Dizzy After Standing Up: Causes, What’s Normal, and When to Worry

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and isn’t medical advice or a diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or think it may be an emergency, call your local emergency number.

You stand up to grab your phone and suddenly the room does that whoosh thing. Your vision goes a little dark. Your legs feel like noodles. You think, “Am I about to pass out, or am I just being dramatic?”

Here’s what’s actually happening when you feel dizzy after standing up, and when it’s annoying-but-normal versus a sign to get checked out.

First, what is that dizzy feeling when you stand up?

That brief wave of dizziness, dimming vision, or feeling like you might faint when you go from sitting or lying to standing is often related to a quick drop in blood pressure.

There’s a medical name for it: orthostatic (or postural) hypotension — “orthostatic” means change in position, “hypotension” means low blood pressure.

When you stand up, gravity pulls blood down into your legs and lower body. For a moment, less blood reaches your brain, and your brain is very picky about its blood supply. That dip can make you feel:

Lightheaded
Woozy or “floaty”
Like your vision is going gray, blurry, or spotty
Weak or unsteady

Usually your body corrects this in seconds. When the system is slow, overwhelmed, or not working right, you feel it.

Takeaway: A quick “whoa, I’m dizzy” after standing is often your blood pressure and circulation playing catch-up.

How your body should handle standing up

In a healthy, well-tuned system, when you stand:

Blood drops toward your legs because of gravity.
Pressure sensors (baroreceptors) in your neck and chest notice the drop in blood pressure.
Your nervous system responds fast:
- Heart beats a little faster.
- Blood vessels tighten (constrict) to push blood back upward.
Blood flow to your brain is restored, and you carry on with your day.

When this response is sluggish, exaggerated, or impaired, you may get dizzy, lightheaded, or even faint.

Takeaway: Dizziness after standing is usually a sign your body’s “pressure reflex” is taking a beat to catch up.

Common reasons you feel dizzy after standing up

There are many possible causes. Some are common and relatively harmless; others need medical attention.

1. Dehydration

If you haven’t had enough fluids, or you’ve been sweating, vomiting, or having diarrhea, your blood volume drops. Less volume means lower blood pressure.

Signs this might be you:

Dark yellow pee or not peeing much
Dry mouth, feeling very thirsty
Tired, weak, maybe a mild headache

Why it causes dizziness: With less fluid in your system, your blood pressure drops more when you stand, and it’s harder for the body to push blood back up to your brain.

Quick tip: Sip water slowly, not chugging a large amount at once. If you’re losing a lot of fluid (sweating, vomiting, diarrhea), oral rehydration drinks or electrolyte solutions can help, especially if a clinician has recommended them for you.

Takeaway: Low fluids mean low pressure and a higher chance of feeling woozy when you stand.

2. Medications messing with blood pressure

A lot of everyday medications can cause dizziness when standing, including:

Blood pressure meds (for hypertension)
Diuretics (“water pills”) used for blood pressure or swelling
Some antidepressants
Some antipsychotics
Medicines for Parkinson’s disease
Certain heart medicines

These can lower blood pressure or affect how your blood vessels respond.

Important: Don’t stop a prescribed medicine on your own. If you notice new or worse dizziness when standing after starting or changing a medication, talk to the prescribing clinician or pharmacist.

Takeaway: If your dizziness started after a new medicine or dose change, it’s worth a conversation with your provider.

3. Low blood pressure (hypotension) in general

Some people just run lower blood pressure numbers than average. For some, it’s normal and they feel fine. For others, standing up becomes the moment they notice it.

Possible clues:

You feel best lying down
You often feel weak, washed out, or wobbly when getting up
You may have cold hands and feet or feel easily fatigued

Low blood pressure can be caused by many things (dehydration, heart problems, endocrine conditions, medications, infections, and more), so it’s something to bring up with a clinician.

Takeaway: Chronic low blood pressure can make “stand up, get dizzy” a regular pattern.

