Do This Before Standing to STOP Dizziness!

That familiar routine playing out—you finish eating… go to stand up… and suddenly—WHOOSH.

The room starts violently spinning. You clutch furniture praying the sickening motion ceases before toppling over half-dazed.

Sound familiar?

Well friend, what if a simple at-home technique fortified your body against such terrifying and dangerous dizzy spells?

You’d certainly try it, right? Read on to understand what new science shows about preventing blood pressure plunges (which are often behind chronic lightheadedness) and how to protect yourself from a nasty fall.

Originally developed for aerospace medicine warding off fainting astronauts, researchers now confirm a basic preactivation ritual can minimize the crashing blood pressures that disrupt your balance upon standing.

The method? After sitting awhile, raise your knees march-style for 30 seconds before rising. This engages your leg muscles which are essential for stable circulation. Think of it as warmup stretches for minimizing wooziness.

See, sitting still causes blood to pool in your lower legs. Then the sudden change—which occurs when you stand quickly—stresses your receptors and blood vessels. So, by contacting your muscles before rising essentially “warns” your body to prepare for blood flow and pressure adjustments. Activating your legs primes your circulation to stay stabilized when you do stand.

Studies show preactivation is particularly effective for those prone to sudden blood pressure drops (vasovagal responses) when vascular systems overly-relax. But consistent practice promises broader autonomic regulation benefits optimizing nervous system resiliency overall.

So the next time you start sensing impending instability, take a moment to reactivate your circulation beforehand.

Beyond Standing – Comprehensive Fall Protection Plan

While preactivation can reduce dizziness and improve stability, experts say protecting mobility as you age requires a comprehensive balance program too.

Here are some key pillars to keep you (or someone you love) steadier on your feet long-term:

• Strengthen muscles: Maintain leg fitness through regular modest walking or balancing activity
• Manage medications: Review with your pharmacist any side effects that could disrupt stability
• Monitor vision/hearing: Get annual checkups to ensure your support movement
• Use mobility aids: Use canes/walkers for preventing slips

To staying upright,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

Sources:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-02-dizzy-simple-muscle-techniques-effectively.html