Advice for dizziness after surya namaskar

(June 15, 2011)

I feel a bit dizzy when I stand up straight after surya namaskar. This problem is not there with other asanas. Also this has started only since 5 days.

It is not an odd happening to feel dizzy and everyone has experienced it sometime. Therefore, we usually pass it on as something that happens, but it is important that you understand and know what causes dizziness. Feeling sensations of dizziness is not an illness but is actually a symptom of a severe or mild condition or infection. As mentioned earlier you should not ignore feelings of sudden dizziness or fainting spells. Some of the causes of dizziness are listed below.

• High blood pressure: Also called hypertension, it is a condition in which the blood pressure is highly elevated and which can also cause a stroke. Dizziness and nausea are usually experienced by individuals who have high blood pressure.
• Low blood pressure: Just as high blood pressure can cause nausea and dizziness, low blood pressure can also bring about headaches and dizziness. Blood pressure that is low causes the supply of blood to the brain to drop, therefore depriving the brain of vital oxygen and bringing about dizziness. Some of the other symptoms of low blood pressure are shortness of breath, vomiting, and chest pain along with sweating.
• Dehydration: Dehydration, which is the loss of fluid because of diarrhea and vomiting or too much sweating or fever, can cause a person to feel dizzy. Sweating and fever can cause fluids to be lost by the body as this works as a mechanism to bring cooling to the body after excessive exercising or fever.
• Vertigo: This is a medical term describing a sensation of whirling felt by a person like, the room or ground is moving. Vertigo can also be a symptom of different infections to the inner ear, tumors or Meniere's disease. Vertigo can cause dizziness when the individual stands up.
• Anemia: Anemia is a weakness caused by blood loss or other important nutrients because of excessive bleeding or a diet that is deficient of iron. This condition may also cause dizziness particularly when a person is doing some activity. A diet that is rich in folic acid or some iron supplements will usually help with this condition.
• Medication: Some medications that are taken for the treatment of blood pressure or medications that include strong pain relievers, sedatives, and antidepressants can cause dizziness in a person. Beta blockers which block ACE inhibitors and adrenaline receptors in the heart can also bring about dizziness in some individuals. Using diuretics for a prolonged time period can bring about bouts of dizziness, fainting spells, or dehydration. Excessive use of medication and drugs can cause dizziness and nausea.

You can also get information on the Internet on what cause dizziness in children and the elderly and also other conditions which accompany the dizziness like nausea, headaches, blurred vision, lightheadedness, balance problems, vomiting, shortness of breath, fatigue, and an upset stomach. Viral infections are what cause dizziness in kids most commonly. In most cases, the dizziness is just a small annoyance, but if other symptoms accompany the dizziness, it is important that a doctor is consulted. Excessive alcohol in the system or overexertion the night before could be what causes dizziness in the morning. If you suffer from dizziness in the morning, you need to find out how regularly it happens. If you find that it happens very often, then you will need to perform a complete diagnosis.

During the period of pregnancy the volume of blood increases by 30 percent. The capacity of the lungs also decreases by five percent. This change in the body is what causes dizziness and lightheadedness in women during pregnancy. Dizziness is experienced by some pregnant women only in the first trimester as there is a rapid expansion in the circulatory system. Other women may experience dizziness only once in a while during pregnancy. If you have similar experiences, there are some tips you could follow that can be of help. Most women usually get dizzy when they get up in the morning. This happens when you try getting up from the position of lying down too fast. When getting up you should hold onto some object that is firm and make a gradual rise to prevent dizziness. You should also avoid resting on the back in the second and third trimester. When this is done, the baby’s entire weight comes on the vena cava, which is the vein that brings blood to the heart from the legs. As it is not able to transport sufficient blood to the heart because of the additional pressure it can cause a drop in the pressure of the blood and bring about dizziness. Hence, it is important that you rest on your side and not on the back. You could also get information on the Internet on what causes dizziness after eating, when standing up or lying down, and also when imbalance or a nauseous feeling accompanies the dizziness.

One of the contraindications of Surya Namaskar yoga or sun salutation is dizziness. Other contraindications include toxins in the body, high blood pressure, slipped disc, sciatica, hernia, and hypertension. The different movements that are formed together in Surya Namaskar help bring about beneficial effects and outcomes as it combines the breath and movement. Practicing this exercise is an effective way to know and adjust your own body’s limitations and push the limits to new heights of flexibility and endurance each day. Gradually, the exercise will become more of a routine and the mind will gain more strength and will be able to handle every aspect of the surroundings of nature. A Surya Namaskar mantra is usually chanted before the practice is started. Some of the benefits of Surya Namaskar include developing deeper mental focus and concentration, regulation of the cardiovascular system, regulation of respiration and digestion, elimination of abdominal ailments, strengthening of the leg, back, chest, shoulders and arm muscles, and regulation of the entire endocrine system. You can also practice Surya Namaskar for weight loss. With one Surya Namaskar, the calories burnt will be 13.9 kcal. However, for you to start seeing noticeable results, it is important that you practice it regularly and also combine it with a proper diet.

Submitted by A on June 15, 2011 at 07:06

Sir, it’s tough to answer your query in isolation of facts such as your age, height, weight and diet.

Please get your BP checked and go easy on Surya Namaskar for a few weeks. Increase your pranayama practices, especially Anuloma-Viloma and resume Surya Namaskar after 3 – 4 weeks .

If you can, do provide more details about yourself with this repeat query.

Submitted by A on June 21, 2007 at 11:18