Dizziness is the feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. You may feel as if you are off balance, spinning, twirling, falling, or tilting. You may feel very nauseous or vomit. You may have difficulty walking or standing.
Dizziness can occur at any age. But it is more common in older adults. The fear of dizziness can cause older adults to limit their physical and social activities. Dizziness can also lead to falls and other injuries.
How does dizziness happen?
Dizziness occurs when there is a conflict between the signals sent to the brain by the body’s different systems that sense balance and position. Your brain uses input from four sensory systems to maintain your sense of balance and orientation to your surroundings. Specifically:
Vision gives you information about your position and movement in relation to the rest of the world. It is an important part of the balance mechanism. It often overrides information from other balance sensor systems.
Sensory nerves in the joints allow the brain to track the position of your legs, arms, and trunk. Your body can then make small changes in posture that help you maintain balance.
The feeling of pressure on your skin gives you information about your body’s position and movement relative to gravity.
Part of the inner ear, called the labyrinth, includes the semicircular canals, which contain specialized cells that detect movement and changes in position. Damage or problems in the inner ear can send incorrect signals to the brain. They can tell the brain that the inner ear’s balance mechanism (the labyrinth) is detecting movement. If these false signals conflict with signals from the body’s other balance and positioning centers, dizziness can occur.
Common causes of dizziness
Include:
- Inner ear disorders. Examples include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis.
- Injury to the ear or head.
- Migraines. These are painful, debilitating headaches that are often accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smells.
- Reduced blood flow through the arteries that supply blood to the base of the brain (vertebrobasilar insufficiency).
Tips to prevent dizziness
Dizziness is usually not a cause for concern unless it is severe, does not go away, or occurs with other symptoms such as an irregular heartbeat or fainting. Dizziness can lead to falls and other injuries. Protect yourself from injury if you feel dizzy.
Here are some tips that may help:
1. Lie down for a minute or two.
This will allow more blood to flow to the brain. After lying down, sit up slowly. Sit for 1 to 2 minutes before slowly standing up.
2. Take a break.
It is not unusual to feel dizzy during some viral illnesses, such as a cold or flu. Resting will help prevent dizziness.
3. Be safe when participating in activities.
Do not drive, operate equipment, or climb ladders when you are dizzy.
4. Be careful with substances.
Do not use substances that can affect blood circulation. This includes caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs.
5. Stay hydrated.
Dehydration can cause or increase feelings of dizziness. This can happen if you have an illness that causes diarrhea, vomiting, or fever.
Drink more fluids, especially water.
Other fluids are also helpful, such as fruit juice mixed with water half and half, rehydration drinks, weak tea with sugar, clear broth, and gelatin desserts.
If you have kidney or heart disease and need to limit your fluid intake, talk to your doctor before increasing your fluid intake.
6. Protect yourself if you feel dizzy.
Don’t lie on your back. Raise yourself slightly to reduce the spinning sensation.
Move slowly to avoid the risk of falling.
