Dizziness from Orthostatic (Postural) Hypotension in Grand Rapids, MI

When you stand up from sitting or lying down, gravity pulls blood toward your legs. In a healthy body, blood vessels tighten (constrict) and your heart rate increases slightly to keep blood pressure stable and maintain blood flow to your brain.

With orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension), this response is too slow or doesn’t happen properly, so blood pressure drops when you stand, leading to dizziness or even fainting.

In Grand Rapids, where cold winters, dehydration from dry indoor air, and heart disease and diabetes are common, orthostatic hypotension is a concern—especially for older adults.

What Is Orthostatic (Postural) Hypotension?

Orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down.

It is usually a symptom of another medical condition or medication side effect, not a disease by itself.

Many people in Grand Rapids may notice a brief, mild version of this when they jump out of bed too quickly and feel lightheaded for a few seconds.

Common Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear within seconds to a few minutes after standing and often improve when you sit or lie down again.

Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension can include:

  • Dizziness or feeling “woozy” when standing
  • Light-headedness
  • Blurry or dimmed vision
  • Fainting (syncope) or feeling like you might pass out
  • Nausea
  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Mental confusion or trouble concentrating
  • Muscle tremors or shakiness

If you ever faint, have chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble speaking, call 911 or seek emergency care at a Grand Rapids hospital such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health – University of Michigan Health.

What Happens in the Body?

When you stand up:

  • About 800 mL of blood temporarily pools in the veins of your legs and lower body.
  • Pressure sensors (baroreceptors) in your aorta and carotid arteries detect the drop in blood pressure.
  • Your autonomic nervous system tells your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to constrict, keeping blood flowing to your brain.

With orthostatic hypotension, this compensation is delayed or doesn’t work well. As a result:

  • Blood pressure stays too low when you stand.
  • The brain gets less oxygenated blood.
  • You feel dizzy, lightheaded, or may faint.

Usually, blood pressure returns to normal once you sit or lie down, but this depends on the underlying cause.

Causes of Orthostatic Hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension almost always has an underlying cause. In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, common causes include heart disease, diabetes, nervous system disorders, and medication side effects.

Medical Conditions

  • Heart problems
    • Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Aortic stenosis
    • Recent heart attack
  • Nervous system conditions
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Neuropathy (nerve damage), including from long-term diabetes
    • Degenerative disorders affecting the autonomic nervous system (e.g., multiple system atrophy/Shy-Drager syndrome)
  • Spinal cord conditions
    • Disorders such as syringomyelia that affect nerve signals
  • Blood and hormone issues
    • Anaemia (low red blood cell count)
    • Adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease)
  • Vascular conditions
    • Varicose veins, which allow blood to pool in the legs

Lifestyle and Temporary Triggers

  • Dehydration from:
    • Vomiting or diarrhea (e.g., gastroenteritis)
    • Not drinking enough fluids, especially in dry, heated indoor air during West Michigan winters
  • Fever
  • Prolonged bed rest (for example, after surgery or illness)
  • Excessive alcohol use

Some medications commonly used in the Grand Rapids population can lower blood pressure when you stand, including:

  • Diuretics (“water pills”)
  • Blood pressure medications (antihypertensives)
  • Some antidepressants and antipsychotics
  • Medications for Parkinson’s disease
  • Certain heart medicines

Never stop or change a prescription medication on your own. Always talk with your Grand Rapids primary care provider or specialist first.

Other Causes of Dizziness in Grand Rapids

Not all dizziness is from orthostatic hypotension. Other causes include:

  • Inner ear (vestibular) problems – infections, benign positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s disease
  • Migraine
  • Low blood sugar (especially in people with diabetes)
  • Anxiety or panic attacks

Because dizziness has many possible causes, it’s important to see a doctor—especially if symptoms are new, severe, or getting worse.

Local resources include:

  • Your primary care provider or internal medicine doctor
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health clinics for community-based care and referrals

Who Is at Higher Risk in Grand Rapids?

The risk of orthostatic hypotension increases with age, and Grand Rapids has a growing older adult population.

Factors that raise risk include:

  • Older age (especially 65+)
  • Frailty or chronic illness
  • Standing for long periods (e.g., factory work, retail, food service)
  • Digestion after meals – blood shifts to the digestive system, which can lower blood pressure, especially after large or high-carbohydrate meals
  • Chronic diseases common in Michigan, such as:
    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • Kidney disease

Cold weather in West Michigan can also contribute indirectly—people may drink less water in winter, spend more time indoors, and move less, all of which can worsen low blood pressure on standing.

How Orthostatic Hypotension Is Diagnosed

In Grand Rapids, orthostatic hypotension can be evaluated at primary care clinics, cardiology practices, neurology practices, and major health systems like Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Metro Health.

