The feeling of being lightheaded or unbalanced is also known as dizziness. Dizziness affects your sensory organs, specifically the ears and the eyes. In some cases, it can lead to fainting, but this is not always the outcome.
Dizziness is not a disease, but it is a common symptom. It is a symptom of standing up too quickly as well as several health conditions. Dizziness is common and is not serious when it happens on occasion. Repeated dizziness could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Causes of Dizziness
Common causes of temporary dizziness include alcohol consumption, not eating enough, and medications. You can also experience dizziness when you have an inner ear problem, which is the area that regulates balance.
Ear infections commonly cause dizziness until they are cleared up with medications. Excessive exercise and extreme physical exertion can also cause temporary dizziness or lightheadedness. Ongoing or constant dizziness could be caused by an underlying health condition that needs attention.
Vertigo is caused by a problem with the way balance in the inner ear works. Vertigo causes dizziness, specifically benign positional vertigo (BPV). This occurs when you change positions quickly, such as standing up too fast or turning your ear to quickly.
Vertigo can also be caused by Meniere’s disease, which is when fluid accumulates in your ears, causing hearing loss and tinnitus as well as a chronic or acute inner ear infection.
Conditions Associated With Dizziness
While dizziness can be caused by a number of non-serious factors, there are additional reasons for dizziness, such as underlying health conditions that need attention and treatment.
♦ Migraine: Migraines can cause vertigo and is especially common in those who experience motion sickness. The dizziness associated with migraines is shorter than a typical aura and can occur before or after the onset of the head pain.
♦ Heart Muscle Disease (Cardiomyopathy): This is a progressive disease of the heart muscle that weakens the heart, making it unable to pump blood efficiently. With blood flow reduced, oxygen does not get to the brain as needed, which can cause you to feel faint and dizzy.
♦ Anemia: Anemia is marked by a lack of healthy red blood cells. Since these cells are responsible for carrying oxygen through the body, a lack can result in less oxygen getting to the brain. Tiredness and dizziness are therefore common symptoms of anemia.
♦ Meniere ’s disease: This disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause vertigo and dizziness. It is a chronic condition, but it can be treated with medications to reduce symptoms.
♦ Hypoglycemia: More commonly known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is common among people with diabetes. Because your brain needs glucose to function properly, low levels can cause you to feel faint and dizzy. Usually correcting blood sugar levels will eliminate the dizziness.
♦ Heat Stroke: Heat stroke or heat exhaustion occurs when you sweat excessively in a hot environment. As a result, your blood volume becomes reduced, including blood flow to the brain, and you can experience dizziness. Rehydrating and resting is the best way to boost blood volume and relieve the dizzy sensation.
♦ Anxiety: Anxiety causes you to hyperventilate as a result of feeling panicked. It also causes changes in your blood pressure. The changes in blood pressure and breathing patterns can result in reduced oxygen flow to the brain, which can cause lightheadedness.
♦ Dehydration: Without adequate levels of water in your body, your blood volume is reduced. This means blood flow and oxygen levels are also reduced, and one result will be a sensation of dizziness.
In rare cases, stroke, MS, malignant tumors, or brain disorders can cause dizziness, so it is not a symptom that should be ignored if it becomes chronic and persistent.
Symptoms of Dizziness
There are several sensations you feel when you feel dizzy and lightheaded.
♦ A false sense of spinning
♦ Unsteadiness
♦ Loss of balance
♦ Feeling faint
♦ Sensation of floating
Depending on the cause, you may also feel nausea in conjunction with your dizziness. When symptoms last for an extended period of time, you need to seek medical attention.
If you experience sudden dizziness, along with any of the symptoms below, seek immediate medical help.
♦ A neck ache
♦ A head injury
♦ High fever
♦ Hearing loss
♦ Difficulty speaking
♦ Numbness or tingling sensation
♦ Chest pain
♦ Drooping of the eye or mouth
♦ Ongoing vomiting
Treatments for Dizziness
The treatments for dizziness will depend on the underlying cause. In most cases, home remedies and medical treatments can help relieve dizziness.
♦ Inner ear infections are typically treated with medications such as antibiotics.
♦ Meniere’s disease is treated with injections, a low-salt diet, and in some cases, ear surgery.
♦ Migraines are treated with medications that reduce pain and motion sensitivity.
♦ Anxiety is treated with anxiety-reducing medications and anti-depressants.
Natural Remedies for Dizziness
Medications are used for treating the underlying conditions that cause dizziness, but there are also things you can do at home to help resolve a bout of dizziness when it occurs.
♦ Sit or lie down the moment you feel dizzy, and stay there until it passes.
♦ Use handrails when going up or downstairs, or if you experience dizzy spells often, use a cane or walker when you need to get around.
♦ Avoid switching positions quickly or moving your head too fast.
♦ Avoid substances that trigger or worsen dizziness such as alcohol and caffeine.
♦ Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day, as water is important for maintaining healthy blood volume and pressure.
♦ Eat a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
♦ Start including activities in your life that improve balance, such as Tai Chi and yoga.
Natural Treatment for Dizziness
In addition to these remedies, there are natural ingredients you can add to your diet to reduce the risk of dizziness. There are a number of causes for dizziness, but these ingredients promote overall health, which works to reduce the risk of underlying conditions that can lead to dizziness. Many causes of dizziness are linked to reduced blood flow. More specifically, the poor distribution of oxygen that results from impaired blood flow can cause dizziness.
An underlying condition may be the cause, but when you promote optimal blood vessel health and circulation, you can minimize instances of dizziness. Capsicum extract is a proven and natural way to promote healthy circulation. This extract stimulates blood vessel dilation, which allows nutrients and oxygen to get to where they are needed.
Dizziness can also be linked to blood pressure, specifically the fact that high blood pressure can cause a stroke. Sudden cases of unexplained dizziness can indicate a stroke, and hypertension is a leading cause of this serious and life-threatening condition.
Prevent the risk of a stroke by regulating blood pressure with these natural and clinically proven ingredients:
♦ Red yeast rice
♦ Pine bark extract
♦ Berberine bark extract
When to See Your Doctor
Most cases of dizziness are temporary and can be cleared up easily. Even when there is an underlying condition, treating this will reduce dizziness. You also need to remember to be safe if you ever feel dizzy and avoid driving or operating machinery.
In rare cases, dizziness is a symptom of something more serious, so it should never be ignored. Should you experience dizziness or feeling faint for long periods of time, you need to bring this to your doctor’s attention.
