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Dizziness is a feeling of light-headedness, unsteadiness and the feeling of about to faint. It is also commonly associated with the feeling that you or the surroundings seem to rotate endlessly. Such type of dizziness is medically referred to as ‘vertigo’. This tend to shake the balance of the individual. It is among the most common complaints after backache to be experienced by a large majority of people especially older adults.
Symptoms
- Faintness ("light-headedness") or actual fainting
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Off balance
- Headache or head pressure
- Facial numbness, weakness, or facial droop
- Eye pain, vision loss or changes, blind spots, twinkling lights
- Dry mouth
- Ringing in ears, decreased hearing
- Chest pain (tightness, squeezing, burning, or pressure), shortness of breath, palpitations, jaw pain
- Abdomen (nausea, vomiting, pain, cramping)
- Extremities (arms and legs): tingling, weakness, clumsiness or weakness, fast, slow, or irregular pulses
Causes
- High blood pressure, usually extremely high, causing damage to the brain
- Low blood pressure, multiple causes ranging from diseases of the heart to bleeding disorders that cause anemia to adverse reactions to medications
- Heart causes
- Heart attack, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythms), heart rate too fast, heart rate too slow
- Weakened, aged, or diseased heart muscle, toxins or drugs affecting the rate or force of the heart
- Brain causes
- Stroke, tumor, headaches, migraines, hyperventilation
- Fainting (syncope)
- Many things may trigger the infamous "common faint" - emotions, rapidly assuming an upright position, even urination
- Dementia or senility
- Medications
- Blood pressure medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, pain relievers, some antibiotics
- Diuretics, causing dehydration, blood electrolyte changes, heart effects, or direct side effects
- Metabolic disorders
- Hypoxia, low blood oxygen
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) including an insulin reaction
- Dehydration, from many causes
- Aging
- Reduced capacity for exercise or activity
- Reduced ability for the blood circulation to compensate for quickly assuming an upright position
- Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) causing decreased blood supply to the brain, heart, and other organs
- Weakness, deconditioning
- Neuropathy
- Other illness
- Internal bleeding or hemorrhage, which may go unnoticed
- Anemia, or low red blood cell count
- Prolonged bed rest, causing weakness, loss of ability to compensate for assuming an upright position
- Infections
- Endocrine diseases
- Psychiatric reasons
- Depression, anxiety, or panic disorder
- Hyperventilation
- Somatization
Natural Cure
- Mix lemon juice with water, add some black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Stir the solution once and drink it up.
- Slice a small quantity of garlic root and boil it in a cup of water. Strain and drink the solution.
- Soak one teaspoon of coriander seeds along with gooseberry powder. Let it stand overnight. Drink it in the morning after straining and stirring half a teaspoon of sugar.
- Add cayenne with one cup of water together with salt, pepper, and vinegar. Drinking it, would relieve dizziness.
Treatments
- BPPV. Treatment is with canalith repositioning, that is maneuvering the position of the head. Used to move the loose particles in ear to a place within the ear where they won't cause dizziness and will be reabsorbed into your body's fluids.
- Inner ear conditions. Balance retraining exercises are used to treat acute vestibular neuronitis or labyrinthitis. This rehabilitation involves movements of the head and body to correct loss of balance.
- Meniere's disease. Treatment involves reducing body's retention of fluids through diuretic use and often dietary changes, such as a low-salt diet. Occasionally, surgery is an option.
- Vestibular migraine. Treatment involves, finding and avoiding triggers for attacks. Certain medicines help prevent attacks of migrainous vertigo or make them less uncomfortable by providing relief for nausea and vomiting.
- Anxiety disorders. Recommends medications and psychotherapy, either alone or in combination, to deal with anxiety and manage the dizziness.
- Other contributing health conditions. Treatment of an existing disease or disorder, causing or contributing to the dizziness, such as ear infection, stroke, heart problems or multiple sclerosis.
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