Dizzy When Bending Over: 10 Causes And More - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat causes dizziness when bending over?

Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on January 9, 2024

Poor circulation
Low blood sugar
Low blood pressure
Dehydration
Panic attacks
Anemia
Medication
Hypothyroidism
Inner ear problems
Meniere's disease
Other conditions
Seeing a doctor
Summary

Feeling dizzy or lightheaded when bending over may be due to a number of possible reasons. Causes can include poor circulation, low blood sugar, hypothyroidism, Meniere’s disease, and more.

A person should see a doctor if the dizziness is frequent or severe enough to interfere with daily activities. A doctor can help a person determine and treat the underlying cause.

Feeling dizzy does not always indicate a severe health condition. It becomes increasingly common after 60 years of age and is more common in females.

In this article, we look at ten possible causes of dizziness when bending over and explain when to contact a doctor.

1. Poor circulation

A person bending over to tie their shoe on a running track and experiencing dizziness.-2 — Iuliia Burmistrova/Getty Images

Circulation refers to how well the blood moves around a person’s body. Blood carries oxygen, so if blood does not circulate properly throughout the body, the brain may not get enough oxygen.

If the brain lacks oxygen, sudden movements, such as tilting the head up or down or bending over, may cause the person to feel dizzy.

Other signs of poor circulation can include cold hands or feet and numbness or swelling in the extremities.

It is important for a person to consult a doctor if poor circulation is causing dizziness, as it may indicate:

a heart attack
abnormal heartbeat
congestive heart failure

2. Low blood sugar

Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia can also lead to dizziness, as it can cause brain cells to malfunction. Low blood sugar may occur if a person has not eaten enough or in several hours.

Low blood sugar levels typically affect people with diabetes. However, other causes of low blood sugar include:

medication side effects
alcohol
liver failure

3. Low blood pressure

When a person has low blood pressure, sudden changes in the head’s position can cause dizziness, especially when bending over or standing up suddenly.

Low blood pressure is usually not a cause for concern unless it causes noticeable symptoms. When a person with low blood pressure bends or stands, they may experience:

dizziness
spinning
dark spots in the vision
weakness
confusion
fainting

4. Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when a person does not have enough fluid in their body.

The following factors can cause dehydration:

going for long periods without drinking
intense exercise
exposure to hot weather
illness
vomiting or diarrhea

Anything that causes a person to become dehydrated may cause dizziness when they bend over. This is because having too little fluid in the body makes it difficult for the brain to function and can cause lightheadedness.

5. Panic attacks

A panic attack may result in hyperventilation, which causes the carbon dioxide levels in the blood to dip.

A lack of carbon dioxide in the blood can cause dizziness or lightheadedness.

6. Anemia

Anemia is a lack of oxygen-rich red blood cells in the body. Without enough red blood cells, the blood flowing to the brain may not contain enough oxygen, causing frequent bouts of dizziness.

Other symptoms of anemia include:

fatigue
shortness of breath
pale skin
heart palpitations

7. Medication side effects

Dizziness is a common side effect of a variety of medications. Some drugs that may cause dizziness include:

sedatives
blood pressure medication
antidepressants
pain relievers
diuretics
certain antibiotics
tranquilizers

8. Hypothyroidism

The thyroid produces important hormones and can affect many aspects of the body, including the heart.

Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough of these hormones, which can result in low blood pressure and a slower heartbeat.

These factors can cause dizziness when a person changes position, such as when bending over.

9. Problems with the inner ear

A person’s sense of balance regulates within the inner ear. Ear infections or injuries can cause a person to feel dizzy when standing or bending over.

Simple infections are a common cause, but a person could also have an inner ear problem called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

BPP occurs when a calcium particle from one part of the ear comes off and moves to another part of the ear. This can cause both dizziness and vertigo.

10. Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease can cause prolonged periods of extreme dizziness. The dizziness can occur while standing, bending, or for no apparent reason.

A person with Meniere’s disease may also experience:

pressure in the ears
ringing in the ears
hearing loss

Other underlying conditions

Other underlying conditions that can cause occasional dizziness include:

migraine
Parkinson’s disease
anxiety
dementia
hormone changes during menstruation or pregnancy
peripheral neuropathy
chronic fatigue syndrome
multiple sclerosis

When to see a doctor

Most people who experience temporary dizziness when bending do not need medical intervention.

People can often manage common causes at home by standing or bending slowly, staying hydrated, and avoiding excess caffeine and alcohol.

However, a person should see a doctor if the dizziness is:

frequent
severe
getting worse

A person should also speak to a doctor if dizziness occurs with other symptoms, such as:

vomiting
fainting
blurry vision
chest pain
feeling of heart racing
ringing in the ears

Even in mild cases, if the dizziness is frequent, a person may wish to speak to a doctor about how to prevent it in the future.

Summary

In most cases, dizziness when bending over goes away after a person stands up again slowly and will not require any special attention.

However, dizziness can indicate an underlying health condition, such as low blood pressure, ear infections, and anemia. In these cases, dizziness may go away when a person gets treatment.

People should contact a doctor if dizziness is severe or occurs alongside nausea, vomiting, fainting, or severe chest pain.

Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Headache / Migraine
Neurology / Neuroscience

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Ahmed FW, et al. (2023). Non-diabetic hypoglycemia.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573079/
Balance disorders. (2018).https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance-disorders
Dealing with dizziness. (2021).https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/11/dealing-dizziness
Dizziness. (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dizziness/
Low blood pressure — when blood pressure is too low. (2023).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/low-blood-pressure-when-blood-pressure-is-too-low
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/low-blood-sugar-hypoglycaemia/
Palmeri R, et al. (2022). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470308/
Taylor, K, et al. (2022). Adult dehydration.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/

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Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on January 9, 2024

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