Dizzy When You Stand Up? Orthostatic Hypotension, Its Causes, and When to Worry
A head rush when you stand up is common, especially at Denver's altitude. Here's what causes it, what helps, and when dizziness or fainting needs to be checked.
Feeling lightheaded, woozy or briefly "graying out" when you stand up is often orthostatic hypotension: a short drop in blood pressure when you go from lying or sitting to standing. It's very common, and usually comes from dehydration, standing up too fast, heat, alcohol, or a medicine. At Denver's altitude and in our dry air, dehydration is an easy trigger. It usually passes within seconds. Get it checked if it's new, happens often, makes you fall or faint, or comes with chest pain or a racing heart.
What it feels like
- Lightheadedness or a head rush within a few seconds to minutes of standing
- Blurry or dimming vision
- Weakness or feeling like you might faint
- Sometimes nausea, a headache or confusion
- Relief when you sit or lie down again
This is different from vertigo, where the room spins. Our post on vertigo covers that.
Common causes
- Dehydration, from not drinking enough, a stomach bug, heat, exercise or altitude
- Standing up quickly, especially after lying down for a long time or getting out of a hot shower
- Medicines, including blood pressure pills, water pills, some antidepressants, and medicines for prostate problems or erectile dysfunction
- Alcohol
- Pregnancy, especially early on
- Older age, when the body adjusts more slowly
- Long bed rest or illness
- Conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart problems, anemia or low blood sugar
What helps
- Get up in stages: sit on the edge of the bed for a minute, then stand slowly
- Drink more fluids, especially water, in hot weather, after exercise and when you first arrive at altitude
- Limit alcohol
- Flex your calves or cross your legs before standing up
- Sit or lie down right away if you feel faint, so you don't fall
- Review your medicines with a clinician or pharmacist
What urgent care can do
A clinician can check your blood pressure lying down and standing, look for dehydration, check your blood sugar, do an EKG to look at your heart rhythm, and review your medicines. If you're dehydrated, IV fluids can help. Our post on blood pressure numbers explains what a low reading means.
At an AfterOurs clinic, a standard self-pay visit is $175, a visit with one moderate service such as an EKG is $250, and a self-pay in-clinic visit never costs more than $330. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. See the cost and insurance page.
Call 911 if you faint and don't come around quickly, faint during exercise or while lying down, have chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, a severe headache, or weakness, numbness, drooping of the face or trouble speaking. Go to the ER if you fainted and hit your head, or are pregnant and fainted.
Where to find us
Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:
- Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM
Walk in, or book online.
Medically reviewed by Peter Martinuzzi, MD
This article is general health information, not medical advice for your situation. If you are worried, come in or book a telehealth visit — and if it is an emergency, call 911.