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What Causes Dizziness Upon Waking Up?
Question: When getting up in the morning; I am dizzy for the first 10 or 15 minutes. I have also had weakness and dizzy spells at other times throughout the day. And sometimes lately the fingers on my left hand will freeze up for about 3 or 4 seconds. I attributed this to carpel tunnel. I am on high blood pressure medication for about the last 5 months. I'm also vegetarian.
Brief Answer:
Several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Causes of dizziness may be many, at times it is hard to pinpoint it right away without some tests.
One possibility given the appearance upon getting up, might be orthostatic hypotension. It means an excessive drop in blood pressure when changing position from supine to standing. It is normal for there to be a slight drop up to 20 mmHg, but usually our body reacts and restores previous values rapidly. In orthostatic hypotension there is a failure to do so leading to dizziness. May be a side effect of blood pressure medication as well. Blood pressure measurements comparisons when supine and standing would be the initial step when evaluating this possibility.
Another possibility would be inner ear issues. Inner ear is very much involved in balance and issues such as benign positional paroxysmal vertigo may cause dizziness in the form of spells of vertigo, a sensation of spinning movement.
Another common possibility would be anemia, which is also a common cause of dizziness and weakness. Metabolic alterations like diabetes or low blood glucose, abnormal liver or kidney function etc may cause dizziness and weakness as well. So some routine blood tests like blood count, glucose, liver and kidney function, electrolyte panel etc are advised.
As for the finger freezing that shouldn't be related. More probably such freezing especially when improving with movement is due to arthritis.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Causes of dizziness may be many, at times it is hard to pinpoint it right away without some tests.
One possibility given the appearance upon getting up, might be orthostatic hypotension. It means an excessive drop in blood pressure when changing position from supine to standing. It is normal for there to be a slight drop up to 20 mmHg, but usually our body reacts and restores previous values rapidly. In orthostatic hypotension there is a failure to do so leading to dizziness. May be a side effect of blood pressure medication as well. Blood pressure measurements comparisons when supine and standing would be the initial step when evaluating this possibility.
Another possibility would be inner ear issues. Inner ear is very much involved in balance and issues such as benign positional paroxysmal vertigo may cause dizziness in the form of spells of vertigo, a sensation of spinning movement.
Another common possibility would be anemia, which is also a common cause of dizziness and weakness. Metabolic alterations like diabetes or low blood glucose, abnormal liver or kidney function etc may cause dizziness and weakness as well. So some routine blood tests like blood count, glucose, liver and kidney function, electrolyte panel etc are advised.
As for the finger freezing that shouldn't be related. More probably such freezing especially when improving with movement is due to arthritis.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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