Tips for Managing Dizziness With CHF
If you have congestive heart failure (CHF), you may have experienced the dizziness that often accompanies this condition. In addition, many CHF patients report experiencing a feeling of lightheadedness when they stand up too quickly, whether from a seated, bent-over, or lying-down position. To reduce the resulting dizziness, make sure to give your body time to adjust. For instance, dangle your legs over the side of your chair or your bed and gently move them back and forth a little bit, then slowly rise to a standing position.
If you’re still experiencing dizziness, you may want to speak with your doctor about possibly adjusting your medications. Physicians often prescribe angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics to reduce blood pressure in CHF patients. Unfortunately, despite the many benefits that these medications offer, they can also lead to dizziness. If you believe that the medications you’ve been prescribed are causing you to feel dizzy, you may want to ask your doctor about switching to a different type or modifying the dosage (but be sure to never make these changes on your own). They may also recommend taking your medications before bed to reduce the feelings of dizziness you may experience during waking hours.
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How Does CHF Cause Dizziness?
CHF develops when an underlying condition—such as coronary artery disease or hypertension (high blood pressure)—weakens or stiffens the heart, causing it to stop pumping blood as well as it normally would. When this happens, the heart can’t circulate enough blood to meet the needs of the various body parts, and poor circulation to the brain can lead to dizziness and mild disorientation. In more severe cases, reduced blood flow to the brain can cause mental confusion or a sudden loss of consciousness—if this happens to you or a loved one, it’s important to seek immediate medical care.
The Convenient Care You Need
Suppose you’re experiencing dizziness—whether due to CHF or for another reason—it’s not safe for you to drive. But if you can’t get yourself to a doctor’s office or an urgent care center, and you’re not experiencing life-threatening symptoms necessitating an ambulance ride to the nearest ER, then what are you to do for treatment?
You can turn to DispatchHealth. As a trusted mobile healthcare provider, we bring in-person treatment straight to our patients, allowing them to rest at home while they wait to be seen. Our services cost approximately the same as a trip to a nearby urgent care center, with most patients paying about $5 to $50 after insurance (we’re in-network with most insurance carriers). We go above and beyond to make the treatment experience as easy as possible, including calling in any prescriptions and updating our patients’ physicians as needed. Contact DispatchHealth today to request a visit—you can do so by calling us, visiting our website, or downloading our mobile app.
* Please note: For life-threatening and time-sensitive injuries and illnesses, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. DispatchHealth shouldn’t be used in a life-threatening emergency and doesn’t replace a primary care provider.
Sources
DispatchHealth relies only on authoritative sources, including medical associations, research institutions, and peer-reviewed medical studies. Sources referenced in this article:
