What Causes Fainting After Playing Tennis In An Elderly Patient?

Posted on Mon, 30 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 30 May 2016 Answered on

Fri, 1 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am 70 in good shape and take only 81 mg aspirin and daily vitamin. After tennis I go in hot tub for 10 min and when I standup to get out I feel faint. If I shake my head and then sit down with head between my knees I am ok. .?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
dehydration?

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

it sounds like postural hypotension due to dehydration. Tennis can be exhausting for the body (depending on how hard you try of course) and cause loss of great quantity of water (dehydration). A dehydrated individual may experience postural hypotension particularly when the blood vessels are dilated (after hot tub for example). Rehydration after the sport is essential particularly for someone at your age, no matter how fit you are.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar