Question: Sometimes when I get up fast I feel so dizzy that I need to sit back down to avoid falling over. I don’t have any other major health issues. What could be the cause of this?
Dr. Hibberd’s answer:
You probably have a mild form of orthostatic hypotension — also called postural hypotension which is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down and it's usually not cause for concern. When you stand up, gravity causes blood to pool in your legs. This decreases blood pressure because there's less blood circulating back to your heart to pump to the rest of the body. The simplest treatment is to sit or lie down immediately after feeling lightheaded or dizzy upon standing. Drinking enough fluids, such as water; drinking little to no alcohol; avoiding walking during hot weather; and standing up slowly may also help. Your dizziness will usually disappear. An exercise program that can strengthen your calf muscles is useful. If you don't also have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if, and how much, salt you can increase in your diet.
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