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Bad Headache/Blackouts
Lately I have been experiencing blackouts when I stand up to walk. I have to grab a wall to remain standing. Today I have been experiencing a bad headache but only when I stand up. Just needing ideas of what could be going on. I do take blood pressure meds, I took my blood pressure and it was just slightly high at 148/98. Pulse 72. I'd appreciate advice.
First of all you require a mandatory in-person physical by an M.D. as soon as possible. This is not just a "good idea". It is a must.
There is no basis whatsoever from your history to conclude this is due to your blood pressure medication. It may or may not be.
As far as "increasing pressure on yout head," this advice is meaningless gibberish. There is a caveat. Sleeping with the head of the bed raised promotes Na retention and reduces nocturnal diuresis.
The term anemia has been used incorrectly as a diagnosis. It denotes a complex of signs and symptoms. The type of anemia defines it's pathophysiologic mechanism and essential nature. Anemia generally results from blood loss, deficient erythropiesis (red blood cell production) or excessive hemolysis (red blood cell destruction). Because red blood cells only live 120 days maintenance of the population requires a daily replenishment of 1/120 of the cell population. There are actually dozens of common anemias.
An excessive fall in blood pressure after standing causing fainting (syncope) is called orthostatic hypotension. It is not a disease, but a manifestion of abnormalities due to a variety of issues.
Hypovolemis is the most common cause, oftehn due to use of diuretics, but sometimes CA blockers such as verapamil. of sometimes ACE inhibitors. But determining the cause of orthostatic hypotension is complicated.
There is also the possibility of a neurological disorder which interrupt the sympathetic reflex arc and impair normal adrenergis responses to standing.
Faintness, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion of visual blurring after standing up is evidence of a mild to moderate reduction in cerebral blood flow.
An underlying cause must be sought by a physician. As of yesterday.
Often, elastic hose is prescribed to enhance cardiac output and BP on standing
Elderly patients should maintain adequate fluid intake, eliminate alcohol, and excercise regularly. Avoid protracted bed rest.
When the causative disease cannot be improved management is designed to produce peripheral vasoconstriction or improve cardiac output.
In any event, this is not a problem for self-diagnosis.
It is a "yellow flag" that should prompt an immediate visit with an M.D.
There is no basis whatsoever from your history to conclude this is due to your blood pressure medication. It may or may not be.
As far as "increasing pressure on yout head," this advice is meaningless gibberish. There is a caveat. Sleeping with the head of the bed raised promotes Na retention and reduces nocturnal diuresis.
The term anemia has been used incorrectly as a diagnosis. It denotes a complex of signs and symptoms. The type of anemia defines it's pathophysiologic mechanism and essential nature. Anemia generally results from blood loss, deficient erythropiesis (red blood cell production) or excessive hemolysis (red blood cell destruction). Because red blood cells only live 120 days maintenance of the population requires a daily replenishment of 1/120 of the cell population. There are actually dozens of common anemias.
An excessive fall in blood pressure after standing causing fainting (syncope) is called orthostatic hypotension. It is not a disease, but a manifestion of abnormalities due to a variety of issues.
Hypovolemis is the most common cause, oftehn due to use of diuretics, but sometimes CA blockers such as verapamil. of sometimes ACE inhibitors. But determining the cause of orthostatic hypotension is complicated.
There is also the possibility of a neurological disorder which interrupt the sympathetic reflex arc and impair normal adrenergis responses to standing.
Faintness, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion of visual blurring after standing up is evidence of a mild to moderate reduction in cerebral blood flow.
An underlying cause must be sought by a physician. As of yesterday.
Often, elastic hose is prescribed to enhance cardiac output and BP on standing
Elderly patients should maintain adequate fluid intake, eliminate alcohol, and excercise regularly. Avoid protracted bed rest.
When the causative disease cannot be improved management is designed to produce peripheral vasoconstriction or improve cardiac output.
In any event, this is not a problem for self-diagnosis.
It is a "yellow flag" that should prompt an immediate visit with an M.D.
This is because when you stand up gravity pushes the blood down to your legs, away from your head. The body then needs a little time to compensate for this by constricting the blood vessels in the legs and to speed up the heart rate, to maintain the blood supply to the head. Sometimes the body has a little bit hard time compensating.
In your case it is most likely caused by your blood pressure meds, they have this as a side effect.
Try to drink a lot of fluids.
When you stand up, do it slowly and try to squeeze the muscles in your legs to push the blood upwards.
You can also increase the head side of your bed a little, this will decrease the pressure on your kidneys while sleeping and make the body keep the fluids better.
If it persists and you start to fall and hit yourself then you might need to change your medication.
A visit to the doctor is always a good advice, just to make sure it is not any serious underlying condition causing this. The doctor will the be most interested in the following questions:
When you stand up, does your heart rate increase at all or not? (It should)
Are you anemic? That is, do you have a loss of blood for some reason?(The doctor might need to take some tests for this)
What medications are you on?
Take care and keep us updated!
In your case it is most likely caused by your blood pressure meds, they have this as a side effect.
Try to drink a lot of fluids.
When you stand up, do it slowly and try to squeeze the muscles in your legs to push the blood upwards.
You can also increase the head side of your bed a little, this will decrease the pressure on your kidneys while sleeping and make the body keep the fluids better.
If it persists and you start to fall and hit yourself then you might need to change your medication.
A visit to the doctor is always a good advice, just to make sure it is not any serious underlying condition causing this. The doctor will the be most interested in the following questions:
When you stand up, does your heart rate increase at all or not? (It should)
Are you anemic? That is, do you have a loss of blood for some reason?(The doctor might need to take some tests for this)
What medications are you on?
Take care and keep us updated!
You need an in-person neurological workup as soon as possible.
Basically there are three possibilities.
(1) Dehydration
(2) Postural hypotension caused by a failure of the peripheral vasculature to contract and squeeze blood upwards when you stand up.
(3) A reaction to your blood pressure meds. Ocasionally ACE inhibitors cause this problem.
Basically there are three possibilities.
(1) Dehydration
(2) Postural hypotension caused by a failure of the peripheral vasculature to contract and squeeze blood upwards when you stand up.
(3) A reaction to your blood pressure meds. Ocasionally ACE inhibitors cause this problem.
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