Feeling "weird" when standing up, often lightheadedness or dizziness, happens because gravity pulls blood to your legs, causing a temporary drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension) that your body needs a moment to correct by constricting blood vessels and increasing heart rate. Common triggers include dehydration, inactivity, heat, alcohol, medications, and sometimes underlying conditions like heart issues or anxiety, but it's usually normal if brief; see a doctor if it's frequent or severe.
Orthostatic hypotension — also called postural hypotension — is a form of low blood pressure that happens when standing after sitting or lying down. Orthostatic hypotension can cause dizziness or lightheadedness and possibly fainting. Orthostatic hypotension can be mild. Episodes might be brief.
How to prevent dizziness upon standing
When you stand up from sitting or lying down, your body has to quickly adjust your blood flow. Sometimes, this change does not happen fast enough, and your blood pressure drops for a moment. This drop makes less blood reach your brain and eyes, which can lead to feelings of dizziness and blurriness.
When some people stand up from sitting or lying down, they may feel dizzy or even faint because of a sudden drop in blood pressure. That phenomenon, which becomes more common in older adults, is called orthostatic hypotension.
Common Signs of POTS
Iron deficiency could make you dizzy when standing up. If you have low iron, known as anemia, your blood lacks healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin, which carry oxygen to your organs — including your brain. The hallmark of anemia is tiredness, but it can also cause you to feel faint and dizzy.
Constantly low blood pressure can be dangerous if it causes signs and symptoms such as:
Postural hypotension: Also known as orthostatic hypotension, this is the sudden drop in blood pressure as you stand or rise quickly. The steep decline in blood to the brain can often trigger photopsia.
Orthostatic Hypotension (OH) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) are both conditions linked to changes in blood flow when standing. OH involves a significant drop in blood pressure, while POTS is defined by a rapid rise in heart rate without a major blood pressure drop.
Symptoms of low blood pressure
lightheadedness or dizziness. feeling sick. blurred vision. generally feeling weak.
Orthostatic hypotension is more likely to occur about 15 to 45 minutes after eating a meal (this is known as post-prandial hypotension). Standing – if you stand up for a long time, it causes a slow but steady drop in blood pressure. Frailty and chronic sickness – these are more common in old age.
There may be a feeling of motion or spinning inside rather than in the environment. Sometimes there is a sense of swaying even though you are standing still. Environments like grocery stores, crowded malls or wide-open spaces may cause a sense of imbalance and disequilibrium.
A fall in blood pressure leads to a reduced blood supply to the brain, other organs and muscles, which can cause a variety of symptoms including: feeling dizzy or light-headed particularly on standing up. feeling confused or muddled.
BPPV vertigo can often be resolved quickly and permanently For certain conditions like BPPV, physical therapy can resolve symptoms quickly and often permanently. Therapists perform specific movements, such as the Epley maneuver, to reposition dislodged crystals in the inner ear.
What causes dizziness?
Acute glaucoma symptoms include ocular discomfort, impaired vision, and epiphora. Headache, nausea, and abdominal discomfort are all associated systemic symptoms.
Symptoms
🧠 Signs to look for: • Blurred vision when you move your eyes • Words or objects seem to bounce (Oscillopsia) • Strain during stitching, reading, or writing • Unexplained dizziness or head tilting to see clearly 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗣.
Problems with blood pressure - either too high or too low - can also cause brain fog. So can dehydration. Of course some serious neurological conditions can cause brain fog, but more often the cause is one of those already listed.
Stage 1 hypertension.
The top number is between 130 and 139 mm-Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm-Hg.
Eat small, low-carb meals.
Limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. A healthcare professional also might recommend drinking one or two strong cups of caffeinated coffee or tea with breakfast.
B12 deficiency can trigger specific food cravings, most notably for meat, fish, or eggs, as the body seeks animal-based sources to replenish the vitamin, especially in those on vegetarian/vegan diets or older adults. While cravings for sugary or salty foods can also signal general B-vitamin issues, the distinct urge for protein-rich animal products is a key indicator, but professional testing is crucial for confirmation.
The symptoms of POTS include but are not limited to lightheadedness (occasionally with fainting), difficulty thinking and concentrating (brain fog), fatigue, intolerance of exercise, headache, blurry vision, palpitations, tremor and nausea.
Low blood pressure symptoms include: Dizziness or feeling lightheaded. Fainting or passing out (syncope). Nausea or vomiting.