Dizziness is a momentary condition that almost every individual experiences once or more in his or her life. It is a debilitating situation that can render people shaken and worried. Dizziness is not a disease per se but rather just a symptom of an underlying condition. Dizziness always comes as an unwelcome guest and leaves abruptly after causing the damage. Although it can be a scary experience, only 5% of the people who experience dizziness are likely to have some chronic conditions.
Dizziness can sometimes happen to people when they stand up too quickly or move too fast. This can also mean that you might need to slow your pace down a bit and relax. There are conditions which can have similar effects as dizziness. Lightheadedness is one such condition. In this condition, an individual tends to feel lightheaded due to the change in their blood flow to the brain. Another similar condition is vertigo in which people experience disorientation. People with vertigo feel a sense of motion involving their surroundings. But, apart from these conditions, there are many other conditions that can cause dizziness.
1. Stress
It is one of the leading causes behind sudden dizziness. Research shows that stress is the prime cause for more than half of the cases reported for dizziness. Under stress, we start to hyperventilate and start taking shallow breathes. Due to this, our arteries contract and our brains get deprived of oxygen momentarily causing dizziness. Dizziness due to stress is often accompanied with numbness in fingers and toes. If your doctor has given you a clean chit of health, then your stress can be a reason behind your dizziness.
2. Low Blood Sugar
Skipping meals and not eating for hours together for doing other tasks can often lead to a drop in the blood sugar level. Once the blood sugar level drops, our bodies sense a stress-like situation. In this situation, our primal fight or flight instinct gets activated causing dizziness. These episodes of low blood sugar can be avoided by sticking to a regular eating schedule. Also, adding some carbohydrates to your all-protein diet can help you avoid these occurrences.
3. Hormonal Imbalance In Women
Hormonal changes during pregnancy, before periods, or during menopause can often trigger dizziness. Medical experts believe that the inner ear is sensitive to the changing estrogen levels of the body. And, this can often lead to dizziness. Also, poor nutrition and dehydration can make things worse. Women who are naturally prone to dizziness are even more susceptible to hormone-induced dizziness. Hence, maintaining a healthy diet and hydrating oneself regularly should help with this.
4. Anemia
Anemia is a common occurrence with women in their menopause. Anemia is a condition in which the total count of red blood cells reduces in the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen all across the body. Hence, this reduces the supply of oxygen in the body. Anemia can cause dizziness due to oxygen deficiency. Taking iron pills and healthy foods can revert this condition. Since a lack of vitamin B12 is also a major cause of megaloblastic anemia, where the red blood cells become misshapen, eating vitamin B12-rich foods can help too.
5. Thyroid Imbalance
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body produces insufficient amount of thyroid. The inner ear is sensitive to the ebb and flow of this hormone. Fluctuations in the level of this hormone can cause dizziness. Weight loss or gain and some form of depression are associated with this condition. Consultation with a doctor and taking prescribed medications along with some good nutrition can help in solving this condition.
6. Low Blood Pressure
Sometimes standing up too quickly can leave us with a sense of dizziness. It happens as the blood flows quickly to the legs and takes longer to reach the brain. This can cause a momentary dizziness. This is clinically known as orthostatic hypotension. It generally happens more to tall and skinny people. Sometimes, even changing your position after a long bout of standing or sitting can make you giddy. This is known as neurally mediated hypotension. If you also experience dizziness after a meal due to postprandial hypotension, you may be at risk for low blood pressure in general.
Our bodies regulate many complicated nexuses of various connections. Hence, sometimes malfunctions are bound to happen. So, don’t worry if dizziness happens once or twice. But, if it is a recurring event, then consult a doctor soon.
