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Feeling Faint in the Shower
Everytime I take a shower, I become faint, light -headed and sometimes nauseous. My vision starts going a bit blurry, and I have to sit down for awhile or else I will pass out. I know it's not pregnancy because this has been happening since I was about 13 year old on and off, but here lately, it's gotten worse.
I start off okay for about the first 10 or 15 minutes I'm in the shower and then the symptoms start taking over. I'll have to sit down for awhile and only be able to stand up for about a minute before I will have to sit down again.
I can't take a bath as I am living in student accomodation without any baths.
I've tried looking for answers on-line to this, but haven't found any. I'm just wondering what this could be.
Thank you!
I start off okay for about the first 10 or 15 minutes I'm in the shower and then the symptoms start taking over. I'll have to sit down for awhile and only be able to stand up for about a minute before I will have to sit down again.
I can't take a bath as I am living in student accomodation without any baths.
I've tried looking for answers on-line to this, but haven't found any. I'm just wondering what this could be.
Thank you!
CarolinaE, my wife has the same issue which happened again this morning. We've been dealing with this since Nov. 2009. In total, she has fainted 5 times. Luckily I was with her each time to catch her from falling and hurting herself. We've done everything thing you mention in relation to going to specialists. They all say the same thing that her symptoms point to Orthostatic intolerance. My wife is the healthiest eating person I know. I tend to lean towards her salt intake is very low, which might explain why she’s has always had low blood pressure. Her water intake is better than most as in she drinks 64oz + a day. The one difference, is when she has an episode like this, she’s dizzy/lightheaded for the next 1-2 days, and when she lifts her head off the pillow, she starts vomiting. It’s a viscous circle.
I don’t wish this on anyone, that’s for sure. Thank you for sharing…
I don’t wish this on anyone, that’s for sure. Thank you for sharing…
1 - The warmth of the shower water causes vasodilation (your blood vessels relax and become wider in order to increase their surface area, which usually allows your body to cool more quickly).
2 - As your blood vessels are wider the pressure exerted on them by the blood flow decreases, that is, your blood pressure drops.
3 - To compensate the pressure drop and to keep the blood flow at an acceptable level, your heart rate increases.
4 - If your blood pressure drops below a certain point, your heart won't be able to compensate it and the blood flow in your head will be very weak (because your heart won't have enough strength to push the blood upwards and your blood vessels will also be too "relaxed" to be of any help).
5 - If the blood flow in your brain is weak, it won't get all the oxygen it needs to function properly.
6 - Then your brain goes into "emergency mode" and makes you faint or collapse, that is, fall to the ground, which puts your heart and your head at the same height, allowing blood to reach your brain with almost no effort.
Now, for most people, step 4 never happens, because their blood pressure doesn't drop too much and/or their hearts can keep up with it.
But for you and for quite a few people (myself included) things don't work quite that way.
It usually is something quite innocent and not dangerous (as long as we learn to recognize the signs that we're about to collapse and prevent ourselves from falling and getting injured). Maybe your myocardium is just a little bit weaker or you have a little less muscle on the walls of some major artery or vein than the average person. It's not dangerous, it's not life threatening, it's not even something you can't solve (usually, slightly increasing your fitness level can erase all the symptoms).
But it can also be something a bit more serious. Almost every heart condition, circulatory system malfunction, osmotic imbalance, etc. has these sort of symptom. This is why you should definitely see a doctor about this. They will direct you to the relevant speciality (probably cardiology based on what you said) and then run a series of tests and exams to exclude the chance of it being something dangerous.
I did a couple of blood tests, an indoors stress test, several ECG's, a Holter monitoring (basically, a 24h ECG) and two echocardiograms (ultrasounds of the heart) over 6 years. But, honestly, a blood test, a Holter and an echocardiogram should do the trick. (I only did this much -plus a few respiratory and neurological tests- because I kept "almost collapsing" -they're called presyncopes by the way- not just in the shower but also while doing some types of physical exercise, while singing, when standing for too long, when in hot places, when doing nothing at all,...)
