Light-headedness upon standing up too quickly.  can lead to falls!

SUMMARY:

1. POSTURAL HYPOTENSION OCCURS WHEN YOU SIT OR STAND UP TOO QUICKLY AND EITHER YOU ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DEHYDRATED AND/OR THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM FAILS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE SUDDENLY DECREASED ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND YOU BECOME LIGHT-HEADED/FAINT.

2. NORMALLY THE ARTERIES SUPPLYING THE HEAD CONSTRICT, MAINTAINING PRESSURE.  alpha-blockers and other anti-hypertensives BLOCK THIS REFLEX AND CAN LEAD TO DIZZINESS WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY FAINTNESS (NOT VERTIGO, WHICH IS A SPINNING SENSATION), AND WHICH CAN LEAD TO ACTUAL FAINTING (SYNCOPE), OR, MORE COMMONLY, FALLING.

3. A MAJOR CAUSE OF FALLING IN OTHERWISE HEALTHY ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS, WHO ARE ALREADY AT GREATER RISK FOR POSTURAL HYPOTENSION.  HIP FRACTURES AND HEAD TRAUMA FROM THESE TYPES OF FALLS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A FAIRLY HIGH SIX-MONTH MORTALITY RATE.

4. MOST COMMONLY exacerbated, AND EVEN TRIGGERED by, dehydration, IN WHICH CASE THE PULSE QUICKENS;  THE HEART MAY BEGIN TO POUND IN ORDER TO INCREASE BLOOD FLOW TO THE CEREBRAL ARTERIES TO MAINTAIN STRENGTH AND CONSCIOUSNESS.  INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO ESPECIALLY AT-RISK FOLLOWING RELATIVELY long periods of repose, SUCH AS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND ESPECIALLY ON THE WAY TO THE BATHROOM TO VOID THE BLADDER.

5. STAY hydrated,

6. move slowly,

7. AND NEVER JUMP OUT OF BED!

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