SUNDAY, March 23, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Have you ever stood up too quickly only to feel dizzy and lightheaded? Or maybe you've even fainted on occasion?
What you were experiencing, in doctor speak, is orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure.
"Normally, blood vessels constrict to maintain blood pressure and compensate for changes in position, but in some cases the blood vessels don't compensate and, when you stand up, the blood doesn't go to the brain," explains Dr. Terrence Sacchi, chief of the division of cardiology at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. "Basically, the reflexes of the body don't catch up with the blood vessels."
The condition is more common among the elderly, but can also result from excessive use of certain drugs such as diuretics and vasodilators and can be associated with atherosclerosis, diabetes and other conditions.
Certain activities can also aggravate the problem. Hunters, for instance, who spend a lot of time in a crouched position then suddenly stand up, can be prone to feelings of lightheadedness or worse.
If you're on medications that might be contributing, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose or even substituting another medication.
If you're a hunter waiting for the right prey to mosey along, try alternating crouching with standing up and stretching your legs. Also, drink lots of liquids so you don't get dehydrated. That way when a prize deer wanders your way, you won't faint with your finger on the trigger.
More information
The American Heart Association has information on fainting.
