What causes dizziness? Scroll down to find out more about chronic dizziness causes, symptoms and treatment options.
The terms dizziness, syncope, vertigo and lightheadedness are all used to refer to the sensations that make people feel that they are about to faint. Vertigo is the sensation when the person feels that everything around him/her is spinning, though there is no actual movement. Lightheadedness is another sensation that may make one feel that he/she is about to faint.
Though most people would have experienced such sensations at some point of time in their lives, frequent dizzy spells are indicators of poor health and must never be taken casually. Chronic dizziness could be a symptom of another medical condition, and thus, a thorough medical checkup would be required for determining the real cause. Here’s some information on the precipitating factors for dizzy spells.
Causes
Dizziness is certainly a very annoying and discomforting condition and must therefore, be treated at the earliest. Only once the doctors are able to identify the underlying cause, can they tell you how to deal with it. Given below are some of the contributory factors for this condition.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood on the walls of the blood vessels. Low blood pressure usually occurs when the heart’s ability to pump blood gets affected. When the amount of blood pumped is lesser, the pressure would naturally be lower than normal. Weak heart muscle, dehydration, inflammation of pericardium or use of certain drugs can cause low blood pressure. If the heart is unable to send sufficient amounts of oxygenated blood to the brain, it may not be able to work properly and this could cause various problems.
Syncope or sensation of dizziness while standing up, is usually a result of low blood pressure. When one gets up after sitting or lying down for a long period of time, a heart that is weakened by ailments may not be able to quickly send blood to the brain and one may feel dizzy. Those who suffer from low blood pressure are therefore, more susceptible to this condition.
Anxiety Disorders
Dizzy spells could also be attributed to psychogenic factors. Rapid shallow breathing or irregular heartbeats during the state of heightened anxiety or a panic attack can also cause dizziness. Anxiety disorders, migraine, psychological or neurological illnesses could also be the contributory factors.
Inner Ear Problems
The ear not only facilitates hearing, it also helps in maintaining equilibrium of the body. Vertigo or the spinning sensation is often caused by an inner ear infection. When the cochlear fluid in the inner ear gets infected, a nerve located near the cochlea sends wrong signals to the brain, which in turn, may cause one to lose balance. Pathogenic ear infections, Meniere’s disease or development of tumor in the inner ear are some of the most common causes of vertigo.
Poor Dietary Habits
Low blood sugar, which may be caused due to eating too little or skipping meals very often, could make one dizzy. One’s feet would feel unsteady and people often lose their sense of equilibrium under such circumstances. People suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia may also suffer from low blood pressure, dehydration or other psychological problems. The fear of gaining weight affects their dietary habits and may make them susceptible to dizzy spells. Anemia or other nutritional deficiencies could also be contributory factors.
Besides these aforementioned chronic dizziness causes, prolonged use of certain drugs may also be responsible for causing frequent bouts of dizzy spells. Anti-hypertension medication, antidepressants, diuretics, strong painkillers or sedatives may have dizzy spells as one of their side effects. Dizzy spells may stem from irregular blood flow, which may be caused due to heart conditions. Neurological disorders that affect the brain signals may also cause this condition.
While treating the underlying cause will certainly lower the incidence of dizzy spells, one must also make some lifestyle-related changes. Following relaxation techniques can help in reducing anxiety and calm one’s frayed nerves. This would help those who suffer from dizziness due to psychogenic factors. Following a healthy diet and increasing fluid intake will certainly make you feel healthier and make dizzy spells go away.
