Lightheadedness After Eating

Lightheadedness is a feeling of dizziness, which may be transient, may recur or even be chronic. The feeling of lightheadedness is often accompanied by a sensation of weightlessness in the head. One who feels lightheaded, may feel as if the room is spinning and that he is about to faint. What causes lightheadedness? Especially the lightheadedness after eating? Well, there are several causes of lightheadedness, the most common ones being, vertigo, stress and low blood pressure. However, the main reason behind lightheadedness after eating is the drop in the amount of blood supply towards the head.

Lightheadedness After Eating - Causes and Care
After eating, more blood flows towards the stomach to help the process of digestion. As more blood flows towards the digestive system, there is a slight drop in blood pressure resulting in lightheadedness. The more the quantity of food consumed, higher are the chances of experiencing lightheadedness. And that is exactly why one may feel lightheaded particularly after having a large meal. Also, eating food quickly might cause lightheadedness. Eating quickly requires the digestive system to quicken the process of digestion. For this, the heart needs to pump more blood towards the stomach, resulting in a relatively less blood supply towards the head, thus causing lightheadedness.

What You Eat: Some complain about experiencing lightheadedness after eating sugary and processed food items. Consuming foods that are rich in carbohydrates can also lead to lightheadedness. In this case, one experiences lightheadedness about an hour after eating. This is due to a sudden or at times abrupt change in the blood sugar levels after eating high carb or starchy foods. Consuming foods that do not suit you or consuming foods you are allergic to, burdens your digestive system, which in turn leads to lightheadedness. Consuming uncooked foods can also lead to lightheadedness, accompanied by a feeling of nausea after eating. As a preventive measure for nausea and lightheadedness after eating, one must consume foods containing protein and complex carbohydrates. It is advisable to stick to veggies and stay away from oily foods, soda and candy.

How You Eat: Hasty body movements after eating may also cause lightheadedness. The simplest reason behind lightheadedness after eating could be, standing up quickly after having food. It is not uncommon for an individual to feel dizzy or lightheaded on quickly standing up after having a meal. However, this lightheadedness lasts for a short period of time. Not chewing the food properly or eating hurriedly can lead to a feeling of lightheadedness. A simple solution to this problem of lightheadedness after eating is to spend some time relaxing at the table after meals. Lying down to relax the body after having food, can help in alleviating the feeling of lightheadedness after eating.

Are You Ill: Thyroid disorders like swelling of the thyroid gland and hypothyroidism may lead to lightheadedness or dizziness after eating. Even renal disorders can lead to lightheadedness after eating, which further worsens if salty and processed foods are consumed. Digestive health problems such as gastritis can lead to lightheadedness after eating. It can also be a reason behind feeling tired after eating. Another cause of lightheadedness after eating is heart diseases that disrupt the blood supply to the digestive system. Lightheadedness can be an indication of some underlying medical condition. Pregnancy is another common cause of lightheadedness or fatigue after eating.

Are You on Pills: Certain medications can cause lightheadedness after eating. Those on hypertension or heart medications, diuretics, antidepressants and anti anxiety medicines might experience a feeling of lightheadedness after eating. Those on steroids also complain of lightheadedness after eating. This is because these medications lead to a fluctuation in blood pressure, causing lightheadedness. Lightheadedness after eating is observed in patients of high blood pressure and diabetes. Avoiding overindulgence in food and taking rest after meals can help these patients in dealing with lightheadedness.

Are You Stressed: It's not just physical ailments that can make you feel lighteaded. Even a disturbed mind can lead to a feeling of lightheadedness after eating. There are different ways in which our body reacts to anxiety and stress. Stress either leads to an accelerated heart rate, making a person feel uncomfortable or leads to a sudden drop in the heart rate, resulting in fainting. A drop in the heart rate or a fall in blood pressure makes an individual feel lightheaded or dizzy. On eating, blood supply to the stomach increases in order to aid the process of digestion, which results in a decreased blood supply to the head. Reduced blood supply to an already stressed head makes it feel light. How can you keep away from this type of lightheadedness after eating? All you can do is to not let stress get into your 'head'; at least while eating.

This was an overview of what causes lightheadedness after eating and how to deal with it. Take good care of your health and equip yourself to fight lightheadedness. Don't let your head feel light after eating, when your heart is eager to experience the joy of having fulfilled its craving for food.