Dizziness is a common condition among adults. In some cases, it can escalate to vertigo, which is a more severe condition. Vertigo affects almost 40% of people over the age of 40 years, at least once in their lifetime.
Both dizziness and vertigo have a close relationship. Their causes are known, but sometimes these causes can be surprising.
Here are 10 surprising facts about dizziness and vertigo:
Dizziness and Vertigo Can Be Caused by Drugs
Several drugs can lead to dizziness. They include some varieties of:
- Sedatives
- Antidepressants
- Tranquilizers
- Medicines for high blood pressure. These medications can cause dizziness in older people, mostly. They can also cause dizziness in patients who have started with a dose that is too high for their system to handle
- Anti-seizure drugs
Patients need to check if dizziness or vertigo are possible side effects.
Poor Blood Circulation Can Cause Vertigo
Poor blood flow to parts of the inner ear can cause vertigo. This is among the 10 surprising facts about dizziness and vertigo.
This happens because organs of the inner ear tend to be sensitive to changes in blood flow. If the blood circulation is restricted, vertigo can occur without warning.
Poor blood flow can result from various reasons. They include too much salt in your diet, spasms in your blood arteries, or stimulants.
Anxiety Can Cause Dizziness
Anxiety can lead to dizziness. This is another one of the 10 surprising facts about dizziness and vertigo.
The dizziness can worsen with exposure to a moving visual environment.
The vestibular system is responsible for making us feel dizzy when things go wrong. This is because it is in charge of sensing body movement or position in the surroundings. The same system also interacts with the parts of the brain that are responsible for anxiety. This can result in both symptoms: anxiety and dizziness.
The dizziness may make one feel as if the spinning is taking place inside and is described as wooziness. Patients may sometimes feel a sense of swaying even though they are not in motion.
Such patients are likely to experience a disequilibrium or imbalance. And this happens when they visit crowded places.
Dizziness Can Be a Side Effect of Anemia
The most common symptoms of anemia include:
- Tiredness
- Feelings of fatigue
- Pale skin
However, dizziness can also be another symptom associated with iron deficiency. Anemia can cause dizziness because there is no sufficient iron. This means there is less red blood cells and hemoglobin that supply oxygen to the brain.
Dizziness Can Be Caused by Dehydration or Overheating
Dizziness and vertigo can result from dehydration or overheating. And this is another one of the 10 surprising facts about dizziness and vertigo.
The American Heart Association states that even mild dehydration can lead to dizziness. This is because dehydration drops pressure and can increase dizziness.
If you spend longer hours in the sun or perform an extensive exercise, you can feel dizzy. Other causes may include staying in an overheated house, or declining to drink and eat for a long time.
The best solution is to have some liquid, especially water or orange juice. Orange juice is recommended because apart from hydrating, it will also add sugar to your body.
Dizziness and Vertigo May Mean a Problem with Your Inner Ear
The inner ear to contains otoconia (calcium crystals) that may cause a spinning sensation. This happens if the crystals find their way into the ear canals, where they are not supposed to be. This causes benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Surprisingly, the leading cause of vertigo. However, BPPV only affects about 1 out of 1000 people every year and majorly affects older adults.
Most people overlook the infections of the inner ear as a cause of vertigo. Sometimes, infections inflame the nerves connecting the inner ear and the brain. When this happens, transmission of information gets disrupted and dizziness or vertigo result.
Again, this is one of the 10 surprising facts about dizziness and vertigo.
Low Blood Pressure May Cause Dizziness
Low blood pressure can also cause dizziness. Since it is less expected, it is one of the 10 surprising facts about dizziness.
Low blood pressure can vary among individuals. For that reason, it is identified if it causes noticeable symptoms. Some experts claim low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90 or 60 mm HG diastolic.
Most importantly, a fall in blood pressure, below the normal level, can cause dizziness. It can even lead to fainting if the brain is not supplied with enough blood.
Dizziness May Be a Sign of Heart Disease
In some cases, dizziness may be a sign of a cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis, Atrial fibrillation, or leaking/narrowing of valves can reduce blood flow to the brain. These are some of the heart-related conditions that cause dizziness.
The blood that flows to the brain may reduce when the heart rhythm or rate is too fast or too slow. The blood can also reduce when the heart is unable to pump blood because the flow of blood has been blocked. And this can cause dizziness.
In other circumstances, the dizziness may be due to the drugs used to treat the heart failure. These drugs (beta blockers, diuretics, and ARBs) are able to reduce blood pressure. However, the downfall is that they can lower your blood pressure and can make you feel dizzy. This happens mostly when standing up from a lying or seating position.
Migraines Can Result in Vertigo
According to VDA, 40% of people with migraines experience dizziness or vertigo. Dizziness has been associated with migraines for a long time. In fact, a quarter of US people, who have migraines, experience dizziness. Migraines with aura are known to cause dizziness and vertigo.
The dizziness may happen before or at the same time with your headache. In some cases, you may not feel a headache at all and they symptoms can last from a few seconds to days.
The migraine that is most likely to cause vertigo is a basilar-type migraine. It also causes other conditions. They include coordination difficulties, hearing loss and ringing in the ears.
The bad news is that doctors tend to have a hard time diagnosing vertigo resulting from migraines. This is because people with headaches often experience other dizziness-causing conditions.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Dizziness
Vitamin B12 deficiency also means low levels of red blood cell production in the body. Individuals who lack this vitamin will mostly experience fatigue. However, other health effects can often include dizziness.
The deficiency of this essential vitamin as a cause of dizziness is often overlooked. That is why it falls among the 10 surprising facts about dizziness and vertigo. Yes, lack of the vitamin can cause fatigue, headache, and skin discoloration. But it can also cause dizziness.
