Why Does the Blood Rush Into Your Head When You Are Upside Down?

vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

on May 20, 2024

Hi! Welcome back to the Kids Answers magazine blog, where we answer your big questions about God’s Word and God’s world.

Renae (age 9) asked,

“Why does the blood rush into your head when you are upside down?”

Thanks for your question, Renae!

When God created humans during the sixth day of creation week about 6,000 years ago, he designed our blood vessels (the tubes that carry blood throughout our bodies) to circulate (SER-kyeh-layt), or move, blood away from our feet so it doesn’t pool there. When we hang upside down, gravity makes the blood that is usually circulating throughout our bodies rush into our heads. Our blood vessels can’t keep the blood from pooling in our brains as well as they can with our feet.

While hanging upside down for short periods of time won’t hurt you, staying upside down for too long can be dangerous because pressure can build up in your head and eyes.

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