Why Am I Dizzy With Getting Up?
You’ve been sitting watching TV or maybe you’ve (unfortunately) been sitting in a waiting room for a while.
You go to stand up,
and WHOA!
You’re not feeling stable. Maybe you’re feeling lightheaded or about to faint.
Is this a vestibular problem?
Maybe, maybe not.
First thing I discuss with my patients is what their dizziness feels like. This is an important part to narrowing down the problem. If it is a lightheadedness/feeling like they are going to faint, then what I would want to do first is check their blood pressure when sitting, and again after they have been standing for a few minutes. If there is a significant drop in their blood pressure, their physician or cardiologist may be the first person to consult as it is most likely not a vestibular problem.
Let’s say your blood pressure did not drop significantly, how about your heart rate? If it increased significantly then I would consider Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS. This is a condition that results from a disruption of the autonomic nervous system. The body is misfiring and activating the “fight or flight” (aka sympathetic nervous system) at times that is inappropriate, resulting in dizziness.
To sum it up.
If you’re experiencing dizziness with getting up out of a chair, other body systems besides the vestibular system need to be considered as the culprit before moving forward.
Let’s say you’re getting up out of a recliner or getting out of bed.
Then maybe it is vestibular in nature. Moving from a horizontal position to vertical position will stimulate the vestibular system, and if there is a dysfunction, then you will interpret it as dizziness.
It’s possible that it is just a motion sensitivity, but there could be vestibular dysfunction that needs to be looked into.
Now if you are having the REALLY exciting…note my sarcasm ;-) … experience of dizziness while laying down?
JACKPOT!
Well, for me anyway! This is because it often means you are having BPPV! Especially if it is described as a spinning sensation and is lasting less than a minute. Why do I love it when this happens?
Because I can fix it! And often in 1 treatment visit (1).
While I don’t love that anyone experiences BPPV, when it does happen, I love that I am able to provide them with relief so quickly!
If you are experiencing dizziness, make sure you see a vestibular specialist to help you with it! If you are in or around Orange County, CA, set up a phone call with me to discuss how I can help you with your dizziness!
