Dizziness

Dizziness is the most common complaint that every one of us has had experienced. What does dizziness actually mean? This term is used to describe different things. For example, some of us say that “it’s so dizzy today,” this refers to either being light-headed, or lack of balance while walking, or unsteadiness, or feeling of fainting. We also use the word “dizzy” when we are emotional or feeling confused.

Dizziness has no particular medical meaning. Four different conditions are referred as the types of dizziness:

  • Vertigo: you may feel that you are in motion when there is no motion. It would be like the environment around you is spinning round and round.
  • Lightheadedness: this is also called as syncope. If you feel like fainting, then it is said to be lightheadedness. This happens when you stand up quickly or when you take up deep breaths.
  • Disequilibrium: you may feel unsteady on your feet while walking and you may also feel like falling if you have disequilibrium.
  • Anxiety: some people may use the word “dizzy” if they are panic, depressed, or anxious.

There are many causes that make you feel dizzy, which include:

  • Infection: In case if you have any infections such as ear infection, or common cold or diarrhea. These conditions can cause temporary vertigo.
  • Meniere’s disease: this is characterized by episodes of long-lasting severe vertigo. Other symptoms of this condition may include ringing in ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, or fullness in the ears.
  • Dandy’s syndrome: in this condition, you may feel that everything is jumping up and down. This happens when you take any antibiotic that is toxic for your ear. However, it may get set over time.
  • Tumors or stroke: these conditions can also trigger the state of dizziness, but rarely.
  • Parkinson’s disease: this disorder can also make you stoop forward due to dizziness.
  • Low blood sugar levels: if you are diabetic, you may feel dizzy due to the low sugar levels in the blood.
  • Dehydration: you may feel dizzy if you have heat exhaustion due to fever, diarrhea, etc.,
  • Migraine: you may feel dizzy before and after you have an episode of a headache.

Often dizziness symptoms are accompanied by:

  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Feeling off balance
  • Chest tightness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Weakness or tiredness

Your doctor would evaluate and treat the underlying serious cause of dizziness. Your doctor may ask you regarding the history of dizziness and the type of dizziness that you are experiencing. Depending on your health history, your doctor would order some diagnostic tests.

The tests may include:

  • CT scan
  • Blood tests
  • Eye examination
  • Dox-Hallpike test
  • Cardiac stress test
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Bleeding and clotting time

The medical treatment for dizziness is purely based on the underlying cause or disease.

Dizziness may be a symptom of something dangerous and must always be discussed with the doctor. It can also be drug-induced, so if you discuss with your doctor, he or she may change the medication that you are using for any other underlying condition.

Here are some of the home remedies that work well for you if you are dizzy:

  • Avoid stress and anxiety; this can help you keep dizziness at its Bay
  • You must take plenty of fluids and food and ample amount of rest.
  • You must not stand up suddenly, and must not change the positions suddenly.
  • You must make sure that there are no rugs or carpeting that may make you fall if you are dizzy

Treatment varies depending upon the cause. Some of the common treatments for conditions that cause dizziness include:

  • If heart attack or stroke is the cause of your dizziness, then an emergency blood transfusion or surgery would be beneficial
  • If dehydration is the cause of your dizziness, then the intravenous fluid administration can be useful.
  • If the underlying cause for dizziness is shortness of breath, then oxygen supply would correct the dizziness.

Medications such as benzodiazepines are used to control fainting or spinning around feeling.