A Complete Guide to Dizziness: Causes and Treatments

Causes of Dizziness

That sudden feeling of unbalance or lightheadedness you get while doing your normal routine activities is dizziness. There are many underlying causes of dizziness and lightheadness.

Dizziness can be so severe at times that you also can faint! It can affect the other sensory organs of the body like ears, eyes, nose, too.

Occasional dizziness happens to most of us as at times we overexert, are dehydrated, or as our resistance power lowers. An occasional occurrence is fine, but one should watch out for frequent dizziness.

This is not particularly a disease, but it is a symptom that can lead to greater diseases or disorders. So you need to urgently find out the causes of dizziness.

Related Reading: What Causes Headache above Right Eye?


Causes of Dizziness: How Does it Happen?

1. Low Blood Sugar

Low blood pressure is one of the main causes of dizziness. It is mainly caused by low blood sugar which is called ‘hypoglycemia’ in medical terms.

This majorly happens with diabetic patients. If diabetic patients miss their medication, exercise too much or skip meals then it can cause dizziness.

Diabetic patients immediately need to take a dose of glucose to increase their sugar level. Few sources are sweets, fruits, vegetables, rice, and milk.

2. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also commonly known as ‘hypertension’. Hypertension is a common health condition in American adults.

Narrow arteries will make the higher pressure of blood flow to your heart due to resistance. Many times, you may not notice any specific symptoms of this except dizziness and headache at times.

High blood pressure can be genetic too. Regular medication is the most common treatment. To maintain good blood pressure levels you can also try lifestyle changes that can also help you reduce your stress levels.

Related Reading: Why Does My Blood Pressure Fluctuate?

3. Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the causes of dizziness. It is a widespread condition, especially in hot regions. Dehydration is caused when your body loses more fluid than you take in.

It is also caused by insufficient water intake through the day. Causes of dehydration are over sweating, over urinating, heat stroke, or fever.

Dizziness and nausea are by-products of dehydration. The immediate treatment for this is to have glucose or lemon water followed by rest.

4. Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is caused during traveling by train, plane, ship or car. It is a condition when your sensory organs are not in sync, and you feel dizzy and nauseous. This condition is not associated with any medical history.

You can very well avoid this cause of dizziness by traveling light stomach or by keeping anti-nausea agents like cardamom, cinnamon, clove, fennel seeds, or chewing gum in mouth while traveling.

5. Panic Attack

A stressful lifestyle often leads to panic attacks and other mental conditions. Panic attacks are abrupt and intense as they leave harmful effects on your body.

You feel a sudden fear of terror with or without reason, and this may leave you with feeling dizzy, breathless, fast heartbeat and excessive sweating.

Panic attacks can be prevented by living a healthy life that involves eating healthy, avoiding drug and substance abuse, and practicing yoga and exercise.

6. Heart Attack

Heart attacks are very common in the USA. When an adequate supply of blood to the heart is cut off, it strains the heart muscles with lack of oxygen and thus one experiences heart attack.

A heart attack is one of the possible causes of dizziness. This can also be accompanied by chest pain, nausea, fatigue, sweating, etc.

This is a fatal condition, and it needs urgent medical treatment. But naturally, this takes a lot of care to maintain a healthy lifestyle over a long period of life.

7. Bleeding

Bleeding is also one of the causes of dizziness. It can be internal as well as external bleeding. Bleeding at times when it is traumatic may cause dizziness.

Dizziness is also caused when the person suffers from vitamin deficiency, and bleeding worsens the situation more.

Bleeding needs first aid like cleaning the wound and applying a band-aid. If it is heavy, you need to call an ambulance. You can decrease dizziness when lying down. So it is better if the patient lies down when bleeding profusely.

8. Pregnancy

Pregnancy is also one of the major causes of dizziness. Due to hormonal changes, pregnant ladies feel dizzy in the morning. It is caused due to enlarging uterus that put pressure on blood vessels. Dizziness is common in the first trimester.

Pregnant ladies often counter this question ‘how to get rid of dizziness’. All they need to do is avoid straining their body, eat healthily and avoid lying on the back. They can immediately have something sweet so that their sugar level is maintained.

9. Migraine

As we learn the causes of dizziness, migraine is another one. It is a recurrent severe headache that can also cause vertigo which is worse.

It is vital to know ‘how to stop feeling dizzy’ in a migraine. You can practice gluten-free diet. Use of therapeutic essential oils also works great. Staying hydrated is one of the easiest remedies.

10. Anemia

When your body lacks red blood cells, there is a lack of oxygen in your body, and this makes you feel dizzy or fatigued. You may also feel paleness, breathlessness, etc. due to weakness.

You need an urgent check on this cause of dizziness. Adequate sleep, healthy diet, and stress-free life shall surely cure anemia.

11. Vertigo

Vertigo involves spinning or a whirlpool sensation in one’s surroundings. It is caused by jerky head movements or ear infection. It can also be caused by a problem in the brain. One most probably feels dizzy in vertigo.

It is important to lie down on the bed while you experience dizziness. Stress management is inevitable to cure this.


Dizziness Home Remedies: How to Stay Safe?

Dizziness can be dealt with if you become a bit more alert about your health. Just put into practice the below few points in your daily routine.

1. Stay Well Hydrated

Drinking lots of water flush out toxins from your body and maintain your immunity too. Again it is imperative to maintain the timing of drinking water. You have to avoid water during your meals and at least an hour before your meal.

2. Have Adequate Vitamin C

Include vitamin C as much as possible in your daily intake. Lemon, citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli etc. are effective in controlling the causes of dizziness.

3. Avoid Hot Baths

Extreme hot baths lower your blood pressure leading to dizziness. Avoid taking hot baths, instead bathe in warm water.

4. Incorporate Ginger into Drinks and Meals

This is an instant way to cure dizziness. You can have ginger tea or ginger water if you feel dizzy.

5. Eat More Fiber

High fiber foods like green leafy vegetables, whole grains, fish, chicken etc help you with your low BP and thus curbs dizziness.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has fantastic properties that help with many health issues; dizziness being one of them. It keeps blood sugar level from dropping.

Dizziness patients can have a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar daily in a glass of water. You have to try out how much works for you.

7. Acupressure Massage

This is a superb way to pamper yourself as well as combat causes of dizziness. Acupressure points massaged with essential oils help you to avoid dizziness and feel relax.

8. Focus

If you get dizziness stroke, you need to keep calm and sit down. To avoid unbalance and nausea, focus on a particular point near you.

Related Reading: What Causes Nausea after Eating?

9. Deep Breathing

Yoga is proved to be a magical treatment for all the diseases. ‘Pranayama’ helps stabilizing your breath and thus your nervous system.

10. Honey

Honey contains natural sugar and so it acts as a natural energy booster. It maintains your blood pressure. You can drink warm water with a tablespoon of honey twice a day to control dizziness.

The next time you feel dizzy, please do not get exasperated about it but get yourself checked if it is recurrent. Know the underlying causes of dizziness. These conditions can be treated if discovered at an early stage. Occasional dizziness can be easily combated with the mentioned home remedies.


Sources:
“What causes Dizziness?” Healthline web site; https://www.healthline.com/symptom/dizziness, last accessed Jan 13, 2018.

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Dr. Mark Williams, MD

Dr. Mark Williams is a leader in alternative and integrated medicines. He is a medical writer and reviewer at Daily Health Cures. He received his medical degree in 1988. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Daily Health Cures editorial team. He is a natural health advisor and provides a variety of alternative healing techniques in his practice.