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Dizziness is typically resolved by treating the underlying medical condition and by following these simple steps.
Dizziness is an impairment of spatial orientation that resolves by treating the underlying medical condition.
Following these simple steps can help relieve dizziness:
- Lie down immediately or hold your head between your legs
- Close your eyes until you feel better
- Be careful while moving and getting up from bed; get up slowly
- Avoid risky things such as driving, ladder climbing, using heavy machinery, or lifting weights
- Take adequate rest
- Avoid rapid movements of neck and head
- Avoid prolonged standing
- Elevate the feet (Trendelenburg position)
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated
- Avoid or limit caffeine intake
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco consumption
- Get enough sleep
- Include certain things in diet:
- Therapies such as:
- Epley maneuver (a home-based series of head exercises to relieve vertigo)
- Acupuncture
- Physical therapy
- Vestibular rehabilitation (an exercise-based treatment program for vestibular disorders)
What is dizziness?
Dizziness is a feeling or sensation of:
- Being unsteady
- Unbalanced
- Spinning
- Altered sense of motion
- Fainting or falling
- Disoriented
- Heaviness
Dizziness is often referred to different sensations associated with balance:
- Lightheadedness: A feeling of fainting or falling that improves by lying down, and if it worsens, it can lead to a fainting spell called syncope.
- Vertigo: A feeling of movement, either themselves or the surroundings around, often associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, and visual disturbances.
Causes of dizziness
Dizziness is a common experience and could be a sign of multiple diseases such as:
- Circulatory problems:
- Orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure due to rapidly sitting or standing up from lying position). It may be caused due to medications or autonomic dysfunction.
- Transient ischemic attack (disruption of blood supply to the brain or poor blood circulation)
- Vasovagal syncope
- Ear infections:
- Viral or bacterial ear infections
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (spinning sensation caused by movement of the head or a change in position)
- Meniere’s syndrome (inner ear infection characterized by dizziness, ringing in the ear, nausea, and vomiting)
- Vestibular neuritis
- Labyrinthitis
- Cholesteatoma
- Acoustic neuroma
- Cardiovascular system:
- Brain diseases:
- Endocrine diseases:
- Diabetes
- Hypoglycemia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Addison’s disease
- Other causes:
- Anxiety disorders and panic attacks (worsens due to hyperventilation)
- Fever
- Stress
- Motion sickness
- Extremely hot weather
- Dehydration (volume loss causes drop in blood pressure and compromised blood supply to the brain)
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Alcohol addiction
- Head injuries
- Medications such as antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, tranquilizers, and sedatives
- Vision defects
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (characterized by increased heart rate, dizziness, fatigue, and palpitations)
Risk factors for dizziness
Although dizziness is not a disease, it is a sign of other medical issues; in a few cases, it can lead to severe injury due to falls.
The odds of having bouts of dizziness are increased in the following conditions:
- As the age increases, the risk for feeling dizzy is higher
- A possible side effect of medications taken for other health issues
- Previous history of having dizzy spells
How is dizziness diagnosed?
After analyzing the history and a thorough physical examination (neurological examination), an audiologist will perform a vestibular and balance assessment to determine the exact cause of dizziness.
- Blood tests:
- Complete blood count
- Blood sugar
- Electrolytes
- Thyroid function test
- X-rays: Cervical spine X-rays
- Autonomic function tests: Heart rate variability and blood pressure measurements in sitting and standing position
- Imaging tests: Computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging
When to see a doctor for dizziness
Seek medical attention if dizziness is severe, constant, lasting longer, or worsening and if you have additional symptoms such as:
- Unexplained fainting episodes
- Tinnitus or hearing loss
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Severe headache
- High-grade fever
- Abnormal pulse rate
- Stiff neck
- Other neurological problems such as facial or leg weakness and facial drooping
- Difficulty in talking or slurred speech
- Double or blurred vision
- Difficulty in swallowing
Dizziness can be a temporary symptom and get better without any treatment or can be treated with lifestyle modifications, therapies, and medications (antianxiety and anticholinergic drugs).