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What Causes Dizziness On Standing Up Along With Headaches?
Question: Son experiences light-headedness/dizziness when standing suddenly, or when he hasn't eaten. It is quite frequent when he stands up and lasts for several minutes. Sometimes he will need to lie down to recover. Once or twice it has been very bad - feelings of fainting that usually get better when he lies down and drinks plenty water. These are all usually accompanied by headaches that can last several hours.
Brief Answer:
Syncope and its treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. Your son's symptoms are suggestive of syncopal attacks.
: First symptom - Dizziness/light headedness on standing up. Usually, whenever we stand from sitting position, our blood is pooled towards heart and in lower part of body due to gravity. It is taken care by our autonomic system which pumps it back in brain. However if BP is already low/dehydration/autonomic nervous system damage due to diabetes/drugs, it can cause less blood to brain and hence light headedness/dizziness/fall.
It can be treated by
: First rule out diabetes or any kind of autonomic neuropathy - You need to consult neurologist. He will examine his BP in standing/sitting and lying position. He might check his sweating pattern/sexual history to know about autonomic system.
Tests like blood sugar might be done.
If everything is normal, it is good.
: Then rule out low blood pressure (BP < 70/50mm Hg) and dehydration.
: Drugs like Propranolol/Type 1 antihistaminic/sedating drugs like antidepressants or benzodiazepine can cause dizziness in sudden standing.
: Severe Anemia - It can cause dizziness/headache after sudden standing if Hb is less than 8gm%.
Dehydration and low BP is more likely as recovery occurs after lying down and with plenty of water. Headache after it could be due to increase in blood supply to brain.
To control these symptoms, you can ask him to
: Do exercise daily. It will increase his basal tone.
: drink 3-4 litre of water or fluids daily to avoid dehydration.
: Drink salty fluids to increase BP
: For headache, ask him to take tablet Paracetamol 500 mg after proper prescription.
Hope it will help him. Still no relief, you can ask me again. I will help you.
Thanks. Take care.
Syncope and its treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. Your son's symptoms are suggestive of syncopal attacks.
: First symptom - Dizziness/light headedness on standing up. Usually, whenever we stand from sitting position, our blood is pooled towards heart and in lower part of body due to gravity. It is taken care by our autonomic system which pumps it back in brain. However if BP is already low/dehydration/autonomic nervous system damage due to diabetes/drugs, it can cause less blood to brain and hence light headedness/dizziness/fall.
It can be treated by
: First rule out diabetes or any kind of autonomic neuropathy - You need to consult neurologist. He will examine his BP in standing/sitting and lying position. He might check his sweating pattern/sexual history to know about autonomic system.
Tests like blood sugar might be done.
If everything is normal, it is good.
: Then rule out low blood pressure (BP < 70/50mm Hg) and dehydration.
: Drugs like Propranolol/Type 1 antihistaminic/sedating drugs like antidepressants or benzodiazepine can cause dizziness in sudden standing.
: Severe Anemia - It can cause dizziness/headache after sudden standing if Hb is less than 8gm%.
Dehydration and low BP is more likely as recovery occurs after lying down and with plenty of water. Headache after it could be due to increase in blood supply to brain.
To control these symptoms, you can ask him to
: Do exercise daily. It will increase his basal tone.
: drink 3-4 litre of water or fluids daily to avoid dehydration.
: Drink salty fluids to increase BP
: For headache, ask him to take tablet Paracetamol 500 mg after proper prescription.
Hope it will help him. Still no relief, you can ask me again. I will help you.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. REMY KOSHY
Answered by
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