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What Causes Heat Feeling In Head, Numbness In Arm And Imbalance?

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Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015
Question: When I get up from a sitting position a rush of heat comes up through me Into my head and my arms go numb. I am way off balance and can't hardly walk without stumbling into things. After I have to go to bed because it zaps all my energy.I have a pacemaker so I'm pretty sure it's not my heart.
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Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
orthostatic hypotension

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your question. It sounds like you have something called orthostatic hypotension. This is a condition where your blood pressure drops when you stand up and so you get a lack of oxygen to the brain causing dizziness and numbness. This may be complicated by your pacemaker. One way the body compensates for this drop in blood pressure is to raise the heart rate to keep more blood flowing to the brain and with a pacemaker you can not do this. The pacemaker keeps your heart rate the same all the time. You need to have your doctor check you for this condition and figure out a way to treat it if that is what is going on. If that is not what is happening then seeing a neurologist may be the next step.
Good luck to you,
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Kathy Robinson

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1989

Answered : 3535 Questions

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What Causes Heat Feeling In Head, Numbness In Arm And Imbalance?

Brief Answer: orthostatic hypotension Detailed Answer: Hello and thanks for your question. It sounds like you have something called orthostatic hypotension. This is a condition where your blood pressure drops when you stand up and so you get a lack of oxygen to the brain causing dizziness and numbness. This may be complicated by your pacemaker. One way the body compensates for this drop in blood pressure is to raise the heart rate to keep more blood flowing to the brain and with a pacemaker you can not do this. The pacemaker keeps your heart rate the same all the time. You need to have your doctor check you for this condition and figure out a way to treat it if that is what is going on. If that is not what is happening then seeing a neurologist may be the next step. Good luck to you, Dr. Robinson