Many people wonder, “What should I do if I feel dizziness when standing?”
Dizziness when standing is often caused by a drop in blood pressure due to the force of gravity with standing and a lack of sufficient cardiovascular response, causing “Orthostatic hypotension.”
Dizziness when standing can also have other causes, such as alcohol intoxication, dehydration, inner ear problems, foot neuropathy, restricted blood flow through arteries in the neck area, adrenal gland problems or medication side effects.
People who just came home from the hospital, just had surgery or just started a new medication are especially vulnerable to dizziness with standing.
This dizziness may go away quickly or it may last the whole time you are standing up. You should always report this problem to your doctor because they may want to change your medications or perform their own examination to determine the cause.
I have developed the Foot Therapy Program for Fall Prevention to help people improve the blood flow in their feet and ankles. This exercise program may help reduce dizziness when standing for people with foot neuropathy.
Referral to physical therapy is also helpful for people with dizziness when standing. The best type of physical therapist to assess the dizziness with standing is a Vestibular Expert.
To find a Vertigo Expert in your area, check out three tips I offer in this blog.
Tips to help with Dizziness when Standing
In the meantime, you can use these strategies at home to prevent falling if you feel dizziness when standing up:
- Pump your ankles and clench your fists ten times before you stand to get your blood pressure up before you stand up.
- Once you stand up, stay in front of the chair or bed while you march in place or raise your heels for a few minutes or until you feel stable enough to walk.
- Spread your feet wide for better balance with standing and walking.
- Use a walker or cane for safety when you feel dizzy with standing or walking.
- Ask for assistance from a friend or family member if you are afraid of falling.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
Kim, it is wonderful to connect with this community. I see myself in so many of the descriptions. Great to find others to talk to who will understand.
Recently, I have been feeling woozy and unsteady when in standing or upright position. But not when driving nor when seated. This happens in spite of maintenance meds like amlodipine, beta blocker, alfuzosin, and statin. I will consult my cardio next week and will share the results here.