A shower should be rejuvenating. Dizziness and nausea can make it anything but. It's not as strange or worrying as you would assume. Dennis Finkielstein, MD, associate chair of cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, says standing in warm, humid air can make individuals weak in the knees.
Here's why you get dizzy and queasy in the shower and how to treat it. If you have dizziness, nausea, one-sided weakness, problems speaking, fainting, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, blurred vision, confusion, disorientation, or seizures, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency facility.
1. Overheating Steamy showers raise your body temperature. Your blood vessels dilate and heart rate slows to regulate your temperature. Dr. Finkielstein believes this can lower blood pressure, making you dizzy or faint.
2. You Stand Too Long Standing for long periods, especially in warm weather, can cause vasovagal syncope, a harmless dip in heart rate and blood pressure caused by stress.
Dr. Finkielstein says prolonged standing pools blood in your legs and feet, momentarily reducing brain blood supply. That may induce dizziness, nausea, or tunnel vision.
3. Low Blood Sugar Low blood sugar, or glucose, can occur anywhere. You may feel weak, dizzy, sweating, shaking, and racing heart. Low blood sugar sensations are more prevalent in diabetics (types 1 and 2). However, the issue can afflict anyone, especially after several hours without eating.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, low blood sugar can also occur a few hours after eating a meal with a lot of refined carbohydrates, like white spaghetti or bread, which can raise and drop your blood sugar levels.
When to See a Doctor Occasionally feeling a little dizzy and nauseous in the shower probably isn't cause for concern. But because sudden dizziness or lightheadedness can have a number of possible causes, you shouldn't ignore it if your symptoms are severe.
Dr. Finkielstein advises calling your doctor if dizziness causes fainting, weakness on one side, or speech problems. Stroke symptoms may occur. Diazziness with chest discomfort or shortness of breath requires rapid medical intervention.