Have you ever ridden a roller coaster and felt your blood rush to your head? Some people feel that same sensation even when they’re not twisting and turning — just lying down. Members of MyLupusTeam have described this feeling as a head rush and have wondered why it happens.

“I’ll be lying there reading, and it feels like all the blood is rushing to my head,” one member shared. “I hear my pulse in my ears and feel pressure in my head — then it’s just gone. Happens two or three times a day.”

If you’ve ever felt a pounding or pulsing feeling in your head when lying down, you’re not imagining it. Changing positions can affect blood flow and pressure around your head. For some people, this feeling is brief and harmless. For others, it may be a sign of a health issue.

Understanding what might be causing this feeling can help you decide whether to talk to your doctor about it. In this article, we’ll look at seven possible causes of the feeling of blood rushing to your head.

What Does It Mean When You Feel Blood Rushing Through Your Head?

Everyone experiences the sensation of blood rushing to the head a little differently. For some, it may feel like a pulsing “whoosh” that matches their heartbeat. For others, it might feel like a wave of pressure or lightheadedness. These symptoms can have several possible causes. Understanding what you’re feeling is the first step in figuring out why it’s happening.

Pulsatile Tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus is a rare symptom that can cause you to hear a soft or loud “whooshing” sound in rhythm with your heartbeat. You may notice it more at night when it’s quiet. It’s often caused by conditions that affect your veins and arteries (vascular disease). Some of these conditions may be linked to lupus, but not always.

Orthostatic Hypotension

That rush of feeling in your head could also come from a sudden drop in blood pressure. This is sometimes called orthostatic hypotension, or postural hypotension. This type of “head rush” can cause lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when you stand up too quickly. It may feel like a quick wave of pressure or movement in your head. It can happen to anyone, but it’s more common in people with certain long-term health conditions or who take medications that affect blood pressure — like some people with lupus.

Why Does Your Head Pound When You Lie Down?

There are a few reasons why you might feel a pounding or rush in your head when lying down.

1. Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis happens when your arteries get hard or narrow from plaque buildup. This makes blood flow more forceful or “turbulent,” especially in arteries near your ears or brain. Instead of flowing smoothly, the blood might make a whooshing or pounding sound that feels like a throbbing in your head.

People with lupus are more likely to get atherosclerosis at a younger age because long-term inflammation from lupus can damage blood vessels over time. That’s why it’s important to tell your doctor if you notice symptoms like head throbbing or a pulsing noise in your ears. These sensations could be signs of blood vessel changes that need medical attention. Hydroxychloroquine — a common lupus treatment — may help lower your risk of developing atherosclerosis.

2. Dehydration

A headache is often a symptom of dehydration. Headaches can also cause a head-rush feeling. These headaches can feel steady or throbbing and might get worse when you move or lie down quickly. Dehydration can also make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, which might feel like a head rush.

If you’re dehydrated, sip water slowly to avoid feeling sick to your stomach. If water and rest don’t help, reach out to your doctor. They can help figure out what might be causing your headache and suggest treatment.

Also, if you have lupus and think you may be dehydrated, seek medical advice from your rheumatologist before drinking a lot of water. Lupus-related kidney disease — called lupus nephritis — can cause excess fluid to build up in your body. In this case, drinking too much water could be life-threatening. Your rheumatologist can help you manage dehydration safely, taking into account all your other medical conditions, medications, diet, physical activity level, and lifestyle.

3. Anemia

Anemia happens when your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. To make up for this, your heart works harder and pumps faster to push more blood through your body. This extra blood flow can cause a throbbing or pulsing feeling, often in time with your heartbeat.

Anemia is common in people with lupus because of problems with bone marrow, kidney issues, or side effects from certain medications. If you feel more tired than usual, are dizzy, or notice a rushing sound in your head, let your doctor know. Treating anemia can help improve your energy levels but may also ease uncomfortable symptoms like head throbbing or pulsatile tinnitus.

4. Migraine Headache

Although migraine headaches usually affect one side of the head, the pain can spread to your whole head, neck, and face. Like dehydration headaches, migraine headaches can cause throbbing and pounding that may feel like a rush of blood. However, lying down doesn’t always trigger migraine symptoms. For some people with lupus, migraine can be a part of the disease itself.

Triggers for migraine headaches include:

• Lack of sleep
• Alcohol consumption
• Skipped or delayed meals
• Bright lights
• Loud noises (especially if they last a long time)
• Dehydration

Migraine headaches often come with sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. Some migraine headaches are also linked to the nervous system. For example, some people experience an aura — a nervous system symptom that, like visual changes, warns that a migraine headache is about to start.

If you’ve started having new migraine symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider. Migraine treatment may include prescription medications and changes to your diet and daily routine.

5. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a rare condition that causes fluid to build up around the spinal cord, leading to increased pressure in the brain. The most common symptom is a severe, pulsing headache that may feel worse when waking up or lying down — sometimes triggering a head rush sensation.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension can also lead to pulsatile tinnitus, which leads to a thumping or whooshing sound (usually on one side) caused by blood pressure changes. The combination of pulsatile tinnitus and pressure from headaches may feel like all the blood is rushing to your head when you lie down.

Headache is the most common symptom, although not everybody with idiopathic intracranial hypertension has headaches. These headaches are often worse when waking up or lying down.

Increased pressure on the nerves of the eye can cause double vision, another important symptom of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Early treatment can help improve symptoms and prevent vision loss. If you are experiencing symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, seek medical care right away.

6. High Blood Pressure

Headache and pulsatile tinnitus can also be caused by high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is defined as a reading of at least 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) over 80 mm Hg (written as 130/80) or higher. Half of people with lupus have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure usually doesn’t cause symptoms. However, in some cases, severe hypertension can trigger headaches and pulsatile tinnitus — a ringing, thumping, or whooshing sound in sync with your pulse.

If you notice this sensation when lying down, it could be from the combined effects of a throbbing headache and pulsatile tinnitus, making it feel like blood is rushing to your head.

7. Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis — age-related wear and tear affecting the neck — is more common in people with lupus than in the generous population. When changes in the cervical spine become severe, they can cause symptoms like migraine headaches, back pain, and dizziness.

Check In With Your Doctor

If you often feel a rush of blood to your head when lying down — especially if it comes with dizziness, throbbing pain, or a pulsing sound in your ears — it’s worth bringing it up with your doctor. These sensations could be caused by dehydration, anemia, high blood pressure, or other underlying causes that may be more common in people with lupus.

Try to track when the symptoms happen, how long they last, and any changes in your daily routine. Sharing this information with your doctor can help them identify the cause and recommend the right treatment or lifestyle changes to help you feel better.

Connect With Others Who Understand

On MyLupusTeam, the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones, people come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.

Do you ever feel like blood rushes to your head when you lie down? Do you wonder if other unusual symptoms might be related to lupus? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.