If there is something wrong with your blood (oy your lungs, or your kidneys, or your diet) the blood test should find it. If there is something structurally wrong with your heart, the echo should find it. If there is something electrically wrong, the Holter should find it. Ruling out these, almost everything else is in the "non-dangerous" category.
I never actually got a diagnosis, but I learned to live with it. Exercising helped reduce the frequency of the presyncopes. Time and experience taught me how to control some of them before they get too bad and how to simply deal with the ones I can't control.
I guess you could try taking showers with slightly cooler water (not cold, just not as hot) and in less time (because the more time you spend under the hot shower the more time your heart has to beat faster and the more it will tire).
Also maybe avoid showering right before or after sleep (because your blood pressure is naturally lower at these times) or when you're hungry (because your heart won't have as much energy available) or you've just eaten (because the blood flow in your digestive system is much higher at those times, leaving your brain slightly lacking - this is why it's normal for a person to feel sleepy or lethargic after a meal).
You can indulge in slightly saltier food. If your blood pressure drops easily, there is no harm in ingesting a bit more sodium than usual, which will increase your blood pressure slightly (But do not overdo it! I have many blood pressure drops, but my normal blood pressure is actually sort of high'ish. It's still within the acceptable limits, but it is quite a bit above the average for someone as young as I am).
Other than that, just try to figure out for yourself what triggers these episodes. Find the triggers and then just try to go around them as much as possible.
Sources: Experience; Way too many talks with doctors (particularly cardiologists); A nurse for a mother; My own curiosity and consequent research over the past 7 years.
2 - As your blood vessels are wider the pressure exerted on them by the blood flow decreases, that is, your blood pressure drops.
3 - To compensate the pressure drop and to keep the blood flow at an acceptable level, your heart rate increases.
4 - If your blood pressure drops below a certain point, your heart won't be able to compensate it and the blood flow in your head will be very weak (because your heart won't have enough strength to push the blood upwards and your blood vessels will also be too "relaxed" to be of any help).
5 - If the blood flow in your brain is weak, it won't get all the oxygen it needs to function properly.
6 - Then your brain goes into "emergency mode" and makes you faint or collapse, that is, fall to the ground, which puts your heart and your head at the same height, allowing blood to reach your brain with almost no effort.
Now, for most people, step 4 never happens, because their blood pressure doesn't drop too much and/or their hearts can keep up with it.
But for you and for quite a few people (myself included) things don't work quite that way.
It usually is something quite innocent and not dangerous (as long as we learn to recognize the signs that we're about to collapse and prevent ourselves from falling and getting injured). Maybe your myocardium is just a little bit weaker or you have a little less muscle on the walls of some major artery or vein than the average person. It's not dangerous, it's not life threatening, it's not even something you can't solve (usually, slightly increasing your fitness level can erase all the symptoms).
But it can also be something a bit more serious. Almost every heart condition, circulatory system malfunction, osmotic imbalance, etc. has these sort of symptom. This is why you should definitely see a doctor about this. They will direct you to the relevant speciality (probably cardiology based on what you said) and then run a series of tests and exams to exclude the chance of it being something dangerous.
I did a couple of blood tests, an indoors stress test, several ECG's, a Holter monitoring (basically, a 24h ECG) and two echocardiograms (ultrasounds of the heart) over 6 years. But, honestly, a blood test, a Holter and an echocardiogram should do the trick. (I only did this much -plus a few respiratory and neurological tests- because I kept "almost collapsing" -they're called presyncopes by the way- not just in the shower but also while doing some types of physical exercise, while singing, when standing for too long, when in hot places, when doing nothing at all,...)
If there is something wrong with your blood (oy your lungs, or your kidneys, or your diet) the blood test should find it. If there is something structurally wrong with your heart, the echo should find it. If there is something electrically wrong, the Holter should find it. Ruling out these, almost everything else is in the "non-dangerous" category.
I never actually got a diagnosis, but I learned to live with it. Exercising helped reduce the frequency of the presyncopes. Time and experience taught me how to control some of them before they get too bad and how to simply deal with the ones I can't control.
