Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Dizziness Not Long After Standing And Migraines?
Question: I sometimes get dizzy not long after standing. Assuming it is orthostatic hypotension. Doesn't happen every time I get up.
Sometimes if it is bad enough I get an aura & then migraine. Can usually stop migraine by taking Tylenol & caffeine. Sometimes I have to take Prodrin. Yesterday I had the worst dizzy spell upon standing I've ever had. I was walking across the parking lot & I really thought I was going to pass out for a good 45 seconds. Within a few minutes the aura came on. I went ahead & took two Prodrin because I was heading into work and really did not want to get a migraine. The Prodrin worked & I never got a full migraine. The Prodrin makes me feel weird (foggy headed) and I don't think I'd taken any in about 2 1/2 - 3 months.
Here is the rub, I ran a low HR yesterday. My HR is always fast. Last 24 hour halter monitor my average HR was 109. At my cardiologist's appointment earlier this week they did an EKG and my HR was 112. Yesterday my HR was in the 50s-60s. I had angina multiple times and my chest just felt heavy & off all day. Could this have been a side effect of the Prodrin that I've just never felt before? I thought it would raise my HR if anything.
Could the low HR have anything to do with having the dizzy spell?
Right now my HR is 94 so I'm pretty close to my normal. When I went to my cardiologist earlier in the week he prescribed me something to try to slow my HR but I haven't started taking them yet as I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow & didn't want to start till I got back. With having this 1 time day of a much slower HR should go ahead & start what he prescribed?
Sorry this is long and multiple questions. I'm actually kinda freaked out by this whole thing.
Sometimes if it is bad enough I get an aura & then migraine. Can usually stop migraine by taking Tylenol & caffeine. Sometimes I have to take Prodrin. Yesterday I had the worst dizzy spell upon standing I've ever had. I was walking across the parking lot & I really thought I was going to pass out for a good 45 seconds. Within a few minutes the aura came on. I went ahead & took two Prodrin because I was heading into work and really did not want to get a migraine. The Prodrin worked & I never got a full migraine. The Prodrin makes me feel weird (foggy headed) and I don't think I'd taken any in about 2 1/2 - 3 months.
Here is the rub, I ran a low HR yesterday. My HR is always fast. Last 24 hour halter monitor my average HR was 109. At my cardiologist's appointment earlier this week they did an EKG and my HR was 112. Yesterday my HR was in the 50s-60s. I had angina multiple times and my chest just felt heavy & off all day. Could this have been a side effect of the Prodrin that I've just never felt before? I thought it would raise my HR if anything.
Could the low HR have anything to do with having the dizzy spell?
Right now my HR is 94 so I'm pretty close to my normal. When I went to my cardiologist earlier in the week he prescribed me something to try to slow my HR but I haven't started taking them yet as I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow & didn't want to start till I got back. With having this 1 time day of a much slower HR should go ahead & start what he prescribed?
Sorry this is long and multiple questions. I'm actually kinda freaked out by this whole thing.
Brief Answer:
You should get an echocardiogram done.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have very carefully gone through the details provided and understand your concerns. The cardiac output is stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped by the heart in one stroke) multiplied by the heart rate. So, a higher pulse rate tries to ensure a steady blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body, if otherwise the capacity of the heart is low. You should get an echocardiography done to ensure that the heart is working fine. I doubt if that is the case. Inability to pump adequate blood to the brain could lead to dizziness. The migraine could be an unrelated ailment but it is hard to comment without proper clinical evaluation.
The reduction of heart rate could indicate a fatigue of the heart which could otherwise be serious and the inadequacy of the pumping could have compromised the blood supply to the heart itself, thereby leading to the angina. Your cardiologist probably gave you beta blockers to reduce the heart rate. These medicines have a cardioprotective action and should help. However, I still insist on getting an echocardiography done without delay. On beta blockers it is unlikely for the heart rate to go back again on the higher side.
I am sorry if I have missed out anything. If you have any other query, feel free to communicate back and I would be happy to help.
Regards
You should get an echocardiogram done.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have very carefully gone through the details provided and understand your concerns. The cardiac output is stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped by the heart in one stroke) multiplied by the heart rate. So, a higher pulse rate tries to ensure a steady blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body, if otherwise the capacity of the heart is low. You should get an echocardiography done to ensure that the heart is working fine. I doubt if that is the case. Inability to pump adequate blood to the brain could lead to dizziness. The migraine could be an unrelated ailment but it is hard to comment without proper clinical evaluation.
The reduction of heart rate could indicate a fatigue of the heart which could otherwise be serious and the inadequacy of the pumping could have compromised the blood supply to the heart itself, thereby leading to the angina. Your cardiologist probably gave you beta blockers to reduce the heart rate. These medicines have a cardioprotective action and should help. However, I still insist on getting an echocardiography done without delay. On beta blockers it is unlikely for the heart rate to go back again on the higher side.
I am sorry if I have missed out anything. If you have any other query, feel free to communicate back and I would be happy to help.
Regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
