Lightheaded/Loss of vision when I stand up?

st476

Everytime I stand up, I get lightheaded and lose my vision for a couple seconds. I know this has to do with blood circulation or something like that and I did get it before I changed my diet (usually only in the morning if I stood up really fast) but now I've been getting it EVERYTIME I stand up.
I go for 1200 calories a day. Some days I eat less than that but I eat more another day that week so it evens out. I usually even end up having a little more than 8400 calories a week. My diary is open. Also, I'm 5'4 and 133 pounds.

Does anyone know if there's something wrong or if it's normal?

SassyMommasaurus

Go to the doctor

bpetrosky

See a doctor.
Don't seek a diagnosis from people on the internet about this. A doctor can determine if this is something serious or not.

KorvapuustiPossu

You might have low blood pressure. What you are describing sounds like Postural Hypotension.

Check this a bit for causes:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/orthostatic-hypotension/basics/causes/con-20031255

rsclause

Are you taking any blood pressure medication? My father in law was passing out when he stood up too fast. One time another family member that was a RN saw it and immediately recognized it as symptom of a wrong dosage of his medication. Other than that is it possible that you could increase calories and still be in deficit? if so you may be too low.

TehLaughingDog

Check to see if you have dysautonomia or POTS with your doctor. I also get symptoms of lightheadedness, loss of vision, and disoriented upon changing positions. A friend with dysautonomia told me to get screened for the disorder (however my symptoms are minor compared to hers) but it might be worth it just to get a medical professional's opinion.

Could also be that you're not eating enough so your body is having a hard time regulating your blood circulation. I have no idea - I'm not a medical professional. Only one that can tell you if somethings up is the doc.

tcunbeliever

This happens to me if I don't make a conscious effort to eat more salt. My blood pressure is usually 90/60 so it's on the low end of normal.

laur357

Orthostatic hypotension. A somewhat common drop in blood pressure when you stand or get up from a reclined position, but could signal that your blood pressure is low or possibly other issues. Let your doctor know.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007278.htm

workhardtogethard

I don't think it's your calorie range that is causing your problems. I water fast for weeks at a time without any negative effects. See a doctor.

sijomial

No it's not normal - that's why it's worrying you!
And this got worse after you started eating only a tiny amount of food...... Makes you think that's not such a great idea.

You can fix the under-eating yourself but a Doctor will be able to check for and advise you about problems such as postural hypotension.

LastMinuteMama

I would definitely see a doctor to rule out anything serious.

I hope you'll get the same diagnosis as me....low blood pressure, slow pulse, so eat some salty chips. Yes, that's what the cardiologist recommended.

capaul42

tcunbeliever wrote: »

This happens to me if I don't make a conscious effort to eat more salt. My blood pressure is usually 90/60 so it's on the low end of normal.

Same with me. Though since I started my new lifestyle in January, my episodes are a lot better and more infrequent.

st476

Thanks everyone. I will go to the doctor, and I can check my blood pressure myself so I'll do that. I'm not sure if the calories are the problem or if (like some of you have said) it's the fact that I eat a lot less salt. I do put salt on a lot of things but compared to eating fast food everyday it's not nearly as close. I was also told that it may be the fact that I'm eating less sugar, even though I'm always over on my sugar intake. I do think it has to do with my diet though, because it started happening right when I changed my diet.

shadow2soul

How active are you?

I see a lot of days in your diary where you are closer to 1000 calories than 1200. If you are fairly active person 1200 could very well be too low (I know it is for me and I'm your height but lighter).

st476

shadow2soul wrote: »

How active are you?

I see a lot of days in your diary where you are closer to 1000 calories than 1200. If you are fairly active person 1200 could very well be too low (I know it is for me and I'm your height but lighter).

I don't do any exercise at all (bad, I know). I plan on taking it up when I have better access to a gym in 2 months, and then I'll eat some exercise calories back. I know some days I eat closer to 1000, but other days I eat 1300+ to make up for it.
Oh and when it comes to just basic everyday activity, I'm really not active. Most days I would even say sedentary.

shadow2soul

st476 wrote: »

shadow2soul wrote: »

How active are you?

I see a lot of days in your diary where you are closer to 1000 calories than 1200. If you are fairly active person 1200 could very well be too low (I know it is for me and I'm your height but lighter).

I don't do any exercise at all (bad, I know). I plan on taking it up when I have better access to a gym in 2 months, and then I'll eat some exercise calories back. I know some days I eat closer to 1000, but other days I eat 1300+ to make up for it.
Oh and when it comes to just basic everyday activity, I'm really not active. Most days I would even say sedentary.

If you have a way to track your steps for a week, I would definitely do that and see what your avg is. It's not uncommon for people to underestimate their activity level.

That said even Sedentary with no workouts, If It Fits Your Macros calculator estimates that you should eat 1260 (20% cut) to 1339 (15% cut) for fat loss. Currently your avg is actually under 1200 calories. I averaged out 36 days (was going to do 2 months, but the one day had only 1 thing logged so I'm kind of hoping that was a day you just didn't log) and came up with 1,119 calories on avg.

mom23mangos

Low Blood Pressure. Mine hovers around 85/60 most of the time and I get the same. Only issue I have with low BP, so I just usually walk through it.

