Head
Dizziness when standing up
Lightheadedness, wooziness or near-fainting that comes on when you stand up, caused by a brief drop in blood pressure as you rise — often harmless but sometimes a sign of dehydration, anaemia, diabetes, a hormone problem or, when it comes with bleeding or chest symptoms, something serious.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of dizziness when standing up and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is dizziness when standing up?
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded on standing happens when blood pressure briefly falls as you rise, so for a moment less blood reaches the brain. Normally the body corrects this within seconds by tightening blood vessels and quickening the heart, but when that response is sluggish or the circulating blood volume is low, the dizziness is more noticeable.
- Get urgent help: Call 999 if you faint on standing along with black or tarry stools, vomiting blood, chest pain or a fast, pounding heartbeat — this can mean serious bleeding or a heart problem. Seek urgent help if dizziness on standing comes with weakness, slurred speech, numbness or confusion, which can signal a stroke.
- Self-care: If a doctor has confirmed your dizziness on standing comes from a non-urgent cause, simple measures usually help.
About dizziness when standing up
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded on standing happens when blood pressure briefly falls as you rise, so for a moment less blood reaches the brain. Normally the body corrects this within seconds by tightening blood vessels and quickening the heart, but when that response is sluggish or the circulating blood volume is low, the dizziness is more noticeable. Common contributors include dehydration, getting up too quickly, hot weather and standing after a long rest. It can also reflect an underlying cause: anaemia from low iron, blood sugar problems, an underactive adrenal gland, or conditions affecting the nerves that control blood pressure such as Parkinson's. The pattern is usually a few seconds of wooziness that clears once you steady yourself. The combinations that matter are fainting on standing together with black or tarry stools, chest pain or a fast heartbeat, which can signal serious bleeding or a heart problem and need urgent help.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if dizziness when standing up comes with any of these warning signs:
- Call 999 if you faint on standing along with black or tarry stools, vomiting blood, chest pain or a fast, pounding heartbeat — this can mean serious bleeding or a heart problem.
- Seek urgent help if dizziness on standing comes with weakness, slurred speech, numbness or confusion, which can signal a stroke.
- Get urgent advice for repeated fainting or near-fainting on standing, or fainting that causes injury.
- Seek same-day help if dizziness on standing comes with marked tiredness, weight loss, darkening skin or salt craving — the adrenal glands may need checking.
- See your doctor promptly if you feel persistently lightheaded, pale and breathless, as anaemia may be the cause.
When to see a doctor
Brief lightheadedness on standing that quickly clears, especially in hot weather or after a long rest, is usually harmless and improves with rising slowly and staying hydrated. Book a routine appointment if it happens often, is getting worse, or comes with tiredness, pallor, breathlessness or weight loss, so causes such as anaemia, diabetes or a hormone problem can be checked. Treat as an emergency any fainting on standing accompanied by black or tarry stools, vomiting blood, chest pain or a fast heartbeat, as these point to serious bleeding or a heart problem and need urgent assessment.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of dizziness when standing up
Dizziness when standing up has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
If a doctor has confirmed your dizziness on standing comes from a non-urgent cause, simple measures usually help. Rise slowly and in stages — sit on the edge of the bed for a moment, then stand gently while holding something steady — and avoid sudden movements after lying or sitting for a while. Keep well hydrated through the day, especially in hot weather, and do not skip meals. Flexing your calf muscles and clenching your fists before standing can prime your circulation. Avoid very hot baths and large amounts of alcohol, both of which lower blood pressure. If you take any regular medicines, mention the dizziness to your clinician, as the timing or balance of treatment can sometimes be reviewed. Keep a note of when the dizziness happens to help identify a pattern.
Answers
Dizziness when standing up: frequently asked questions
Why do I feel dizzy when I stand up?
Blood pressure briefly falls as you rise, so less blood reaches the brain for a moment. Dehydration, getting up quickly and hot weather make it worse, and causes such as anaemia, diabetes or a hormone problem can be behind it if it happens often.
When is dizziness on standing serious?
Call 999 if you faint on standing along with black or tarry stools, vomiting blood, chest pain or a fast, pounding heartbeat, as these point to serious bleeding or a heart problem. Repeated fainting or fainting with injury also needs urgent assessment.
How can I stop feeling dizzy when I get up?
Rise slowly in stages, sitting on the edge of the bed first, and hold something steady as you stand. Stay well hydrated, do not skip meals, and avoid very hot baths and excess alcohol. If it persists, see your doctor to look for a cause.
Can my medication cause dizziness on standing?
Some medicines can lower blood pressure or affect fluid balance and contribute to dizziness on standing. Do not stop any treatment yourself, but tell your clinician about the dizziness, as the timing or balance of your medicines can sometimes be reviewed.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Blackouts and syncope.
- British Heart Foundation: low blood pressure and fainting.
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