Feeling dizzy in the morning when you wake up is often commonplace and linked to orthostatic hypotension. But when morning dizziness is repeated, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Vertigo is an unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling of loss of balance. It can be a feeling of “spinning head”, similar to drunkenness, or a feeling that objects are moving around you. The causes of vertigo are multiple and some are aggravated in the morning, upon rising, such as orthostatic hypotension. This phenomenon occurs when going from a lying position to a standing position.
What are the causes of dizzy head?
The most common cause of dizziness on waking isorthostatic hypotension, which manifests itself when moving from a lying position to a standing position. During this movement, the blood will, by a gravitational phenomenon, descend into the legs. The normal body adapts to prevent blood pressure drop, an adaptation which does not occur in the event of orthostatic hypotension and which causes a sudden drop in blood pressure. This drop in tension is responsible for the feeling of dizziness or dizziness, which can sometimes even cause discomfort with loss of consciousness and fall. Orthostatic hypotension preferentially affects the elderly or pregnant women.
► The Meniere’s disease or dizziness linked to damage to the inner ear can also be accentuated in the morning on rising, due to the change of position.
► Hypoglycemia can also cause dizziness in the morning.
► Orthostatic hypotension is also common in the diabetic subject.
► Vagal discomfort may also manifest as “spinning” sensations upon rising.
What to do when you wake up dizzy?
When a subject tends to morning dizziness, getting up must be very gradual. The passage from the lying position to the standing position must be done through the seated position, for a few minutes. It may also be useful to raise the legs to prevent blood flow to the lower limbs. Proper hydration is always necessary.
When to consult?
When morning dizziness is repeated, it is necessary to consult to make the diagnosis. Orthostatic hypotension is confirmed by blood pressure measurements while lying down, then checked several times during standing. If it is proven, the search for a drug cause must take place and a reassessment of the treatment, in particular against hypertension, must be undertaken. In case of vertigo related to a pathology of the inner ear, an ENT consultation for a balance sheet is necessary. A biological assessment is also useful, looking for anemia, deficiencies or glycemic imbalance.