Is there any way to prevent dizziness upon standing?

When you stand up, there’s a reflex that occurs with your veins causing them to constrict, so all the blood doesn’t leave your head at once. It sounds like yours might be a tad bit slow. The only thing I can suggest is getting up slowly so your veins are ready for it. This used to happen to me a lot and finally when I blacked out and slammed my face in the door twice to keep from falling over, I decided it was time to go to the doctor. That’s all she said to do.

@Mariah I agree with @redfeather, get up slowly. If you feel your blood pressure drop while you are standing, sit down.

If you are out somewhere and feel the drop, sit down somewhere cool with good air flow.

I find if I get overheated, my pressure can drop quickly. If it drops too quickly & I feel myself going to black out, I quickly take off my shoes and rub my feet and legs as hard as I can while sitting down.

I’ve had to learn how not to black out/faint over my lifetime. Your best bet is to know the feeling and deal with it. Slow and steady wins the race.

Be mindful. When I get of of bed, I roll over slowly and then sit up slowly. Then I daydream for a minute or two before standing up.

Use a similar procedure when getting out of a chair.

And I never let the dentist jerk the chair back; I have him do it in slow increments.

I also wash and condition my hair in the shower and then arrive at the salon for a hair cut with wet hair. Leaning back to have my hair shampooed makes me lightheaded just thinking about it.

I agree getting up slowly. If you are lying down, sit up first, then stand. If you are very tired you might need more time then when you are fully awake. Double check your thyroid is ok, if it has not been tested, that might be lowering your blood pressure. Also, if you drink caffeine, your dizziness might be happening more as you are withdrawing off, see if there is a connection. Like early in the morning when it has been hours since your last caffeine for instance. Of course stay hydrated, but I’m sure you know that already.

I have the same problem, so I clicked on the thread hoping for some miracle technique that would help. Every doctor tells me the same thing as well, “Stand up slowly.” I’ve stood up from a crouched position to fully erect, and lost my vision entirely for up to 10 seconds. I hadn’t thought it could mean I was close to blacking out!
Thanks for that heads up @redfeather + @SpatzieLover! I’ll be more careful from now on.

I used to black out when I stood up after waking. I developed the habit of stretching every muscle I possibly could before I stood up. I found that when I did that, the black outs stopped.

Amazing how many people have this problem. @Mariah slow and steady is my advice too. As @gailcalled has suggested, you have to become in tune with your own body and respond accordingly.

It’s called orthostatic or postural hypotension. I used to have a real problem with it when I was in my teens and early twenties but eventually “grew out” of it. There isn’t much you can do about it except things like stand up slowly or bracing yourself as you get up. I used to get it so bad that would have sit down or risk falling when going into a standing position and would even faint sometimes so you do need to be careful you don’t fall or faint and injure yourself. At the end of the wikipedia article there is a list of things you can do to help minimize it.

This happens to me, but like @lillycoyote, it was worse during my teens – which was normal according to my doctor.

I find putting my feet on the floor, hands on knees and head down is the best way to start. I then stand, but stay bent over with my hands on my knees. Then slowly raise my upper body and, lastly, my head.

I was told by Dr. to add salt to my diet.

Also compression stockings might help. I will get them by Tuesday.

Update Was too flustering cleaning them every day and it was uncomfortable. Was a waste of $100.