What it means
A kind of dizzinessDIZ-ee-nesA feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady or off balance, or that the room is spinning.Full entry in which the person feels they might faint, without the room seeming to spin (that is vertigoVER-tih-gohA false feeling that you or the room around you is spinning or moving.Full entry ). It happens when the brain briefly gets less blood flow, as when standing up quickly (orthostatic hypotensionor-thuh-STAT-ik hy-poh-TEN-shunA drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from lying or sitting.ortho- uprightstat standinghypo- belowtension pressureFull entry ), and with dehydration, low blood sugar, bleeding, heart rhythm problems and some medicines.
For the nurse
Have the client sit or lie down right away to prevent a fall, then check blood pressure (lying and standing if ordered), pulse and blood glucose. Teach clients on blood pressure drugs to change position slowly.
At a glance
| Also written | light-headedness, lightheaded, light-headed |
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Related terms
dizziness
A feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady or off balance, or that the room is spinning.
vertigo
A false feeling that you or the room around you is spinning or moving.
syncope
Fainting: a short loss of consciousness from a drop in blood flow to the brain.
orthostatic hypotension
A drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from lying or sitting.