SAEDNEWS: Have You Ever Wondered Why You Suddenly Feel Dizzy When You Stand Up?
It happens to everyone and keeps happening: you rise from your desk or bed and suddenly feel dizzy, reaching out for something to steady yourself. In some cases, you may see black spots before your eyes, and you must firmly hold onto something until the dizziness passes—usually just a few seconds. Experts have a name for this unpleasant sensation: initial orthostatic hypotension, or a temporary drop in blood pressure when standing up.
If you experience this, don’t worry. Experts confirm that most people routinely encounter this phenomenon, and a brief drop in blood pressure upon standing is completely normal and harmless.
Dr. M. E. Akram, a member of the Epidemiology Association at the Rotterdam Medical Center, Erasmus University in the Netherlands, explains: “These symptoms occur because there is a temporary reduction in blood flow—and consequently oxygen—reaching the brain.” To visualize this, think of your body and circulatory system as a half-filled water bottle.
When the bottle lies on its side, water spreads evenly across its base. But when you lift it upright, all the water rushes to the bottom. A similar shift happens in your body when you stand after sitting or lying down for a long time.
Dr. Akram elaborates: “Gravity pulls a large portion of blood toward the lower body and legs, forcing the heart and arteries to work harder to pump blood to the brain.”
Dr. Philip Low, a neurology professor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has conducted extensive research on this condition and its management. He explains: “The heart is a pump, and when you rise suddenly, the amount of blood returning to the heart decreases. This leads to a temporary drop in blood pressure, and it takes a short while for the body’s compensatory mechanisms to restore normal circulation.”
