Why Am I Dizzy? 9 Major Causes You Should Know

Dizziness is a condition in which patients feel that everything is spinning around. The development of such a feeling is associated with many reasons. These reasons can be due to external and internal factors, as well as due to medications.

Frequent dizziness can indicate numerous medical conditions, including migraines, hypoglycemia, stress, and heart disease. Thus, it is important to know about the causes of dizziness to get proper treatment.

Dizziness: Is It Worth To Panic?

Frequent dizziness can significantly affect the quality of life of patients; in addition, it can indicate a number of serious medical conditions. Still, there are a number of situations when dizziness is not a symptom of pathology, for example, after rides, a sharp change in body position, and strong physical exertion. Here are some causes of dizziness you should know:

1. Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is a feeling of nausea during the movement of transport like cars, planes, boats, and steamers. It is known that pregnancy and taking certain medications can increase a person’s sensitivity to motion sickness, and its symptoms disappear as soon as movement stops.

Dizziness is not the only symptom of motion sickness; a person also experiences nausea and vomiting. And if the ride is long, you may experience symptoms of dehydration.

2. Migraine

Migraine is a severe headache that pulsates and forms on one side of the head. The American Migraine Foundation estimates that approximately 35-50% of patients experience dizziness during a migraine attack.

The aura that precedes the onset of an attack is characterized by dizziness, loss of visual fields, photophobia, and other symptoms that vary.

3. Sharp Drop In Blood Pressure

A sudden or significant drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness and even fainting. Several reasons can provoke this condition:

  • Dehydration
  • A decrease in the volume of circulating blood with bleeding
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Pregnancy
  • Taking certain medications or overdosing them

Thus, it is necessary to keep a Blood pressure measuring machine at home to monitor drastic changes. By consulting with your doctor, you can also take medication to treat this problem.

4. Alcohol Abuse

A person experiences dizziness right after consumption of alcohol and even when trying to withdraw from alcohol addiction. According to research, alcohol limits the flow of blood to the brain, causing dizziness. Those who abuse alcohol stay in a constant state of dizziness, and only after giving up alcohol they can restore their health.

However, many people do not think of getting alcohol treatment because of its high cost. Considering this, the government established several state-funded alcohol and drug rehabs to help those who want to fight addiction but have no insurance. If you also want to treat your addiction, get help from such a rehab.

5. Heart Diseases

Heart disease is another cause of dizziness. Atherosclerosis, heart failure stroke, heart attack are just some of the conditions, one of the characteristic symptoms of which will be dizziness. Heart diseases are accompanied by a number of other symptoms that cannot be ignored:

  • Arrhythmia
  • Breathing disorder
  • Tightness, pain and discomfort in the chest
  • Cough
  • Increased fatigue and decreased performance
  • Nausea

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels have a wide range of symptoms that requires special attention. Statistics show that it is heart disease that is one of the most common causes of death worldwide.

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6. Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is one of the reasons for the development of anemia, in which tissues suffer from hypoxia and serious complications form. Weakness, dizziness, and rapid breathing are classic symptoms. The diagnosis is made through laboratory blood tests.

The tactics of treatment may be different for different individuals. Some patients only need to correct their nutrition, take food supplements, while in severe cases; a patient may require a blood transfusion.

7. Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia is a decrease in blood sugar levels below a certain level. It may occur due to fasting, medication, and overdose. Most often, this condition is common in patients with diabetes. Other reasons include:

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Overdose of insulin and other medications that help control blood sugar levels
  • Hormonal imbalance

Symptoms of hypoglycemia can vary and depend on a number of factors. The most common ones include:

  • Dizziness
  • Imbalance
  • Increased fatigue
  • Pronounced hunger
  • Headache
  • Difficulty concentrating

8. Stress

Long-term or chronic stress is the cause of many problems, for example, the development of depression, long-term anxiety, heart disease, and even a decrease in immune defenses. During times of stress, the body releases a number of hormones that affect the respiratory as well as the cardiovascular system, which causes the corresponding symptoms.

Due to the narrowing of the blood vessels, heartbeats can become more frequent, breathing changes, which can cause dizziness. Severe stress also has a number of other symptoms:

  • Increased sweating
  • Trembling limbs
  • Cardiopalmus
  • Sleep disorders
  • Difficulty concentrating

These are just a few of the stress-related symptoms, and many become more pronounced as the condition worsens.

9. Anxiety

Dizziness may also occur with increased anxiety, but this symptom may not develop in all patients. The stress associated with difficulties at work, in the family, and other circumstances can cause anxiety, dizziness, and even disorientation. Here are some other symptoms of anxiety:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sleep disturbance, which further worsens the situation
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability

When Do You Need Medical Attention?

Dizziness can be a symptom of very serious diseases, and if it often occurs and the patients themselves cannot find an explanation for this, then it is necessary to consult a doctor, especially if the following alarming symptoms appear:

  • Split vision
  • Temperature increase
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Difficulties with coordination
  • Loss of consciousness.

Conclusion

Most often, dizziness is associated with environmental conditions or the patient’s actions, such as physical exertion. In this case, it goes away on its own and does not require urgent medical attention. But if such a symptom appears often and it affects the quality of life – you cannot do without medical help. Only a doctor can determine the root cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.