What Does Fainting Feel Like With Postural Hypotension?

Postural hypotension is a drop in blood pressure when you move upright. Blood can briefly pool in the legs before the body adjusts. The warning may appear within moments of standing from a bed or chair: your vision may narrow, your head may feel light, and your legs may soften. Symptoms often improve when you sit or lie down, but a fall can still cause harm.

Pause at the edge of the bed before standing, then rise slowly while holding a stable support. At the first sign of dizziness, sit or lie down. Avoid walking alone during an episode, hot showers until symptoms are controlled, and sudden position changes. Keep a record of when symptoms occur, what you were doing, and any medicines taken that day.

Get emergency help for fainting with chest pain, trouble breathing, major injury, ongoing confusion, or new weakness or speech difficulty. Arrange prompt review for a first faint, repeated episodes, falls, symptoms during exertion, or dizziness that does not settle after resting. A clinician can check lying and standing blood pressure and review possible triggers.

Ask whether any medicine, dehydration, or heart problem could contribute; how slowly you should change position; and whether you need a home blood-pressure record or further testing.