Dizziness may not be serious for everyone, but for some, it can be life-threatening.
Age plays a big role in the severity and incidence of dizziness. It is true that the older you are, the more likely you are to be affected by some form of dizziness. In fact, dizziness is one of the biggest causes of disability in people 65 and older.
The reason why dizziness is so much more serious for older adults can best be explained by the snowball effect. The snowball effect occurs when something starts out very small and insignificant but gradually builds up until it becomes much more serious, like a snowball turning into an avalanche.
Now imagine that dizziness is this snowball. The longer an older person lives with dizziness, the greater their risk of developing more serious complications.
This process typically works like this:
- Dizziness itself is a warning sign of an increased risk of falling in older people.
- Falls often result in fractures, most commonly in the wrist and hip.
- Fractures require hospitalization and a long recovery period.
- These injuries result in loss of mobility and independence.
- Lack of mobility increases the risk of falling again, often with worse outcomes.
- People who fall tend to develop a fear of falling again. This causes them to change the way they walk and move, which ironically makes them more likely to fall than they were before the first fall. The best way to prevent this vicious cycle is to avoid living with dizziness in the first place. But to do that, you need to understand what causes it.
Other common causes of dizziness in older adults include:
- Benign positional vertigo, when crystals in the balance system of the inner ear become dislodged.
- Postural hypotension, when blood pressure drops when standing
- Migraines are also known as vestibular migraines.
What home remedies can help relieve dizziness in older adults?
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, untangling carpets and cords, and adding non-slip mats to the bathroom
- Avoiding 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 have dizziness as a side effect (with your doctor’s approval)
Older adults with mild dizziness should see a doctor for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent falls. That can help avoid hospitalization or worse.