4. Orthostatic hypotension (the classic cause)

Orthostatic hypotension is the specific diagnosis for a drop in blood pressure when you stand, typically defined in medical settings as a fall of at least a certain number of points in your systolic and/or diastolic pressure within a few minutes of standing.

What it can feel like:

Dizziness or lightheadedness right after standing
Blurry or tunnel vision
Weakness, feeling like you might black out
Sometimes actual fainting (syncope)

It’s more common in:

Older adults
People taking multiple blood pressure–related medications
People with certain nervous system or chronic conditions (for example, diabetes with nerve involvement, Parkinson’s disease, or other forms of autonomic dysfunction)

Takeaway: Orthostatic hypotension is the medical label for a measurable blood pressure drop when you change positions.

5. POTS and other autonomic nervous system issues

Sometimes the problem isn’t just blood pressure dropping, but the autonomic nervous system (the automatic control system for heart rate, blood pressure, and more) misbehaving.

One example you may have heard of is POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).

With POTS, when you stand up:

Your heart rate shoots up a lot
You may feel dizzy, shaky, weak, short of breath, or exhausted
Your blood pressure may stay normal or even go up, so it’s not the same as classic orthostatic hypotension

People with POTS often describe:

Feeling wiped out after standing in lines or taking showers
Brain fog, fatigue, and sometimes palpitations

POTS and related autonomic conditions are real, complex, and can seriously affect quality of life, but they’re manageable, and specialists (often cardiology or neurology) can help.

Takeaway: If standing makes your heart race and you feel awful, it may be more than “I stood up too fast.”

6. Anemia or recent blood loss

Your blood carries oxygen using red blood cells. With anemia (low red blood cell count or hemoglobin) or recent blood loss (heavy periods, surgery, injury, internal bleeding), your body has to work harder to get enough oxygen to tissues, especially when you stand.

You might notice:

Dizziness, especially when standing
Fatigue and weakness
Shortness of breath with light activity
Pale skin, gums, or inner eyelids

Takeaway: If you’re dizzy plus very tired, pale, or have heavy bleeding, ask about anemia.

7. Heart or circulation problems

Sometimes dizziness after standing can be a sign the heart can’t keep up or there’s another circulation issue. Examples (not an exhaustive list) include:

Certain heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
Heart valve disease
Heart failure
Serious blood vessel problems

This is more concerning when dizziness comes with:

Chest pain, discomfort, or pressure
Shortness of breath
Palpitations (heart racing, pounding, or skipping)
Swelling in the legs
Fainting without warning

Takeaway: Dizziness plus chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting means you should get urgent medical advice.

8. Blood sugar swings

Very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can make you feel shaky, sweaty, dizzy, or like you might pass out. While it’s not strictly about the act of standing, you might notice it most when you move around or get up.

People with diabetes using insulin or certain medications are especially at risk, but low blood sugar can affect others in certain situations too.

Takeaway: If you have diabetes or blood sugar issues and feel dizzy on standing, check your levels as directed and talk with your clinician.

When is dizziness after standing “normal-ish” vs worrisome?

Almost everyone has had a “head rush” moment after getting up too quickly. A few possible less-worrying scenarios:

You stood up suddenly after lying or sitting for a long time.
You’re a bit dehydrated or overheated.
The dizziness lasts only a few seconds and goes away once you pause or sit.
It doesn’t come with other concerning symptoms.

More concerning signs — call a clinician or seek urgent care promptly (same day or sooner) if you notice:

Dizziness that lasts more than a few minutes or happens over and over
Fainting (passing out), or nearly fainting frequently
Chest pain, chest tightness, or discomfort
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
A very fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
New confusion, trouble speaking, severe headache, or weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Vision changes that don’t quickly clear when you sit or lie down
Dizziness along with symptoms of severe dehydration (very little urine, very dry mouth, feeling extremely weak) or signs of internal bleeding (black, tarry stools; vomiting blood; sudden severe abdominal pain)

If you’re unsure whether it’s an emergency, you can usually call a nurse advice line, your clinician’s office, or local urgent care for guidance, but if your symptoms feel severe or life-threatening, call your local emergency number right away.

Takeaway: Short, rare “head rush” episodes are common. Repeated, long, or severe episodes, especially with other red-flag symptoms, deserve medical attention.

What you can do right now if you get dizzy when standing

These ideas are general tips, not a substitute for personal medical advice, but they’re often recommended strategies.

1. Change positions more slowly

Give your body a little warning:

First go from lying to sitting. Sit for 30–60 seconds.
Then go from sitting to standing slowly, maybe using a stable object for support.
If you feel the wave of dizziness, pause or sit back down until it passes.

2. Stay hydrated (within your provider’s advice)

Unless you’ve been told to limit fluids:

Sip water regularly through the day.
Increase fluids during hot weather, illness, or exercise.

If you have heart failure, kidney disease, or are on fluid restrictions, ask your clinician how much you personally should drink.

3. Avoid long, still standing when you can

Standing in one place (lines, showers, kitchen counter) can make symptoms worse because blood pools in the legs.

Try:

Shifting weight from leg to leg
Doing small calf squeezes (rise up on your toes and back down) to help pump blood upward
Sitting down for tasks when possible

4. Try simple circulation-boosting tricks

When you’re about to stand, or if you must stand still:

Tighten your leg and butt muscles
Cross your legs at the ankles and squeeze
Gently contract your abdominal muscles

These muscle tenses act like an extra pump to push blood back toward your heart.

5. Watch alcohol and big, heavy meals

Alcohol and large meals can both lower blood pressure in some people or draw more blood to the digestive system, which may worsen dizziness when you stand.

You might notice:

Feeling more lightheaded after big, carb-heavy meals
Extra dizziness after drinking alcohol

If that’s you, consider smaller, more frequent meals and discuss alcohol use with your clinician.

6. Keep a simple symptom log

If this is happening repeatedly, track:

When it happens (time of day)
What you were doing (just woke up, after shower, after meal, during period, after exercise, and so on)
Any medications taken that day and the time
How long the dizziness lasted and what helped

Bring this to your appointment. It makes it easier for a clinician to see patterns and decide what tests, if any, make sense.

Takeaway: Small daily habit shifts and better notes can make your doctor visit much more productive.

How a clinician might evaluate dizziness after standing

Everyone is different, but a typical evaluation may include:

History: When symptoms started, how often, what triggers them, what they feel like, and any other health issues or medications.
Vital signs lying, sitting, and standing: They may measure your blood pressure and heart rate in different positions to see how your body responds.
Physical exam: Including heart, lungs, and neurologic exam.
Blood tests: To look for anemia, dehydration, blood sugar issues, or other problems.
Heart tests: Such as ECG or EKG, heart monitoring, or an echocardiogram if indicated.
In some cases, specialized tests like a tilt-table test to assess orthostatic hypotension or POTS.

Treatment then depends on what they find. For example:

Adjusting medications
Treating anemia or dehydration
Compression stockings for some people
Specific treatments or lifestyle instructions for orthostatic hypotension or POTS
Addressing underlying heart or endocrine conditions

Takeaway: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix. The cause drives the treatment plan.

When in doubt, listen to your body (and get it checked)

Feeling a bit lightheaded when you jump out of bed once in a while is very common.

Feeling dizzy every time you stand, needing to grab onto furniture, nearly blacking out, or getting other symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath is your body saying, “Please don’t ignore this.”

You don’t need to figure out the diagnosis alone. A health professional can help you sort out whether it’s something simple and fixable, like dehydration or a medication adjustment, or whether you need more in-depth testing.

In the meantime, be kind to your body:

Stand up slowly
Stay hydrated as advised
Notice patterns
Don’t be afraid to ask for medical help

Your brain prefers having enough blood and oxygen. Working with it instead of against it can make those dramatic head rushes a lot less frequent.

Why You Feel Dizzy After Standing