Why do feel dizzy after eating

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Postprandial Hypotension. Video of the Day. Symptoms tend to be more severe after eating a large meal, a meal that includes a lot of carbohydrates, or if alcohol is consumed during or prior to eating. These symptoms usually resolve within two hours or so after finishing the meal.

While the cause of postprandial hypotension is not completely understood, it is thought to be related to the pooling of blood in the abdominal organs during the process of digestion. As a result of this pooling, the amount of blood available to the general circulation decreases, causing a drop in blood pressure.

Standing up increases this effect. Some amount of blood accumulation in the abdominal organs after a meal is normal since digesting food requires an increase in blood flow. To compensate, the blood vessels in the legs naturally constrict as a reflex.

In postprandial hypotension, it is thought that either the volume of blood in the gut is exaggerated or that the normal constricting of blood vessels in lower extremities is diminished. Eating high-carbohydrate meals appears to worsen postprandial hypotension. To some extent, aging itself is accompanied by an increase in the abdominal blood pooling that normally occurs after a meal.

Most older people never develop symptoms from this increased blood pooling — but people who do have significant symptoms from postprandial hypotension tend to be elderly. While there is no specific treatment to eliminate postprandial hypotension, symptoms can be controlled adequately in the large majority of people who have this condition.

Treating the symptoms of postprandial hypotension involves four elements:. If these measures are insufficient, other therapies commonly used to treat orthostatic hypotension are often helpful.

These include:. People with postprandial hypotension who also have diastolic heart failure and are being treated with diuretics , may find withdrawing the diuretics dramatically improves symptoms. If symptoms are severe and cannot be controlled by other measures, subcutaneous injections of octreotide a drug that behaves like the pancreatic hormone somatostatin before a meal may help reduce the amount of blood flowing to the intestine.

Resolving the underlying cause will…. Why am I dizzy after eating? Medically reviewed by Nancy Hammond, M. Low blood sugar Low blood pressure Diabetes medications Food sensitivity Standing after sitting Seeing a doctor Prevention Summary Many people experience dizziness before a meal. Low blood sugar. Share on Pinterest A drop in blood sugar may cause dizziness. Low blood pressure. Diabetes medications. Foods, beverages, and alcohol. Share on Pinterest Certain chemicals in alcohol may cause a person to feel dizzy after drinking it with a meal.

Standing after sitting. When to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest A person can sometimes prevent dizziness by drinking water before and during meals.

Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage.

What causes shortness of breath after eating? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. What is a normal blood pressure?

People who experience dizziness after eating due to postprandial hypotension can take some simple measures to help prevent the blood pressure drops that cause the dizziness, and to reduce the likelihood of falls from the dizziness:. Various medications have been tried for reducing dizziness after eating due to postprandial hypotension, but none have panned out well in clinical trials.

People who experience this symptom chronically may wish to consider a treatment with physical therapist experienced in treating dizziness and unsteadiness.

Hypoglycemia low blood sugar causes dizziness because the brain needs a certain amount of sugar to function properly. Glucose — the form of sugar that circulates in the blood — is the only energy source the brain can use.

The brain does not work well without fuel, so hypoglycemia results in dizziness that can progress to fainting and even coma and death if glucose levels do not get back to normal.

Besides lightheadedness, symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:. Reactive or postprandial hypoglycemia occurs — paradoxically — after eating; usually within four hours of a meal. It occurs in situations where the body produces too much insulin in response to eating, resulting in the blood sugar going too low. Insulin is the hormone that our body uses to take glucose out of the bloodstream and deposit it in cells.

When too much insulin is produced, too much glucose can be removed from the blood, resulting in hypoglycemia and dizziness. The exact cause of reactive hypoglycemia is not always found. Sometimes it may be from alcohol intake, or from eating foods that are too rich in simple carbohydrates.

People who get dizzy after eating should see their doctor for assessment. While there is no specific treatment for reactive hypoglycemia, identifying and addressing the underlying cause is important. Also, eating smaller, more frequent meals, lowering refined sugar intake, and limiting alcohol intake may be helpful.

As with any kind of dizziness, lifestyle and safety concerns make diagnosis and treatment important. People who experience repeated dizziness may wish to consider a treatment with physical therapist experienced in treating dizziness and unsteadiness.

Here are some of the more common causes:. When acid makes its way from the stomach up to the throat and mouth, it can cause several symptoms, including heartburn, chest pain, and cough.