Why does my heart race when I stand up?
Standing drops blood toward the legs, and the heart briefly speeds up to compensate. A small rise is normal; feeling it strongly can reflect dehydration, heat, deconditioning, some medicines or anemia.
A sustained jump of 30 beats or more with lightheadedness on standing deserves a proper assessment, since conditions like POTS or low blood pressure on standing are treatable once named.
Rise slowly, drink enough, and note your pulse sitting versus standing for a minute. Those two numbers give a doctor a running start.
Source: NHS, heart palpitations
See a doctor promptly if
- Actually fainting, or coming close to it, rather than just feeling light-headed
- Dizziness with chest pain, palpitations, or breathlessness
- Dizziness with black or tarry stools, vomiting blood, or very heavy periods
- New dizziness with slurred speech, weakness on one side, or double vision
Check your resting pulse30 seconds, free, nothing to install
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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