My mom also has very low BP and an unnaturally, but normal for her low resting heart rate, so probably genetic.

tomteboda

I have the same issue. My doctor told me to tighten my muscles when I stand, get support socks and increase my sodium intake. Seems to be working.

MakePeasNotWar

I agree, what you describe sounds like orthostatic hypotension. My BP is around 90/55 on average and this happens to me all the time.

If you've cut your food intake down, your sodium intake has probably dropped as well, which will cause a decrease in BP. You can add a bit more salt, drink sodium containing electrolyte drinks and/or start standing up more slowly.

diwijo13

st476 wrote: »

Everytime I stand up, I get lightheaded and lose my vision for a couple seconds. I know this has to do with blood circulation or something like that and I did get it before I changed my diet (usually only in the morning if I stood up really fast) but now I've been getting it EVERYTIME I stand up.

It might be low blood pressure. The same thing happened to me. I was on blood pressure medication. All of a sudden, I would get dizzy and lightheaded, especially while exercising. When I went to the doctor my pressure was very, very low. The nurse took my pressure 3 times to make sure it was right. I was taken off the medication that day. Because I had lost 30 lbs, I did not need the medicine any more. Now my blood pressure is perfect.

yirara

I think it's low blood pressure in my case. I used to have this problem when I was younger. When I slowly gained weigh it vanished, and when I started losing weight it came back when I was about 65kg. Now I'm around 57 for more than a year and it just remained. It does seem to be better though when I work out. I had to take a 3 week workout break due to all sorts of things going wrong: a massive blister on my heel that got infected, a cold, and then I slept with my head twisted oddly and now my neck hurts *sigh* been pretty bad these past three weeks.

capaul42

yirara wrote: »

I think it's low blood pressure in my case. I used to have this problem when I was younger. When I slowly gained weigh it vanished, and when I started losing weight it came back when I was about 65kg. Now I'm around 57 for more than a year and it just remained. It does seem to be better though when I work out. I had to take a 3 week workout break due to all sorts of things going wrong: a massive blister on my heel that got infected, a cold, and then I slept with my head twisted oddly and now my neck hurts *sigh* been pretty bad these past three weeks.

Yeah, mine seems better now that I workout regularly too. My Doctor said I have to be careful to keep my sodium levels up because I also get vaso-vagal syncope when it's particularly bad and I will pass out (hitting everything in the room on the way down when I do because I'm just lucky like that).

Queenmunchy

My doctor put me on a 30 day heart monitor because of this issue. Definitely bring it up with yours just to rule it out. My blood pressure ended up being extremely high (sodium related) and once I cut the salt, I haven't had this problem again.

killdontmurder

You're not eating enough...

killdontmurder

Do you feel like you're going to faint?

rainbowbow

oh no, i definitely have this. especially in the morning when i wake up. =/

recesq

Its happened to me several times. I ate chicken broth when I started feeling that way and it helped. I also cut my BP medicine in half. I did inform both my Docs, and they agreed it was the correct thing to do.

emily120699

This happens to me! I'm 5'5 135 pounds, and burn about 3500 calories a week, but a lot of times I'm dizzy and lose vision for a second when I stand. Sometimes this happens when you stand too fast, or if you're not eating enough. If suggest increasing your calories if it bothers you.

HonduranRosa

I started having that problem when I turned 13. I am 20 now. It had gotten to the point where I was passing out up to 7 times a day. I went to a cardiologist and was diagnosed with hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing). The doctor told me to eat more salt and drink more water. But it has been the salt that has really helped with the symptoms. Now I still get dizzy and lose vision upon standing, but I can't remember the last time I passed out.

psuLemon

TehLaughingDog wrote: »

Check to see if you have dysautonomia or POTS with your doctor. I also get symptoms of lightheadedness, loss of vision, and disoriented upon changing positions. A friend with dysautonomia told me to get screened for the disorder (however my symptoms are minor compared to hers) but it might be worth it just to get a medical professional's opinion.

Could also be that you're not eating enough so your body is having a hard time regulating your blood circulation. I have no idea - I'm not a medical professional. Only one that can tell you if somethings up is the doc.

POTS has a huge range of effects and highly variable amongst thouse who have it. Some have very few effects (dizziness/light headed/higher heart rate) while others have more extreme effects (extreme lethargy and fatigue, elevated heart rate, passing/blacking out, etc.). My wife falls towards to right of the spectrum and has been hospitalized at times for it.

rosecropper

Only a doctor can say for sure. Have some info ready for your visit to help the doctor:
When people eat less food, they also tend to drink less. Log your fluids- everything you drink. You could be dehydrated. Also log all sodium intake. Show doctor how much calories, fluids, salt, sugars you average in a day. If dizziness is worse at certain times of day or on certain days, note that too.
Get an automatic blood pressure cuff. Check your BP & heart rate when you first wake up & laying in bed. Leave the cuff on and sit up on side of bed for a minute. Check BP & HR again. Then stand up for a minute and check again. Do that a couple different mornings. Also check BP & HR at other times of day for a few days. Log it all- there's free apps available to track it & make a graph you can show at doctor visit.
When you go to doctor, ask if you are well enough to start exercising. Being sedentary makes the heart & vascular system weak.