symptoms of heart and blood vessel disorders
heart and blood vessel disorders
Dizziness or Light Headedness When Standing Up
Any causes are treated when possible, including changing or stopping any causative drugs. However, many causes cannot be cured, and people must take measures to decrease their symptoms. Measures include lifestyle changes and drugs. People requiring prolonged bed rest should sit up each day and exercise in bed when possible. People who are lying down or sitting should rise slowly and carefully. In general, it is helpful to consume adequate fluids, limit or avoid alcohol, and exercise regularly when feasible. Regular exercise of modest intensity increases the muscle tone in blood vessel walls, which reduces pooling of blood in the legs. Sleeping with the head of the bed raised may help relieve symptoms. For some people, increasing salt intake may increase water retention and lessen symptoms. Doctors may recommend that people increase their salt intake by liberally salting food or takingsodium chloridetablets. However, increasing salt intake may not be recommended for people with heart disorders. Doctors may givefludrocortisone, a drug that helps the body retain salt and water and thus prevent blood pressure from dropping when a person stands. However, this drug may cause high blood pressure when people are lying down, heart failure, and low levels of potassium in the blood. Sometimes doctors combinepropranololor another beta-blocker withfludrocortisone.Midodrineis a drug that narrows both arteries and veins, helping prevent blood pooling. Side effects include tingling or numbness and itching. This drug is not recommended for people with coronary artery or peripheral arterial disease. Other drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),droxidopa,pyridostigmineandoctreotidemay help in some cases. 