Lightheadedness Overview
A person can experience lightheadedness for a variety of reasons. These include hypotension, inner ear disorders, and illness.
Lightheadedness is a feeling of faintness, dizziness, or being close to passing out. It can occur alongside vertigo, which affects balance and makes a person feel as though they or their surroundings are spinning.
Although lightheadedness and vertigo can feel similar, they have different causes.
Experiencing some episodes of lightheadedness is normal. In most cases, these episodes will pass quickly, especially if a person sits or lies down to rest.
Causes of Lightheadedness
The most common cause of lightheadedness is orthostatic hypotension, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up.
Positional changes, especially quick ones, divert blood flow temporarily from the brain to the body. It is more likely that this will result in lightheadedness when a person is dehydrated or ill.
The feeling usually passes quickly, especially if a person sits down again.
Other common causes of lightheadedness include:
- Allergies
- Certain medications
- Illnesses, such as the cold or flu
- Dehydration
- Altitude sickness
- Hyperventilating
- Prolonged exposure to hot weather
- Low blood sugar
- Alcohol, tobacco, or drug use
Sometimes, lightheadedness may have a more severe underlying cause, such as:
- A Anemia
- Arrhythmia
- Blood loss
- Eating disorders
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Inner ear disorders
- Internal bleeding
- Neurological conditions, such as Parkison’s Disease and multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Conditions that affect blood flow
- Head injuries
- Shock
If lightheadedness is due to a more serious underlying condition, a person will usually experience additional symptoms.
Home Remedies for Lightheadedness
Most of the time, a person experiencing an episode of lightheadedness can manage their symptoms with home remedies and lifestyle changes.
A person who is prone to experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness should use the following tips to reduce their risk of falling or fainting:
- Avoiding caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol
- Drinking lots of water, especially in hot weather or during exercise
- Eating or drinking something sugary or with simple carbohydrates when feeling faint
- Getting up slowly after sitting or lying down
- Lying or sitting down until the episode passes
- Getting enough sleep
- Limiting salt intake
Anyone who thinks that their medication may be causing lightheadedness should speak to a doctor.
Treatment of Lightheadedness
While lightheadedness does not usually require medical care, a doctor may sometimes recommend one of the following treatments, depending on the underlying cause:
- Medications
- Psychotherapy
- Compression stockings to keep blood from pooling in the legs
- Physical therapy
Medications could include:
- Diuretics
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Antinausea medications
- Medications for migraines
If a doctor recommends physical therapy for lightheadedness, a physical therapist is likely to teach a person exercises to improve their balance.
In people who have lightheadedness due to anxiety, a doctor may recommend psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help them manage this condition. A therapist may provide other coping mechanisms to reduce a person’s stress levels.
In very rare cases, a doctor may advise surgery for repeated episodes of lightheadedness and vertigo. A surgeon will perform a labyrinthectomy, which is the removal of part or all of the inner ear.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Lightheadedness?
Most people do not need to seek medical attention for an occasional episode of lightheadedness.
However, it is essential to seek emergency medical attention for lightheadedness or dizziness when one or more of the following symptoms accompany it:
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Facial drooping or numbness
- Slurred speech
- Pain in the arm, neck, or jaw
- Sudden severe headache
- Fainting
- Numbness or inability to move the arms or legs
- Vision changes, such as double vision
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Weakness on one side of the body
A person should also see a doctor immediately if lightheadedness occurs following a head injury.
Summary
Lightheadedness is a common experience, and it usually resolves very quickly with no lasting effects. People who frequently experience lightheadedness can usually manage the symptoms at home.
In some cases, lightheadedness may occur as a result of an underlying medical cause, in which case a person is likely to experience additional symptoms.
Anyone who has concerns about lightheadedness should speak to a doctor.
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