Why do I get dizzy when I stand up?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Standing dizziness is usually orthostatic hypotension - blood pressure dipping as you rise because the body's correction lags a few seconds behind gravity. Everyday triggers: dehydration, heat, long sitting, big meals, alcohol, hot showers, rising too fast. Medicines are frequent drivers: blood pressure drugs, diuretics, some antidepressants, ED medicines. Occasionally it signals anemia, low blood sugar, heart rhythm problems, or nerve issues. Self-help: hydrate all day, rise in stages, flex calves before standing, never lock your knees. Get checked if it recurs, if you faint, or if it comes with chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness, or black stools. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you sort the driver.
What to do
- Hydrate first: it is the most common and most fixable cause.
- Rise in two stages: sit on the bed edge, flex calves, then stand.
- Review your medicines with a clinician: do not stop them, but do mention the dizziness.
- Get checked for faints or companions: chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness, black stools.
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