Dizziness is not a disease. Once the cause of dizziness is diagnosed and treated, the person can regain balance and return to a healthy life.
There are various tests to diagnose dizziness and the cause of dizziness that needs to be treated.
Diagnosis includes checking for any abnormal eye movements and confirming that the ability to track objects is normal. This diagnosis further evaluates the patient’s involuntary eye movements (nystagmus). Rapid eye movements caused by head movements can indicate which ear is at fault.
Dizziness can occur for many different reasons. The most common underlying cause is inadequate blood supply to the brain.
The most common causes of dizziness are:
- Inner ear disorders (vestibular migraine, inner ear fluid imbalance, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV))
- Neurological problems (Meniere’s disease, increased fluid in the inner ear, neuroma)
- Brain diseases (brain tumor, stroke, etc.)
- Circulatory problems (low blood pressure, anemia, etc.)
- Psychological factors (Anxiety, stress, panic attacks, etc.)
- Other medical conditions (dehydration, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, and certain medications)
In some cases, chest pain, palpitations, loss of voice, vision changes, or dizziness may occur along with other symptoms. These can be life-threatening conditions with serious complications and require urgent medical attention.
Some of these disorders include:
- Heart problems, such as a heart attack or irregular heartbeat
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Shock (a sharp drop in blood pressure)
These three methods will help you prevent dizziness effectively:
1. Hydrate
Low blood volume due to dehydration can make you feel lightheaded when you suddenly change position. (Dehydration can also do these 9 strange things to your body.) Women should drink nine cups of water a day; men should drink 11 cups. “Drink whenever you can, including water with meals,” says Dr. Maura Cosetti, director of the Cochlear Implant Center at Mount Sinai Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York.
2. Exercise
Your sense of balance depends on signals from your inner ear, eyes, and other parts of your body. “Exercise improves your balance by stimulating different parts of your body to work together with your brain,” says Steven Eliades, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. (Over 40? You’ll want to do these five exercises a week.)
3. Food choices
Avoiding vertigo triggers in your diet can help reduce vertigo. Foods containing the amino acid tyramine (smoked meats, red wine) can trigger migraines, a common cause of vertigo. Alcohol inhibits the function of the vestibular system in the inner ear, and salt contributes to swelling in the inner ear in Meniere’s disease.
