$Unique_ID{BRK01397}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What Causes Faintness and Dizziness When Standing Up?}
$Subject{dizzy pressures hypotension fainting ill defined symptoms symptom
circulatory system faintness dizziness faint dizzy low blood pressure episodic
orthostatic hypotension capillaries heart circulation dizzying postural
capillary syncope}
$Volume{N-4, G-4}
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Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What Causes Faintness and Dizziness When Standing Up?


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QUESTION:  If I make a sudden move to stand after sitting for a spell, I
sometimes get faint and dizzy and half to sit back down again.  It is a bit
frightening, and I wonder if you might have some idea as to the cause of this
problem.  Would you please explain it to me?

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ANSWER:  If you feel faint upon rising (including rising from bed in the
morning), you might be suffering from low blood pressure.  Now, low blood
pressure has it varieties; "episodic" low blood pressure, which is linked to
irregular heart rhythms that may come and go.  In some cases, young, healthy
people frequently have chronic low blood pressure without other disease
symptoms being present.  But the special brand associated with blood pressure
that decreases immediately and rapidly upon rising and is often accompanied by
dizziness and faintness is called "orthostatic" hypotension.  This unwieldy
term is used to describe a type of low blood pressure that, while not a
disease state in itself, reflects the inability of the body to control
pressures properly.  A common reversible situation is a poor circulatory
pattern, where blood pools in capillaries, thereby reducing the amount of
blood the heart pumps out.  It may be caused by some medications you are
already taking.  This is a situation that should be discussed with you
physician, for there are a number of reasons, and many of them can be
controlled, reducing the frequency of your symptoms.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.