Why does postural hypotension cause dizziness?

When you stand, gravity draws blood toward your legs and abdomen. Blood vessels and the heart normally adjust quickly to keep blood reaching the brain. With postural hypotension, that adjustment is delayed or insufficient, so you may feel lightheaded, unsteady, blurred in vision, weak, or close to fainting.

Dizziness is a very common presentation of Postural Hypotension. It may follow getting out of bed, rising from a chair, standing after bending, or standing still for a while. Dehydration, illness, heat, alcohol, some medicines, and long periods in bed can make episodes more noticeable.

At the first warning, sit or lie down promptly and raise your legs if possible. Move from lying to sitting, then to standing in stages, using a stable surface for support. Drink fluids regularly unless you have been told to restrict them, and avoid driving, climbing, or using machinery while dizzy.

Keep a note of timing, position changes, food or drink, and medicines around episodes. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own; a clinician can review whether it is contributing.

Seek urgent care for dizziness with chest pain, shortness of breath, a new irregular heartbeat, weakness on one side, difficulty speaking, severe headache, or loss of consciousness. Arrange a medical review for repeated episodes, injuries from a fall, or dizziness that interferes with daily activity. Assessment may include blood-pressure readings while lying and standing and a review of medicines and hydration.

Ask whether your symptoms fit a blood-pressure drop on standing, whether any medicines or medical conditions may contribute, and how to take standing blood-pressure readings safely. Ask which warning signs mean you should seek urgent care.