Dizziness is the feeling of lightheadedness, wooziness, or unsteadiness. Dizziness can cause fainting because it affects the sensory organs like ears and eyes. Dizziness is, most of the time, a symptom of a health condition. While dizziness is often associated with vertigo, the two differ. Vertigo creates a feeling that you are spinning or your surroundings while true dizziness is feeling light-headed or faint. Dizziness includes other symptoms like loss of balance and feeling of floating. Most of the time, feeling light-headed and dizzy does not indicate a severe condition. However, if someone experiences recurring and prolonged dizziness episodes, it might mean that they need medical intervention. This article explores the common cause of dizziness.
1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
BPPVis a type of vertigo that induces a false feeling of spinning. It provokes sudden dizziness when you turn your head on certain positions. BPPV is triggered by various movements like getting up from the bed and bending over. The most common cause of BPPV is a clump of naturally-occurring bits of calcium in your ears. These tiny bits mess up your inner ear, the part of your ear that manages your body’s balance. Many health conditions may cause this occurrence, such as head injury and other internal ear disorders.
2. Infection
An infection may inflame the nerves in your ears. Infections like vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis can be your cause of dizziness. Vestibular neuritis is known as an infection of the vestibular nerve. Labyrinthitis, on the other hand, is an inner ear infection that involves the cochlear nerve and vestibular nerve. These two conditions are caused by a virus and can induce vertigo. Ear infections may cause ringing (tinnitus) and difficulty in hearing. Sudden dizziness usually occurs as well as nausea, fever, and ear pain. Symptoms of the infection can last for several weeks. If bacteria cause it, it can be treated with antibiotics.
3. Meniere’s disease
This ear disorder is caused by an excessive amount of fluid (endolymph) in the inner ear. Experts are still blinded by the cause of the abnormal fluid amount. Meniere’s disease is marked by sudden dizziness, intense and long-lasting vertigo, hearing loss, nausea, and tinnitus. This disease also causes a feeling of fullness in the ear. Meniere’s disease typically affects only one ear. It is treated by taking medicine and changing one’s diet.
4. Circulation Problems
Not getting a steady supply of blood to the brain can make you feel light-headed and dizzy. It usually happens when you have problems with your blood flow if your heart fails to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to your brain. Low blood flow can be triggered by clogged arteries, irregular heartbeat, blood clots, and heart failure. A sudden movement like standing can induce an intense fall in blood pressure, especially among older people, called orthostatic hypotension. When this occurs, your systolic blood pressure can dramatically drop, which results in lightheadedness or faintness. Health conditions that cause poor blood circulation such as heart arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, transient ischemic attack, and heart attack could cause dizziness.
5. Medications
Certain medicines may induce dizziness as a side effect. Medications for lowering blood pressure may lower the blood pressure too much. It may cause faintness and dizziness. Drugs that can cause dizziness include antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, sedatives, tranquilizers, blood pressure medicine, and antibiotics.
6. Blood sugar
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar level is a condition that commonly happens in people with diabetes who use insulin. Hypoglycemia can cause sudden dizziness, hunger, sweating, shaking, and anxiety. People with diabetes often monitor their blood sugar levels. They can feel light-headed if it drops too low. Rarely, people without diabetes also experience low blood sugar problems. Eating or drinking sugary foods such as juice or candy can be a temporary solution.
7. Dehydration
Lack of enough fluids, especially in hot weather, can make you feel dizzy. Symptoms of dehydration include thirstiness, dark urine, and tiredness. Sweating and peeing are normal bodily functions that can reduce the body’s fluids. It is essential to stay hydrated to replace the lost liquids in the body. Not getting enough fluid can cause the blood pressure to drop, and the brain to not get enough oxygen supply. These induce dizziness.