I guess you could try taking showers with slightly cooler water (not cold, just not as hot) and in less time (because the more time you spend under the hot shower the more time your heart has to beat faster and the more it will tire).
Also maybe avoid showering right before or after sleep (because your blood pressure is naturally lower at these times) or when you're hungry (because your heart won't have as much energy available) or you've just eaten (because the blood flow in your digestive system is much higher at those times, leaving your brain slightly lacking - this is why it's normal for a person to feel sleepy or lethargic after a meal).
You can indulge in slightly saltier food. If your blood pressure drops easily, there is no harm in ingesting a bit more sodium than usual, which will increase your blood pressure slightly (But do not overdo it! I have many blood pressure drops, but my normal blood pressure is actually sort of high'ish. It's still within the acceptable limits, but it is quite a bit above the average for someone as young as I am).
Other than that, just try to figure out for yourself what triggers these episodes. Find the triggers and then just try to go around them as much as possible.
Sources: Experience; Way too many talks with doctors (particularly cardiologists); A nurse for a mother; My own curiosity and consequent research over the past 7 years.
I also suffer from this. It has happened since I was a teenager and I am now 30. I dread showering because of it. I have actually passed out two times from this. I use barely warm water and stay hydrated. I also keep it well ventilated. I just moved into a new place and it has a desperate shower the bath and it has made it south worse. I shut off the water and let the cool air in for a bit but it starts right away as soon as I turn the water back on. I cannot move and cannot afford to do any renovations. Anyone know what causes this?
sometimes I got that but all it was panick attack during shower..so sometimes it can be caused from anxiety..i would have to hold to an object while showering,,,then hurry a lot to finish due to fear of getting dizzy
Omg same here! and im a teen! I thought i was the only one who does this bc its pretty scary when passing out. Please keep posting i need answers or should i just go to my doc and ask?.. btw im new to this site.. i barely created an acct. :)
My wife has this problem and I thought about Gatorade too. How much per day would you think? She also gets a little dizzy when getting up in the am which she takes meds for.
This can also be caused by steam... not just the hot water. Anyone suffering from this should make sure their shower is properly vented by opening a window/door or turning on the exhaust fan. I used to suffer from this, but just making sure that no steam builds up means I can enjoy all the long, hot showers I want.
It is not in your head. This happens to a lot of people, me included. I think it may have something to do with the temperature of the water. You need to get a new doctor if this is all she can manage when you go to her with a concern.
The same thing happens to me, so mow I take tepid showers.
Thins is what I was told.
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Hot showers (any heat really) dilate (open up) the blood vessels in an attempt to bring down body temperature.
Excessive or rapid dilation can lead to a drop in blood pressure, which sounds like what you experienced. Some other signs on sudden hypotension (low blood pressure) include sweating, nausea, vomiting, tunnel vision, ringing in ears or sounds appearing far away, lightheadedness, feeling dizzy and fainting.
This hypotension can also happen if you stand up too quickly from a sitting or lying down position, and can be prevented by getting up slowly. This is called postural hypotension and can be made worse by things such as a hot shower, as this will further drop blood pressure.
When you feel an episode coming on, lie down, or sit with your head between your knees to aid the return of blood and vital oxygen to your brain. Fainting can cause serious injuries.
Also try having a cooler shower. Cold constricts blood vessels.
Source(s):
Registered nurse
2 years ago Report Abuse
Thins is what I was told.
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Hot showers (any heat really) dilate (open up) the blood vessels in an attempt to bring down body temperature.
Excessive or rapid dilation can lead to a drop in blood pressure, which sounds like what you experienced. Some other signs on sudden hypotension (low blood pressure) include sweating, nausea, vomiting, tunnel vision, ringing in ears or sounds appearing far away, lightheadedness, feeling dizzy and fainting.
This hypotension can also happen if you stand up too quickly from a sitting or lying down position, and can be prevented by getting up slowly. This is called postural hypotension and can be made worse by things such as a hot shower, as this will further drop blood pressure.
