Dizziness

Dizziness Overview

Dizziness is the feeling of being disoriented, lightheaded, woozy, or having a a sense of unsteadiness. Dizziness is an impairment of spatial orientation. It affects the sensory organs, specifically the eyes and ears, so it can sometimes cause fainting. Dizziness can be classified into four main types: vertigo, disequilibrium, pre-syncope, or lightheadedness. Dizziness isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of various disorders. A dizzy spell doesn’t always indicate a life-threatening condition, but it can be unnerving. Dizziness can be associated with more serious conditions, such as a stroke or cardiovascular problems.

Dizziness is a feeling of lightheadedness, faintness or being close to passing out. It affects the sense of balance and can increase the risk of falling. 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.

Vertigo and disequilibrium may cause a feeling of dizziness, but those two terms describe different symptoms. Vertigo is characterized by a spinning sensation, like the room is moving. It may also feel like motion sickness or as if you’re leaning to one side. Disequilibrium is a loss of balance or equilibrium. 

Dizziness may be described by many different terms. Common descriptions include words such as lightheaded, floating, woozy, giddy, confused, helpless or fuzzy. Vertigo disequilibrium and pre-syncope may also be referred to as dizziness. Dizziness is sometimes a symptom of a balance disorder.

Dizziness can occur when while moving, standing still or lying down. When you’re dizzy, you may feel:

• Faint
• Lightheaded
• Nausea
• Unsteady
• Woozy

Causes of Dizziness

A number of conditions can cause dizziness because balance involves several parts of the body. The brain gets input about movement and your body’s position from:

• Inner Ear
• Eyes
• Muscles
• Joints
• Skin

Inner ear disorders are frequently the cause of feeling dizzy. The most common causes include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s syndrome and ear infections.

Common causes of dizziness include a migraine, medications, and alcohol. It can also be caused by a problem in the inner ear, where balance is regulated. Other common cause of lightheadedness is orthostatic hypotension which is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from sitting on lying down. 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.

Dizziness is often a result of vertigo as well. The most common cause of vertigo and vertigo-related dizziness is benign positional vertigo (BPV). This causes short-term dizziness when someone changes positions quickly, such as sitting up in bed after lying down.

Dizziness and vertigo can also be triggered by Meniere’s disease. This causes fluid to build up in the ear with associated ear fullness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Another possible cause for dizziness and vertigo is an acoustic neuroma. This is a noncancerous tumor that forms on the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain.

Some other possible causes of dizziness include:

• Sudden drop in blood pressure(hypotension)
• Heart Muscle disease
• Decrease in blood volume
• Anxiety Disorders
• Anemia (low iron)
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Ear Infections
• Dehydration
• Heat Stroke
• Excessive Exercise
• Motion Sickness

In rare cases, dizziness could be caused by  multiple sclerosis disease, a stroke, a malignant tumor, or another brain disorders.

Signs and Symptoms of Dizziness

Treatment for vertigo and dizziness varies widely depending on the underlying cause. In most cases, home remedies and medical treatments can control the cause of dizziness. For example:

• Inner-ear issues may be managed with medications and at-home exercises that can help control balance.
• BPV can be resolved with maneuvers that can help alleviate symptoms. Surgery is an option for patients whose BPV is not otherwise controlled.
• Meniere’s disease is treated with a healthful low-salt diet, occasional injections, or ear surgery.
• Migraines are treated with medications and lifestyle changes, such as learning to identify and avoid migraine triggers.
• Medication and anxiety-reducing techniques can help with anxiety disorders.
• Drinking plenty of fluids can help when dizziness is caused by excessive exercise, heat, or dehydration.

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