Typical Diagnostic Steps

  • Medical history
    • Symptoms, when they occur, how long they last
    • Current medications and supplements
    • Existing conditions (heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, etc.)
  • Physical examination
  • Blood pressure measurements
    • While lying down
    • Then after standing for 1–3 minutes
  • Blood tests
    • Blood sugar levels
    • Electrolytes
    • Blood counts (to check for anaemia)
    • Hormone levels (such as adrenal hormones)
  • Heart tests, if needed
    • Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
    • Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
  • Autonomic testing or tilt-table testing (usually ordered by cardiology or neurology specialists)

Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension in Grand Rapids

Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and reducing symptoms, so you can stand and move safely.

Medical Treatments

Depending on the cause, your Grand Rapids healthcare provider may recommend:

  • Fluids to treat dehydration (oral or IV)
  • Adjusting medications
    • Changing the dose
    • Switching to a different drug
    • Stopping a medication if safe
  • Managing chronic conditions
    • Better control of diabetes (e.g., insulin adjustments)
    • Treating heart disease with medication, procedures, or surgery
  • Medications to raise blood pressure or blood volume, such as:
    • Certain corticosteroids
    • Medications like midodrine or fludrocortisone (prescribed and monitored by a doctor)
  • Specialized equipment
    • In some severe cases, a lower-body pressure suit or compression device may be used under specialist guidance

These decisions are made together with your doctor at clinics or health systems in Grand Rapids, such as Corewell Health Medical Group, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health practices.

Self-Help Tips for Managing Orthostatic Hypotension

Always follow your doctor’s advice, but these general strategies often help reduce dizziness when standing:

Position and Movement

  • Get up slowly
    • Sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before standing.
    • Stand up gradually, especially in the morning.
  • Raise the head of your bed
    • Use extra pillows or a wedge to keep your head slightly elevated at night.
  • Avoid standing still for long periods
    • Shift your weight, march in place, or flex your calf muscles to keep blood moving.

Clothing and Support

  • Wear compression stockings
    • Support stockings or compression socks help reduce blood pooling in the legs.
    • These are widely available at Grand Rapids pharmacies and medical supply stores.

Fluids, Food, and Alcohol

  • Drink plenty of fluids
    • Aim for regular water intake throughout the day, especially in dry winter months when indoor heating can cause dehydration.
  • Eat small, frequent meals
    • Large meals—especially high-carb meals—can worsen post-meal drops in blood pressure.
  • Limit alcohol
    • Alcohol can dehydrate you and dilate blood vessels, making symptoms worse.
  • Caffeine in moderation
    • Small, regular amounts (like a cup of coffee or tea with meals) may help raise blood pressure slightly.
    • Remember that too much caffeine can also cause dehydration; balance it with water.
    • If you don’t like coffee or tea, options like hot chocolate or some colas contain caffeine.

Heat and Activity

  • Avoid excessive heat
    • Very hot showers, hot tubs, saunas, and overheated rooms can dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
  • Be careful with vigorous exercise
    • Ask your doctor what level of activity is safe. Light to moderate exercise is often helpful, but sudden position changes can trigger symptoms.

Travel and Altitude

  • Avoid rapid ascent to high altitudes
    • If you plan to travel from Michigan to mountainous areas, talk with your doctor first.

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Contact a healthcare provider if you:

  • Frequently feel dizzy or lightheaded when standing
  • Have fainting episodes
  • Notice blurry vision, confusion, or weakness on standing
  • Have diabetes, heart disease, or Parkinson’s disease and new or worsening dizziness

You can:

  • Schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor or internal medicine provider
  • Visit a local clinic affiliated with Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Reach out to the Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health for community clinic information if you do not have a regular doctor

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if dizziness is accompanied by:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe headache
  • Trouble speaking or weakness on one side of the body

These may be signs of a heart attack or stroke, which require immediate care at a Grand Rapids hospital.

Key Points About Orthostatic Hypotension

  • Orthostatic hypotension is low blood pressure that occurs when you stand up.
  • It is usually a symptom of another condition or a medication side effect, not a disease by itself.
  • Symptoms include dizziness, light-headedness, blurry vision, nausea, confusion, and sometimes fainting.
  • It becomes more common with age and with chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and nervous system disorders.
  • Diagnosis typically involves blood pressure measurements lying and standing, blood tests, and sometimes heart or nervous system testing.
  • Treatment may include fluids, medication changes, managing underlying conditions, and medicines to raise blood pressure.
  • Self-care strategies—like getting up slowly, staying hydrated, wearing compression stockings, and avoiding long periods of standing—can significantly reduce symptoms.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and are experiencing dizziness or fainting when you stand up, talk with your doctor or a local healthcare provider. Early evaluation and treatment can improve your safety, reduce falls, and help you stay active through all of West Michigan’s seasons.