Orthostatic Hypotension

Q Does herbal medicine really stop the dizziness when I stand up? Please be honest with me.

A. Rather than dizziness becoming completely zero, a realistic goal is greatly reducing dizziness that is frequent and severe enough to disrupt daily life down to a manageable level. This change is greater and longer-lasting when combined with fluid, posture, and exercise management.

Q They say tests can't find a clear cause. How does Korean medicine approach standing dizziness with no clear diagnosis?

A. Rather than searching for a specific disease name, Korean medicine looks at where the balance of lifting circulation upward and keeping it steady has broken down when posture changes. This allows an approach tailored to the body's condition even when dizziness doesn't show up on tests.

Q Along with standing dizziness, I also have chronic fatigue, numbness in my hands and feet, and indigestion. Can these improve together too?

A. These symptoms usually share the same root — reduced circulatory regulation and a deficiency of energy and fluid essence — so treating the root often relieves them together. Rather than suppressing each symptom separately, an approach that restores circulation and balance is more effective.

Q I feel anxious in daily life because of dizziness. How should I manage this at home?

A. Standing up slowly is most important. Go through the stages of lying down, sitting up, and standing after a brief pause, drink enough water and salt, and use compression stockings to greatly reduce standing dizziness.

Q I'm afraid of dizziness so I avoid exercise. Should I still exercise?

A. Appropriate exercise actually strengthens circulatory regulation and reduces standing dizziness. Start with lower-body exercises done lying or sitting down, gradually increase intensity, and simply avoid abrupt standing movements.

Q If I take herbal medicine for dizziness long-term, will I develop tolerance or strain my body?

A. Herbal medicine prescribed to match your constitution and condition is not a drug that causes tolerance or accumulates in the body. However, since your condition keeps changing, it is safer to adjust the prescription through regular visits rather than taking the same medicine indefinitely.

Q My dizziness has been so severe I've fainted before. In what cases should I urgently seek hospital testing?

A. If you have recurrent fainting, falls with injury, chest pain, palpitations, or sudden loss of consciousness, you should get heart and neurological testing without delay. These may signal something beyond simple standing dizziness — a cardiac or neurological issue.

Q I'm taking blood pressure medication and a diuretic. Is it okay to take herbal medicine together for the dizziness?

A. In most cases, herbal medicine can be taken alongside your current medications, but blood pressure drugs and diuretics can trigger or worsen orthostatic hypotension, so you must inform us of all medications you are taking. Do not stop them on your own — if dizziness is severe, discuss dose adjustment with your prescribing doctor.

Q Once I start treatment, how long until I notice less dizziness when standing up?

A. Dizziness from temporary causes like dehydration or fatigue can improve within days to weeks with fluid replenishment and management, while chronic dizziness rooted in autonomic nervous system function or constitution generally needs several weeks to 2-3 months of steady management. Recovery speed differs by cause.

Q My mother in her 70s staggers every time she stands up, and I'm worried she'll fall. Can this improve even at an older age?

A. Orthostatic hypotension in older adults can improve significantly with management, but since fall risk is high, safety measures must go hand in hand. Reviewing medications, managing fluids and posture, and treatment to support circulation can reduce staggering.

Q Every time I stand up, my vision goes dark and I feel dizzy. What exactly is orthostatic hypotension?

A. Orthostatic hypotension is a condition where blood pressure drops sharply when you stand up, temporarily reducing blood flow to the brain and causing dizziness, dark vision, or a feeling of faintness. Common backgrounds include dehydration, certain medications, reduced autonomic nervous system regulation, and older age.

Q I'm in my 20s and slim, but I get dizzy when standing up much more than others. Why does this happen to me so often?

A. If you are slim, tend to have lower blood pressure, or lack sufficient fluids and salt, your body has less reserve to support blood pressure when standing, making dizziness more frequent. It can also appear after standing long, in hot places, or after meals, so if severe, the cause should be checked.

Q I usually don't drink much water and eat quite blandly. Could this be related to my dizziness?

A. Insufficient fluids and salt reduce blood volume, lowering your body's reserve to support blood pressure when standing, which increases dizziness. If excessive low-salt intake is the issue, drinking enough water and getting adequate salt can help.

Q My dizziness gets much worse the day after drinking or on hot summer days. Why is that?

A. Both alcohol and heat dilate blood vessels and deplete fluids, lowering blood pressure further. This is why standing dizziness worsens after drinking or in hot environments, making it important to replenish fluids sufficiently and avoid standing up quickly.

Q I work in Incheon Dong-gu and want treatment for dizziness, but it's hard to find time during the day.

A. Orthostatic hypotension treatment is generally managed with regular visits every 2-4 weeks to monitor progress and adjust as needed. Visit times and herbal medicine dosing can be coordinated with your work schedule, so we recommend booking an appointment in advance for a consultation without waiting.

Q What stages does treatment for orthostatic hypotension go through?

A. First, we set direction through pulse diagnosis, consultation, and any needed cause check, then proceed by replenishing upward-lifting energy → balancing the organs → evenly restoring circulation to adapt to postural changes → and finally consolidating recovery. Emphasis on circulatory balance varies by individual condition.

Q Can herbal medicine really improve orthostatic hypotension? Isn't it just the same as telling me to drink more water?

A. Replenishing fluids and salt along with lifestyle management is the foundation, but herbal treatment works by strengthening both the upward-lifting energy and circulatory regulation together to reduce dizziness upon standing. It is most effective when combined with checking for causative medications or dehydration.

Q The hospital says my heart and blood tests are all normal, but I still feel dizzy every time I stand up. Can Korean medicine help with dizziness that doesn't show up on tests?

A. It is common for standing dizziness to continue even when tests are normal. Rather than a structural problem, dizziness from reduced autonomic circulatory regulation is an area where Korean medicine, which coordinates overall circulatory balance, shows strength.