Do You Get Dizzy or Lightheaded When You Stand or Sit Up Fast?

 So you get up fast and feel a little lightheaded or a little dizzy. You think nothing of it because it goes away in a few seconds. Do you really think this is normal? It’s not! This is far from normal and can indicate some serious health issues. 

Let’s be honest, we live in a medical community that believes you are healthy if you have no symptoms. I challenge that thought. Our medical philosophy leads us to believe that we are sick only when we have symptoms. Even more astonishing is the belief that if you get rid of the symptoms than you are back to normal.

What we tend to miss in the scheme of things is that symptoms tell us something and we need to listen. Taking a drug to suppress what your body is trying to tell you is pure insanity. There are reasons why we experience symptoms. Symptoms are an expression of how your body is working or attempting to work.

Let’s take a look at what it means when you get lightheadedness or dizziness when you stand up or sit up fast. If you experience this, the real question is why and what does it mean?  If this happens to you, take it very seriously.

Let me explain. One of the most important nutrients for the brain is oxygen. When the brain tissue is starved of oxygen, it may lead to lightheadedness and even dizziness. So what does that have to do with standing up fast? When you stand up, your body has to adapt to its change in posture to maintain healthy circulation and keep oxygen going to the brain.

To do this, a few things must occur. First, the nerve system must detect the change in body pressure as you go from sitting to standing or lying to sitting. Second, the nerve system sends a direct signal to the adrenal glands - the stress response glands of the body.

The Adrenal Glands

These are the most overlooked glands in conventional medicine. They are two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are responsible for numerous biological activities in the body, one of which is controlling your response to stress. They play a role in metabolism, weight gain/weight loss, sleep, hormonal balance, the menstrual cycle and more.

When the adrenal glands receive the signal from the nerve system, their job is to assist the body in dealing with the stress caused by the change in body position. Once the adrenal glands get the signal, a hormone is secreted that increases cardiac output and circulation to ensure the brain gets adequate oxygen. If the stress glands of the body are weakened, fatigued, or not functioning well due to chronic everyday stress, they may not be able to supply the proper amounts of hormones to signal to the heart to increase cardiac output and blood supply. If this happens, you fail to keep adequate blood supply and oxygen to the brain and you get lightheaded or dizzy.

Adrenal weakness and fatigue can be addressed naturally. Diet, nutrition and stress relief techniques can help to strengthen and support healthy adrenal function and your body’s ability to respond to everyday stress. Because of the many physiological functions the adrenal glands play a role in - heart function, metabolism and hormones, weak adrenal glands can have a serious impact on your overall health. This may be an early warning sign for more serious things to come.

Here are a few other classic indicators of adrenal weakness: blood pressure challenges, difficulty losing weight, blood sugar issues, weakness in the nails, hormone imbalances, menstrual difficulty, low libido, hot flashes, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulty, difficulty handling stress, depression, moodiness and much more. 

To learn more about this overlooked problem and your adrenal health, join Dr. Ruocco at his next free Community Health Workshop on August 27, 7:15 p.m., at Panera Bread in Rocky River.  Seating is limited. Call Dr. Ruocco’s office at 440-331-4744 to reserve your seat.

Bryan Ruocco

Dr. Bryan Ruocco is a local chiropractor and wellness advocate. He owns and operates the Power of LIFE Wellness Center located in Rocky River. Dr. Ruocco graduated from the Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. He graduated in the top of his class and received Magna Cum Laude Honors.

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Volume 2, Issue 2, Posted 1:46 PM, 08.07.2014