Why does my head spin every time I stand up?

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 Do you suffer from these symptoms?

• Dizziness when you stand up
• Brain fog
• Sticky eyes 
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Pounding heart when you stand up
• Chest pain when walking up even a slight incline
• Heavy legs and feet
• Painful, swollen feet when standing up
• Headache if standing still
• Bothered by bright lights
• Bothered by loud noises
• Hate standing in a queue because it makes you feel lousy
• Struggle to concentrate after eating
• Need to lie down after a meal
• Extreme fatigue
• Feel sick in hot weather 
• Palpitations
  

These symptoms are REAL

And there is a physiological reason for them. Unless you have some other underlying condition, perhaps your symptoms are because of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. It is a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system which automatically regulates functions like blood pressure and heart rate. 

 

Simply put, it means your blood pressure is okay while you are seated or lying down, but when you stand up and your posture changes, the blood plummets to your lower body, leaving your brain without adequate oxygen, hence the dizziness, nausea and brain fog. Because your blood pressure falls so suddenly, your brain gets an emergency signal that you are either dying or bleeding out, so it sends adrenaline to your heart to pump it faster. This, along with the lack of oxygen, causes dizziness. Standing in a queue at the supermarket checkout can be an absolute nightmare. You just want to dump your shopping and run to the car. POTS can have a huge impact on your daily life and its more common than  you think. For more info click here: POTS

Here are some interesting and useful facts about dizziness: Mayo Clinic

For a proper diagnosis you may have to have a tilt table test, or at the very least a detailed interview and blood pressure testing with a cardiac specialist. An electrocardiogram may rule out other heart conditions.

 

So how do you manage this condition?

There are lots of things you can do to take back control of your life, despite having a POTS diagnosis. But it won't be easy. Just trying to remember what to do can be a challenge if you have a bad case of brain fog! Here's some tips that have helped me and others I know:

• Compression garments
• Drinking Hydrolyte
• Lying down after a meal
• Drinking lots of water
• Increasing your salt intake a LOT (if that is ok with your cardiologist)
• Avoiding caffeine (its a diuretic, which takes water out of your body)
• Vascular constrictor medication such as Vasodrine or Midodrine
• Stimulants such as Dexamphetamine to speed up your metabolism
• Resting flat at least once during the day
• Doing some stretches and wriggles before you stand up
• Fludrocortisone medication (increases salt level in the body)

Everyone's response to this condition is individual, so some of these may not work for you. It's always advisable to check with your doctor before making any changes.

 

Where to get help

The Ehlers-Danlos Society has loads of information about POTS, videos and links to organisations you will find helpful.

In Australia, an organisation called Zebras has helped me a lot, through online mentoring.