Dizziness after eating (2023)

FAQs

Dizziness after eating? ›

Do you sometimes feel dizzy or lightheaded after eating a meal? If so, you could have a common condition called postprandial hypotension (the term loosely translates to low blood pressure after eating) that affects up to one-third of older men and women.

Why am I dizzy after eating? Eating usually cases glucose levels to rise, but, in some people, blood sugar levels fall again soon after. This can cause dizziness. Other possible causes of dizziness after eating include standing up, heat exposure, and drinking alcohol.

People with diabetes may experience dizziness, either as a symptom of the condition or as a result of dehydration or certain medications. A doctor can help determine the cause and how to manage or treat it. Diabetes can cause low or high blood sugar, which can make people feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Treatment of Postprandial Hypotension

Taking a smaller dose of the antihypertensive drugs and eating small, low-carbohydrate meals more frequently may help reduce the effects of this disorder. For some people, walking after a meal helps improve blood flow, but blood pressure may fall when they stop walking.

The main symptoms of postprandial hypotension are dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting after a meal. Syncope is the term used to describe fainting that occurs as a result of falling blood pressure. Usually this condition is caused by a drop in your systolic blood pressure after eating.

Reactive hypoglycemia

This drop in blood sugar, which typically follows an increase in insulin production, can make you feel anxious, irritable, and even a little confused. You might also notice other physical changes that resemble anxiety symptoms, like: dizziness. shakiness.

Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar. Reactive hypoglycemia, sometimes called postprandial hypoglycemia, happens when blood sugar drops after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include: Shakiness.

Feeling dizzy after eating is often related to an underlying condition such as high blood pressure or prediabetes. It can also be caused by food sensitivities, stomach surgeries, or enzyme deficiencies. If you frequently feel dizzy after eating meals, it's important to let your healthcare provider know.

In people with diabetes, dizziness is one of the symptoms that can happen due to high blood glucose levels. The level of dizziness can vary, from mild lightheadedness to feeling like the ground beneath you is tilting. Some describe the experience as if their head is spinning, even though they're standing still.

How do you know if dizziness is serious? ›

If you are dizzy right now and have any of the following neurological symptoms along with your dizziness or vertigo, call 911 immediately: New confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech. New slurred speech or hoarseness of voice. New numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg.

Postprandial hypotension.

This drop in blood pressure occurs 1 to 2 hours after eating. It's most likely to affect older adults, especially those with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Drinking 12 to 18 ounces of water 15 minutes before eating can offset some of the postprandial response. Avoid high-carbohydrate foods or those that include bread, pasta, and potatoes. (Be sure to do your research as you do your meal planning.

Water drinking elicits a rapid pressor response in patients with autonomic failure and can be used to treat orthostatic and postprandial hypotension. Water drinking moderately reduces orthostatic tachycardia in patients with idiopathic orthostatic intolerance.

Limit simple sugars such as candy, honey, jams, jellies, molasses, sugar, syrup, sweetened drinks, large amounts of fruit juice, and sweet desserts. Large amounts can make hypoglycemia symptoms worse, especially if eaten on an empty stomach. Keep amounts moderate and eat them with other foods.

Foods that are rich in amino acid tyramine include red wine, smoked meats, chicken liver, chocolate, yogurt, citrus fruits, bananas, figs, nuts and ripened cheeses. All these foods can trigger vertigo. Tyramine results in blood vessel dilatation that triggers migraine, which can lead to vertigo.

Non-diabetic hypoglycemia, a rare condition, is low blood glucose in people who do not have diabetes. Clinicians usually want to confirm non-diabetic hypoglycemia by verifying classic symptoms along with a low sugar level AND that these symptoms recover after eating sugar.

Reactive hypoglycemia is a drop in blood glucose (sugar) that occurs after eating. Symptoms usually develop within four hours of consuming food and may include shakiness, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and sweating.

Many people with diabetes will describe themselves as feeling tired, lethargic or fatigued at times. It could be a result of stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night's sleep but it could also be related to having too high or too low blood glucose levels.

Can thyroid problems cause dizziness? ›

Is dizziness a symptom of a thyroid problem? Yes, dizziness is a symptom of a thyroid problem. Thyroid diseases³ or thyroid abnormalities sometimes manifest as dizziness. A high heart rate, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness are all possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Dizziness and GERD

When acid refluxes into the upper GI system, it can affect the tubes that lead to the inner ear. When these tubes become irritated, swelling can occur, causing a loss of balance. This symptom is thought to be more common with GERD that occurs when lying down after a meal.