When you feel an episode coming on, lie down, or sit with your head between your knees to aid the return of blood and vital oxygen to your brain. Fainting can cause serious injuries.
Also try having a cooler shower. Cold constricts blood vessels.
Source(s):
Registered nurse
2 years ago Report Abuse
I went to the doctor because not only do I get lightheaded and nauseous after my shower and have to lie down, I sometimes get it first thing after I get out of bed and have to lie on the floor until it passes! I started taking my blood pressue at home and it has been in the 80's over 50's when I'm feeling really bad, and 90's over 50's when I'm just a little lightheaded. The doctor sent me to a cardiologist and he said to "just increase the salt in your diet"! They seem to feel it is just "low blood pressure" and that it won't hurt me. Yikes! Not sure what else to do about it except increase my fluid intake and salt...haven't noticed much difference, though.
the same thing happened to me today except i passed out right after showering and didn't know how long i was out for. This is the first time it has happened to me so hopefully it won't again but if it does i will go to the doctor and get checked out. I was thinking it was the face wash that i use but i am not sure. i guess i will see what happens tomorrow when i shower. My stomach started hurting and i felt real faint and my vision got really bad and the next thing i knew i was on the floor my chest didn't feel good as well
i think honestly it's that (if your tired this is) that your body relaxes heaps and if your already tired it starts to go asleep on you. I told my parents they thought nothing of it. I used to sway and have to lean against the wall and then I'd be unsure how long I'd been there for, feeling disorientated and lol but mentally slow. I've passed out about twice after showering. I don't think it can be in this many peoples heads.
I had this happen to me today im usually fine in hot showers but i woke up from a nap and went to shower not even 10 min later my vision went blurry so i sat down then i thought i was fin got back up and not even a min later my vision went so blurry i couldnt see anything but colors of things around me got out sat on the floor and got sick in my toilet....does anyone know what it could be...its never happened to me before
This happens to me too. I used to take showers that were an hour long, but now I have to quickly wash my hair and body within 15 minutes or less. Sometimes I don't even have time to get dressed before I have to rest. Luckily though I haven't passed out yet, but I have come very near.
I personally think its a body wash or shampoo. I started using a certain body wash and had these problems now ive stopped and it doesnt happen anymore! What body wash or shampoo do you use? Maybe one of those ingredients is setting this off.
i do have anxiety and some irregular heart beat/rythem from time to time..i was starting to feel little weird before, then went to go into shower, about 1 min into it, not hot shower, luke warm, started feel faint,diizy, loosing control heart beating hard and did some breathing techniques and then after about 5 min it passed to guessing anxiety...sick of it,be fine for a while then Boom back to this.. HELP.
This happened to me today. While in the shower(the water is lukewarm) I feel like I'm going to pass out and my vision goes white for about 5 seconds. I immediately have to sit down else I'll probably faint. I haven't fainted yet, thank god. hopefully it stays that way. It has only happened 3 times. The first time it happened i was sick. but the last 2 times it happened all i did was work out right before. I also get somewhat dizzy while i workout at times?? I'm only 15. I don't know what's wrong with me!
i just washed my hair in the tub and i had the water on almost hot, when i sat up i got really really lightheaded and stomach sick! I had to lie down right away, im still laying down because i though i was going to fain! any suggestions to what it is??
Today that happened to me too! I had hot water on, and after about 20 minutes (I didn't know it was that long) I lost balance, I had a headache, I saw blurry and spotted vision, my heart kind of clenched. I felt like I had to vomit. It was disaster.
I also have the same symptoms every time I take a warm shower I feel faint dizzy and wanna thro up I have yet to find a reason but I hope someone can help me.
put a filter on your shower head. culligan rates high in consumer reports. just bought one for $25. (i am no sales rep i promise!). high levels of chlorine are common in our water systems. when we take hot showers we breathe in the steam and any other elements in our water systems. you can find info. about your city's water, it is posted online. i just installed the filter after reading that my town had over the limit chlorine levels.
You should definitely tell your parents they would be scared as hell to find you on the floor one day. You should go to doctors and get checked for sure.
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