Dizziness
Dizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: light-headedness and vertigo.
- Light-headedness is a feeling that you might faint.
- Vertigo is a feeling that you are spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around you.
When to Contact a Neurologist
- Difficulty in walking
- Dizziness for the first time
- Seizures
- New or worsening symptoms
- Weakness or inability to move an arm or leg
- Fainting and loss of alertness for more than a few minutes
- Shortness of breath
- Fever over 101°F (38.3°C), headache, or very stiff neck
- A head injury
- Hearing loss
- Change in vision or speech
- Chest pain
- Irregular heart rate (heart is skipping beats)
- Dizziness after taking medicine
Interesting facts about Dizziness & Vertigo:
- Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease
If you have vertigo, something else is wrong. Vertigo alone is not a disease; it’s the spinning sensation that a disease or disorder causes. In many cases, the real problem is the dislodging of cannaliths in your ear. In some cases, vertigo is caused by certain medications or a problem in your brain. Because vertigo is a symptom and not the diagnosis, evaluation, and diagnosis is usually necessary.
- Low Vitamin B12 Levels Can Cause Dizziness
Deficiencies in this essential vitamin may lead to a number of neurological problems, including feeling off-balance, and having low blood pressure and decreased blood flow to your brain. Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to detect and treat, but is an often-overlooked cause of dizziness.
Ask your doctor about having a simple blood test to check your B12 levels if you’re having dizzy spells. Good sources of vitamin B12 include meat, dairy products, and fortified breakfast cereals.
- Vertigo affects all age group people
Vertigo does tend to be more common as people age due to factors like decreased inner ear function, but it can affect individuals of all ages, including children. Conditions like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can strike at any age. It’s important not to dismiss vertigo symptoms solely based on age.
- Vertigo might be a symptom of another, more serious condition
While some cases of vertigo will resolve with medical treatment, it’s still important to be evaluated. This is because life-threatening conditions like strokes and heart attacks share some signs and symptoms with vertigo, so ruling out imminent danger is an important part of the process.
- Migraines Sometimes Cause Vertigo
It surprises some people to know that dizziness is commonly linked to migraine disease, either with or without headaches. Other symptoms of migraine-related vertigo include sensitivity to motion, light, and sound. About 40 percent of people who have migraines experience dizziness or vertigo, according to VEDA.
- Vertigo is not untreatable; you don’t have to live with it.
The good news is that most cases of vertigo are treatable. Treatment options range from simple exercises that help dislodge inner ear particles causing BPPV to medications that alleviate symptoms of vestibular disorders. With the right diagnosis and guidance from a medical professional, individuals can often find effective ways to manage and even alleviate their vertigo symptoms.
- Dizziness and Vertigo May Be Side Effects from Medication
A number of medications can cause dizzy spell. For e.g.; high doses of blood pressure medication can cause dizziness, especially in older adults and in people who have started a dose that’s too high for them.
Check to see if any drugs you’re taking may include dizziness, vertigo, or loss of balance as possible side effects by speaking with your physician.
- Your Diet or Dehydration Could Make You Dizzy
Even mild dehydration may be why you’re feeling dizzy or light-headed, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Dehydration can also cause blood pressure to drop, which can lead to dizzy spells.
- All cases of vertigo are not the same
Vertigo is a complex condition with a variety of underlying causes. It’s crucial to receive a precise diagnosis to determine the appropriate treatment plan. What works for one person might not work for another, depending on the specific cause of their vertigo
- Dizziness and anxiety may be related
When anxiety sufferers are compared with people who don’t experience anxiety, people with anxiety disorders appear to sway more when exposed to a moving visual environment. This may point to the fact that anxiety sufferers may be abnormally sensitive to visual stimulation and that their dizziness increases when they are watching moving objects or in a large, bright environment such as a big store