If you feel lightheaded and/or woozy, Dr. Grossman recommends having a drink of water or orange juice and lying down. If symptoms last more than 15 minutes, he says it's time to seek medical help in an urgent or emergency care setting.

People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at first. They may not have symptoms for many years. According to Medlineplus.gov, early symptoms of diabetes caused by a high blood sugar level may include: Bladder, kidney, skin, or other infections that are more frequent or heal slowly.

Diabetes symptoms

Thirsty - being really thirsty. Tired - feeling more tired than usual. Thinner - losing weight without trying to. Genital itching or thrush.

Blurry vision, increased urination, feeling hungry, extreme thirst, and finding that you have itchy, dry skin are all warning signs that you could be in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. Some other signs may be harder to pin down.

Signs that prediabetes has progressed to type 2 diabetes include: increased or unrelenting thirst. fatigue or feeling weak. feeling faint or dizzy.

Dizziness is one symptom that diabetics may experience. This can be due to low blood sugar, high blood sugar, low blood pressure, retinopathy, vestibular disorder, medication side effects, or dehydration.

“Red flag” symptoms should alert you to a non-vestibular cause: persistent, worsening vertigo or dysequilibrium; atypical “non-peripheral” vertigo, such as vertical movement; severe headache, especially early in the morning; diplopia; cranial nerve palsies; dysarthria, ataxia, or other cerebellar signs; and ...

What are the top 3 causes of dizziness? ›

Dizziness has many possible causes, including inner ear disturbance, motion sickness and medication effects. Sometimes it's caused by an underlying health condition, such as poor circulation, infection or injury.

Some of the main causes are: dehydration(not having enough fluids in your body) a drop in blood pressure when you stand up quickly. feelings of anxiety or panic.

If your blood pressure drops too low, your body's vital organs do not get enough oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, low blood pressure can lead to shock, which requires immediate medical attention. Signs of shock include cold and sweaty skin, rapid breathing, a blue skin tone, or a weak and rapid pulse.

High blood pressure and dizziness are often associated because a person with uncontrolled hypertension may present with dizziness; indeed, dizziness may be the only symptom of hypertension.

Stage 1 hypertension: A reading ranging from 130 to 139 (systolic) or 80 to 89 (diastolic) Stage 2 hypertension: A reading ranging from 140 or higher (systolic) or 90 (diastolic) Hypertensive crisis (consult your doctor immediately): A reading higher than 180 (systolic) and/or 120 (diastolic)

Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration, which leads to dizziness and lightheadedness. Eating contaminated food may also lead to food poisoning, which causes very similar symptoms.

Foods that are rich in amino acid tyramine include red wine, smoked meats, chicken liver, chocolate, yogurt, citrus fruits, bananas, figs, nuts and ripened cheeses. All these foods can trigger vertigo. Tyramine results in blood vessel dilatation that triggers migraine, which can lead to vertigo.

As well as more common GI symptoms, IBS is also thought to give rise to a number of non-GI symptoms including dizziness. Dizziness can be described as a feeling of unsteadiness, light-headedness or feeling faint.

Effects of Gastroparesis

Chronically delayed stomach emptying creates dramatic shifts in blood sugar levels and can cause dizziness, fatigue and nausea. Repeated vomiting due to gastroparesis can cause dehydration, esophageal damage and tooth decay.

What vitamins are good for dizziness and lightheadedness? ›

Studies have found that vitamins can be useful in treating dizziness. For example, Vitamin C can reduce vertigo while Vitamin D can be helpful when it comes to circulation issues. If you are suffering dizziness as a result of anaemia taking iron supplements can help to correct this.

Banana: Being high in carbohydrates and having a high glycemic index, bananas will help in recovering from a dizzy state quickly as it is a good combination of potassium as well as sugar.

In most cases, dizziness associated with heart problems is accompanied by other symptoms. These may include shortness of breath, swollen extremities, frequent fatigue or chest pain. In the event heart disease is suspected, you will undergo one or more tests to get to the root of your problem.

Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: Sudden, severe headache. Chest pain. Difficulty breathing.