Why do I get dizzy when I get up in the morning? Symptoms and causes

Most people have had dizziness on waking up at least once in the morning. It is common although it is due to various causes.

It is necessary to observe under what circumstances it occurs, the frequency and intensity to understand the possible cause or the disorder that may be behind this symptom.

It commonly occurs in the population between 16 and 65 years of age. Generally speaking, it is not a serious or worrisome condition, but If you've been wondering "why do I get dizzy when I get up in the morning?" here we explain the causes and what you must do so that it does not happen.

• Recommended article: "Dizziness: what are its symptoms and the 15 most common causes"

Causes and symptoms of morning sickness

When you wake up and get up in bed, you may experience mild to severe dizziness. It can be accompanied by other conditions and symptoms, or it can be temporary but constant. Usually these dizziness are not more serious, but it does not hurt to analyze the causes of these and go to the doctor.

Before getting alarmed, one must observe the reactions of the body. In addition to becoming aware of when it occurs and if it is accompanied by other symptoms that can give us more information. While a visit to the doctor is always important, these morning sickness may not mean anything serious.

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

The most common dizziness when waking up in the morning is due to this type of vertigo. It is easily identified because it is a mild dizziness that occurs when getting up or lying down in bed. It lasts just a few seconds and the cause is in the inner ear, without representing a major problem.

As long as the dizziness is mild and lasts for a few seconds there is surely nothing to worry about. But if it is accompanied by headache, nausea or the episode of dizziness lasts longer, it could be another type of condition that should be reviewed with the doctor.

2. Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in pressure that causes dizziness. When the dizziness occurs when getting up and remains for a few minutes, without any other type of discomfort, it is regularly treated that the blood pressure has decreased due to the position.

It also happens when sitting for a long time. It is not a disease as such, but it is something to be aware of in case it becomes recurrent or generates other discomforts.

3. Vestibular neuritis

Vestibular neuritis is inflammation of the ear caused by a virus. One of the most obvious symptoms is severe dizziness in the morning, which can come and go for a few days. There is no pain in the ear, so it is sometimes not recognized as the cause of dizziness.

It can last up to three weeks and be accompanied by nausea and other symptoms. The dizziness caused by vestibular neuritis does not only occur when you get up in the morning. They occur throughout the day, so it requires a medical review to treat it.

4. Diabetes or hypertension

Diabetes and hypertension cause mild dizziness. It is one of the types of dizziness that occurs when getting up, however, throughout the day they can recur. They are mild and pass quickly, and are accompanied by other types of symptoms.

Once the chronic disease is controlled, the dizziness disappears. They do not cause great discomfort as they are temporary dizziness, but if it is accompanied by mild headaches, ringing in the ears or blinking lights, it is best to go for a check-up.

5. Méniere's disease

It is a symptomatology that can reach deafness. We are facing a problem in the inner ear that causes severe dizziness, not only when getting up, but throughout the day. In addition to this, there is ringing or hearing loss that comes and goes.

The vertigo it produces is quite intense and causes loss of balance. When faced with these symptoms, you should see a doctor, as it can cause partial or total deafness in the ear. The specialist will request the pertinent studies for an accurate diagnosis and will propose the best treatment.

6. Medication

When different medications are being taken, dizziness can occur. This usually happens especially in the elderly. When a disease has been diagnosed and various medications have been prescribed, they cause some side effects.

One of the most common effects is dizziness upon waking up in the morning. As long as these dizziness is mild, does not last for more than a few seconds, and is not accompanied by other symptoms, there is nothing to worry about.

7. Vitamin D deficiency

Recently it has been discovered that a deficiency of vitamin D causes vertigo. It is known as positional vertigo when dizziness occurs when changing from one position to another. For example when lying down and standing or sitting, and from sitting to standing and vice versa.

If there is this type of mild but frequent dizziness and it is not accompanied by any other symptoms, then it is advisable to review the levels of vitamin D, as well as calcium and phosphorus, to verify that it is a deficiency of these minerals and of vitamin D.

When to go to the doctor?

When dizziness occurs as an isolated event, it is common not to go to the doctor. Nevertheless, the recommendation is that a review be requested if the dizziness is frequent even if it is mild, or if it occurs even just one but has been very intense.

Before these first symptoms, it is not necessary to go to a specialist doctor. It will be enough to visit the family doctor who will observe other possible symptoms and, if necessary, send some pertinent studies. He will be the one who values ​​the need for a specialized consultation.

But if the dizziness is accompanied by nausea, headache, blurred vision, vomiting or other pain, then it is advisable not to wait and go to the doctor. Also if these dizziness are very intense or last more than a minute, the recommendation is to go for a check-up.

Bibliographic references

• Bronstein AM, Lempert T (2010). "Management of the patient with chronic dizziness". Restor. Neurol. Neurosci.

• Post RE, Dickerson LM (2010). "Dizziness: a diagnostic approach". Am Fam Physician.

• Reeves, Alexander G., Swenson, Rand S. (2008). "Chapter 14: Evaluation of the Dizzy Patient." Disorders of the Nervous System: A Primer. Dartmouth Medical School.