Weird head rush feeling

Weird head rush feeling is caused mostly by an instant drop in the blood pressure when a person stands up. Head rush usually cause dizziness which can last from a couple seconds to a couple of minutes. Weird head rush can also lead to temporary light-headedness, blurred vision, and to confusion. Many people experience occasional weird head rush feeling.

Most head rushes are generally not a cause for concern but in case the head rushes occur often, it can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition which can need medical intervention. In this article the  potential causes of the weird head rushes are explained and also the ways are mentioned by which a person can prevent them from occurring.

 

What exactly is weird head rush feeling?

Head rush is a feeling where there is sudden drop in the blood pressure when a person stands up from a lying or a seated position. The medical terminology for head rush feeling is orthostatic hypotension, or sometimes even called postural hypotension.

The medical definition of a head rush is a systolic blood pressure drop of at least 20 mm Hg or a drop in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg within 2 to 6 minutes of standing. When a person stands up quickly, gravity pulls the blood towards the legs and the blood pressure quickly drops to some extent. Taking a round off almost 10 to 15 percent of the blood pools in the lower body when a person stands. The body’s reflexes keep the blood pressure of person constant when he’s standing .

For instance, they’ll pump more blood and constrict the blood vessels which helps in maintaining BP . However in case these reflexes don’t act properly, one may experience dizziness and some light-headedness of a head rush .

One can  experience the following symptoms when standing quickly:

• blurred vision
• weakness
• fatigue
• nausea
• heart palpitations
• headaches
• passing out

One may not experience any of these and can have isolated head rushes, or even in some cases they may be a chronic problem.

 

What might be the cause for weird head rush feeling?

Anyone can experience a head rush, however they’re particularly common in people who are over the age of 65. As many as 18 percent of people who are in this age group may experience head rushes.

The following are the conditions which have a potential to cause head rushes:

• aging
• dehydration
• anemia (low red blood cell count)
• blood loss
• pregnancy
• heart valve problems
• diabetes
• thyroid conditions
• hot weather
• taking diuretics, narcotics, or even sedatives
• certain medicines , especially the blood pressure lowering medications
• combining alcohol and other medications
• prolonged bed rest
• eating disorders

 

How to manage weird head Rush feeling?

Luckily , there are a number of ways available to deal with head rush feeling . Many of the symptoms mostly lose intensity if the individual does not move suddenly from a sitting or reclining to the standing position. By taking some more time to raise the body to the standing position, there is surely very less chance for the blood pressure to drop.

Indeed even more importantly, recognizing the onset of a head rush and immediately just sitting down can help to prevent a person from falling and possibly injuring himself during a head rush. One should keep in mind that If the symptoms seem to become worse with time or more frequent , or in case if they begin to last for longer periods, it may indicate an underlying serious medical condition.

Experiencing a total loss of consciousness is one sign that it is time to seek medical help as soon as possible.

If Low blood pressure is present it can be a sign of a number of different nervous system disorders, example, multiple system atrophy or Parkinson’s disease, or even a heart problem. Low blood pressure has a capability to complicate or worsen the condition, so should be investigated so any other causes can be treated as early as possible.

 

How can one prevent weird head rush feeling from occurring?

There are some  lifestyle changes if made can help a person in minimising  the frequency of the head rushes. But in case if the head rushes are caused by some underlying medical condition, it’s a better to visit a doctor. As the doctor can diagnose the underlying condition and find the best treatment options. Lifestyle changes are :

• Staying hydrated : clearly dehydration can lead to weird head rush feeling even in healthy individuals. When a person becomes dehydrated, the total blood volume can decrease. When the total volume of blood decreases it also leads to overall drop in blood pressure. Dehydration can also lead on to weakness, fatigue and dizziness along with the head rushes.
• Standing up slower : If a person has had frequently head rushes, standing up more slowly from the seated and lying positions can help as this gives the body’s natural reflexes more time to adjust to the changes in the blood pressure.
• Avoiding hot environments : Sweating heavily can lead to loss of water and electrolytes and increase a person’s risk of developing dehydration which in turn can lead to head rushes. Replenishing fluids every day can also help to prevent head rushes and some other symptoms of dehydration.
• Minimizing the alcohol intake : Alcohol as we know is a diuretic, that means it causes a p person to lose fluids. Consuming alcohol can dehydrate a person and increase the risk of developing head rushes. So consuming good amount of water and electrolytes with alcohol will surely help to minimize dehydration.

 

When to see a doctor for weird head rush feeling?

Most people have experienced an occasional head rush at some point in life. If in case the head rushes are caused from dehydration or due to prolonged sitting, they are likely not serious enough.

But in case a person has reoccurring head rushes, it’s a good idea and better to talk with a doctor to see if the head rushes might be caused by a serious medical condition.

It’s also better to consult a head specialist in case head rushes cause a person to stumble, fall, double vision or faint.

 

What are the factors that put a person at risk for weird head rush feeling?

Any person can experience the occasional head rush feeling . But there are certain factors that can increase the risk , as follows :

1. Medications : Taking medications which in particular lower the blood pressure can increase a person’sr risk of developing dizziness and lightheadedness. Medications which may cause head rushes include the following as mentioned below :

• alpha-blockers
• beta-blockers
• calcium channel blockers
• nitrates
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)

2. Long bed time rest : If a person is in the bed for an extended period of time, he may eventually become weak and may experience a head rush while getting up. Getting out of bed slowly can help in keeping the blood pressure stable.
3. Aging : with time as one ages, the reflexes which control the body’s ability to stabilize blood pressure start to work less efficiently than before. Although we can not stop aging completely, but eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and living an overall healthy lifestyle can surely help in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
4. Pregnancy : Head rush feeling is very common in pregnant women. As hormonal changes cause the blood vessels to relax and can cause the blood pressure to drop. Many women notice a blood pressure drop in the first 24 weeks of the pregnancy.
5. Diseases : there are a variety of different heart conditions which may increase risk of low blood pressure and then developing head rushes. These conditions include valve problems and heart attacks. Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and other medical diseases which can damage the nerves can also cause head rushes.

 

Takeaway

Many people experience the occasional head rush feeling sometime in their lifetime. A person is particularly likely to have a head rush if he’s over the age of 65 as it’s more common in old people , it’s because the body becomes less efficient at regulating blood pressure with increasing age. Weird Head rush feeling is  often caused by dehydration so it’s best to be hydrated .

Replenishing the  fluids especially during exercising can help in preventing head rush. If a person lives  in a hot climate, he may need to drink even more water than the normal population. If in any case the head rushes are reoccurring or causing a person to faint, or is occurring with other symptoms it’s best to visit a doctor to discuss the treatment options and avoid any serious situation