bouncing around, especially when reading or trying to identify objects. 

You can do this exercise by:

• Make a target. You can mark an X on a wall or use your finger
• Focus on the target and stabilize your eye
• Move your head from side to side while focusing on the target
• Repeat for 10 to 15 seconds
• Move your head up and down while focusing on the target
• Repeat for 10 to 15 seconds

Balance Training Exercises

Balance training exercises will help you reduce dizziness and improve steadiness as you do your daily activities. Although balance exercises may be challenging, they are safe. You won’t fall while doing them. 

Some common balance training exercises include walking in a straight line and sit-stand exercises.

You can do the walking in a straight line exercise by:

• Use a hallway or open space
• Walk in a straight line and turn your head for every step
• If you take a step with your left leg, look left. If you take a step with your right leg, look right
• Walk for about 20 feet or the length of the hallway
• Repeat 3 times
• Do the exercise again by looking at the ceiling or floor
• Rest in between repetitions to let your symptoms calm

You can do the sit-stand exercise by:

• Sit on a chair
• Stand up
• Sit again
• Do this exercise 20 times with your eyes open
• Repeat with your eyes closed

Habituation Exercises

If you feel dizziness when walking or due to external stimuli, your physical therapist may recommend habituation exercises. These exercises reduce dizziness over time through repeated exposure to specific motions that cause dizziness. 

For instance, if you feel dizzy in a shopping mall or grocery store, you will gradually be exposed to the cause. With patience and compliance, the intensity of your dizziness will reduce. That is because your brain will gradually learn to ignore abnormal signals.

Conclusion

Sudden dizziness when you stand can impact your daily life. You may find it challenging to do your chores or work. Although sudden dizziness when standing can happen to anyone, it is temporary. However, if you experience this condition frequently, you must see your doctor immediately.

Your physical therapist at FYZICAL South Scottsdale will assess your condition and recommend a customized treatment plan that addresses your problem. You will also undergo frequent examinations to help your physical therapist assess your progress and make necessary adjustments.