Dizziness describes a range of sensations and may be different for you than for someone else. You may feel faint, slightly nauseous, weak, or off balance. You may feel like the room is spinning, or like you are about to faint. If you feel like the room is spinning, it is called vertigo.
People describe dizziness as:
- Feeling like you are spinning when you are actually standing still
- Suddenly feeling lightheaded or faint
- Sudden loss of balance for no reason
- Feeling like you are floating
Dizziness may get worse when you stand up, walk, or shake your head from side to side. When you feel dizzy very suddenly, it is often accompanied by severe nausea. An episode of dizziness can last for several minutes or even days before you feel your symptoms improve.
Why does dizziness affect older adults?
As you get older, you are at higher risk for certain conditions, including dizziness. This is because dizziness is a symptom of other health conditions that are common in older age.
1. Blood pressure changes
As you get older, your heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood around your body. If you stand up too quickly, your blood pressure can suddenly drop. If a change in blood pressure is causing your dizziness, it shouldn’t last more than a few minutes. Once your blood pressure returns to normal, your dizziness should go away.
2. Poor circulation
When your body pumps less blood through your arteries, less oxygen is delivered to your body. When your brain and inner ears get less oxygen, you may feel dizzy.
3. Neurological conditions
Disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis cause changes in your body that lead to dizziness. In this case, your doctor will try to diagnose and treat your overall health condition in hopes of eliminating your dizziness.
4. Medications
Make sure you read the labels on any medications you take. Dizziness is often a side effect of medications such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants, sedatives, and tranquilizers. If you take medications to lower your blood pressure, this can also cause dizziness if your blood pressure drops too low.
5. Anxiety Disorders
As you age, you may develop anxiety when completing certain activities or even when leaving the house. When faced with a situation that causes anxiety, you may experience a panic attack, which often includes dizziness.
6. Low Iron Levels
Iron helps your body produce red blood cells. If you have an iron deficiency (commonly known as anemia), you may experience dizziness due to low platelets. If this condition is causing your dizziness, you may also feel weak and look pale.
7. Low blood sugar
If you have diabetes that is controlled with insulin, dizziness occurs when your blood sugar drops suddenly. You may also sweat or suddenly feel anxious.
Common symptoms in older adults
Include:
- Feeling dizzy
- Feeling lightheaded or about to faint
- Loss of balance
- Inability to accurately determine body position in space
- Blurred vision
Home remedies for dizziness in the elderly
There are many home remedies that can help reduce dizziness in older adults, including:
- Walking with a cane and avoiding sudden movements
- Protecting their living space from the risk of falling by cleaning, removing tangled rugs and electrical cords, and adding non-slip mats to the bathroom
- Staying away from caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and excess salt
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet, including staying hydrated to avoid dizziness due to dehydration
- Potentially reducing the dose of medications that cause dizziness as a side effect (with your doctor’s approval)
