Change in your normal heart rate or rhythm and lightheadedness

Content provided by Healthwise

Change in your normal heart rate or rhythm and lightheadedness

Your heart rate may increase with illnesses, such as a cold or flu, especially if you have a fever. Lightheadedness can be common with these illnesses because you may not be able to drink enough fluids to replace any fluid loss from fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. A sudden drop in your blood pressure when you change positions (orthostatic hypotension) also can cause lightheadedness. Home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms.

A very fast or very slow heart rate also can reduce the amount of blood flow from the heart to the brain and cause lightheadedness. This may be a sign of a heart problem and needs to be evaluated by a health professional.

If you have heart disease, heart failure, or have had a heart attack, call your health professional immediately if you have a sudden change in your usual heart rate or rhythm.

Credits

Last updated:	April 27, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer