What causes Dizziness? Is there any treatment available?

 

From childhood till adult life, one or the other time, we have often experienced a swirl in the head leading to down fall or would make you rest a while. Well, this feeling of being lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced, is defined as a condition called dizziness or giddiness. It is a not categorised under the list of any disease, as it is a symptom of various health complication.

In this article, 3MEDS, the best healthcare service provider in India, explains the causes and available treatment for the condition of dizziness.

Causes of dizziness

As mentioned before, dizziness is associated to many diseases and not an issue in itself. So, some of the major health complication that may lead to the feeling of light-headedness include,

Neurological related complication that lead to dizziness are

·         Following head injury

·         Epilepsy

·         Multiple sclerosis

·         Parkinsonism

·         Dementia

·         Brain tumours, especially brainstem and cerebellar tumours

·         Benign intracranial hypertension

·         Normal pressure hydrocephalus

·         Peripheral neuropathy, imbalance or unsteadiness may occur as a result of peripheral neuropathy, spinal posterior column lesions or cerebellar disease

Cardiovascular related issues which may pose the symptom of dizziness include,

·         Postural hypotension

·         Cerebrovascular disease

·         Carotid sinus syndrome

·         Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

·         Aortic stenosis

·         Subclavian steal syndrome

·         Cardiac arrhythmias

Otological associated complication, resulting in dizziness are,

·         Ménière's disease

·         Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

·         Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis

·         Vestibular migraine, generally presents with attacks of spontaneous or positional vertigo lasting seconds to days, with associated migraine symptoms

·         Otosclerosis and Paget's disease of bone

·         Middle ear trauma

·         Following surgery like stapedectomy, cochlear implant as part of treating tumours and cholesteatoma, may cause dizziness.

Metabolic complications

·         Hypoglycaemia

·         Adrenal insufficiency

·         Hypothyroidism

·         Haematological:

·         Anaemia.

·         Hyperviscosity.

·         Psychogenic like, generalised anxiety, agoraphobia, panic attacks, hyperventilation.

Some of the miscellaneous conditions that may lead to causing of dizziness are,

·         Viral illness.

·         Migraine headaches.

·         Other infections - eg, acute bacterial infections, Lyme disease, HIV infection.

Ocular or visual impairment, may pose the symptom of dizziness

·         Cervical like, cervical spondylosis.

·         Multisensory dizziness syndrome: occurs when there are reduced inputs from more than one sensory system, for instance, reduced vision, vestibular dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy.

·         Autoimmune/connective tissue disorders, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Drugs that may trigger dizziness are,

·         Drug intoxication, for example, acute intoxication with alcohol or drugs; carbon monoxide poisoning; chronic alcohol misuse

·         Iatrogenic that pose side-effect of medication like, antihypertensives, antidepressants, aminoglycoside antibiotics, anti-arrhythmics. Medication is an extremely common cause of dizziness, particularly in older people

Treatment for dizziness

The condition of dizziness would require treatment when its associated with some serious health complication. Basically, severity of the condition is directly proportional to the method of cure.

Medications

·         A water pill or diuretic can be prescribed in case of Meniere’s disease

·         Antihistamines and Anticholinergics will be prescribed to provide immediate relief from dizziness, vertigo or nausea

·         Anti- anxiety medications like diazepam and alprazolam

·         Migraine preventive medicines

These medications can be bought easily at any online chemist shop.

Therapy

·         Head position maneuvers

·         Balance therapy

·         Psychotherapy

Surgical procedure

·         Injection

·         Removal of the inner ear sense organ

Home care

·         Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy

·         Take support by use a cane or walker to balance

·         Try to always use handrails when walking up or down the staircase

·         Practise activities like yoga and Tai Chi, that improve balance

·         Try to avoid moving or switching positions too suddenly

·         Don’t drive a car or operate heavy machinery if you frequently experience dizziness without warning

·         Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, as these substances may trigger dizziness or make it worse

·         Keep your body hydrated by drinking at least eight glass of water a day

·         Get seven hours or more of sleep, and avoid stressful situations

·         Maintain a healthy diet that consists of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins to help prevent dizziness

·         If you suspect your dizziness is being caused by a medication, talk to your doctor about lowering the dose or switching to another medication

Ending note

Dizziness is a not a disease but a symptom related to various health complications. It can be treated depending on its association to particular disease. It is recommended to visit a doctor when one experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness.