Dizziness | What you should know about Dizziness

Dizziness can occur to anyone at anytime, creating the reasons while you should know somethings about it. Dizziness is described in different ways among people. It can be mistaken for vertigo. It is sometimes called giddiness. Vertigo occurs when you have a spinning sensation of your environment.  Vertigo is highly related to the diseases of the inner ear. It can occur in case of ear infections.

Causes of Dizziness

• There are different causes of dizziness 

• Blood pressure problem
• Stroke
• Migraines and headaches
• Pregnancy
• Heart diseases like heart attack, arrhythmia, and high blood pressure
• Some medications like pain killers, tranquilizers, sedatives, diuretics and antibiotics
• Bleeding disorders like hemorrhage and internal bleeding; which might occur after an accident.
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Hormonal imbalance
• Low blood oxygen when you expose yourself to smokes and some other chemical agents.
• Hypoglycemia
• Depression
• Brain diseases like headache, tumors, stroke, dementia, fainting, low blood supply or loss of blood supply to the brain which can result in syncope.
• Aging can cause dizziness due to menopause in women, dementia, tinnitus (ringing ear), arteriosclerosis which is hardening of arteries, poor sight, reduces activity ability and weakness.
• Neuropathy which is a progressive nerve dysfunction which is associated with some diseases like diabetes mellitus
• Balance disorder like in motion sickness, and vertigo.
• Dehydration
• Sometimes, there might be unknown cause of dizziness.

Signs and Symptoms of Dizziness

Different people experience different signs and symptoms when they feel dizzy. These include Lightheadedness, faint feeling, weakness, tiredness, nausea and confusion.  Sometimes dizziness can make you feel like you are dying when it is at critical stage. You feel like you will fall when you try to stand up from sitting position.

Dizziness needs an urgent medical intervention when it is associated with the following symptoms;

Fainting, slurred speech, fever,  loss of consciousness, pale skin, facial droop, chest pain, breath shortness, difficulty in walking straight, and weakness at one side of the body.

Treatment of Dizziness

Treatment commonly given to dizziness at home includes;

Drinking of plenty water, it helps you stay hydrated.

Have plenty rest and sleep

Take blood tonic

Lay down on the bed or flat surface

Some treatments commonly given to dizziness by medical practitioners 

Before a doctor will give you some treatment on dizziness, you have to undergo some test like CT scan, electrocardiogram (ECG), urinalysis, blood test and malaria parasite test. You might not have to go through test if you have a medical history related to the condition.

In cases whereby a medical condition is attached to the cause of the dizziness, blood transfusion, or surgery can be done. The medical condition can be treated with this includes internal bleeding, hemorrhage, heart attack or stroke

In case of dehydration, intravenous fluid can be administered.

When dizziness is caused by fever or infection, medications can be given

When spinning is associated with dizziness, some medications like diazepam, meclizine and ativan can be given. Avoid self medication. Ensure doctor prescribe drugs for you before taking it.

You need to see your doctor when you have dizziness because it might be a sign of a diseased condition. If you have somebody that’s feeling dizzy around, you can clear the home to avoid home accident as the person may fall and injure him or herself.

Pregnancy and Dizziness 

 

Dizziness is commonly seen in pregnant women. This dizziness in pregnancy is mainly associated with hormonal changes. There is rising hormone levels that direct more blood to the baby as the blood vessels dilates. Another cause of dizziness n pregnancy is low blood pressure, low blood sugar and metabolic changes in the body.

Dizziness is not restricted to a particular pregnancy trimester, it can occur in the first, second or third trimester. But it is commonly seen in the first trimester of pregnancy. At second trimester, the uterus gets more expanded and it might compress the blood vessels and cause dizziness. At third trimester, when you lie down, the baby is now big and might compress the blood vessels returning blood to the heart thereby causing dizziness.

Ensure you see your doctor when you experience frequent dizziness in pregnancy. When dizziness is accompanied with pain, vaginal bleeding, headaches, tummy pain, and blurred vision, see your doctor as soon as possible.