Dizziness and shaking when standing

Moving from sitting or lying to standing can briefly challenge circulation, particularly after sweating, illness, prolonged bed rest or not drinking enough. Shaking may occur with low blood sugar, stress, adrenaline or a fast heartbeat. Anaemia can present with lightheadedness and reduced exercise tolerance.

Describe whether your vision dims, your heart races, the room spins or your muscles feel weak. A balance condition such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo tends to cause spinning with particular head movements rather than only standing. Repeated symptoms deserve a review rather than self-diagnosis.

At the first warning, sit or lie down so you do not fall. Hold onto a stable surface, move slowly and wait until your vision and balance are normal. Drink water if you are alert and able to swallow. If you have diabetes, use your agreed plan for suspected low blood sugar instead of guessing a treatment.

Rise in stages: turn on your side, sit at the edge of the bed, then stand with support. Avoid driving, ladders and hot showers until the pattern is clear. Record the position change, time, food, fluids, medicines, pulse if available and what relieved it.

Call emergency services for fainting, chest pain, severe breathlessness, a sustained fast or irregular heartbeat, new one-sided weakness, trouble speaking, severe confusion or an injury from falling. Seek urgent advice if shaking is severe, you cannot stand safely or symptoms do not settle after lying down.

Book a medical review when episodes recur, are becoming more frequent, follow a medicine change or occur without an obvious trigger. Heat Exhaustion, Dehydration and Hypoglycaemia are relevant possibilities when symptoms follow heat, sweating or missed food.

Ask whether your blood pressure should be checked lying and standing, whether medicines may lower it, and whether blood tests or a heart-rhythm assessment are useful. Mention falls, heavy bleeding, diabetes, pregnancy possibility and any change in eating or drinking.