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Spin around ten times in a circle and stop still. No, don’t sway, stand still. You can’t do it – because you’re dizzy. Spinning around in circles makes you giddy, but it’s not the only reason you are swaying on the spot. Dizziness is a symptom that is niggly, annoying and potentially dangerous. You could blame dizziness on lack of sleep, on staring at a screen, on not enough food – the reasons are many, and yet when the dizziness is becoming your new normal, you need help!
There are plenty of causes of dizziness, but unless you are seeking help to identify the reason, you’re always going to feel like you’re spinning on the spot. Dizziness is but a side effect or symptom, and it’s usually accompanied by nausea or a headache, or a light-headed buzzing in the ears. While you are waiting to see the doctor, though, it can help to try to work out the root cause of the dizzy feeling you’re experiencing all too often. Most of the time, you’ll find a snack and a nap will put you on the right track. In the meantime, let’s look at some of the most common reasons you may be feeling dizzy.
Did you know that stress and anxiety can make you feel dizzy? That overwhelming light-headed feeling you have right before a dizzy episode can happen as a result of adrenaline shocking through your body in a moment of anxiety. The problem is that the stress makes you dizzy, and the dizziness makes you anxious – it’s a cycle, and it’s a vicious one! The changes that happen in the brain when you are feeling stressed make you feel dizzy, so working on that stress should help.
Have you been ramping up the music on your headphones? Well, you could be damaging your tiny hairs in the inner ear that help you to hear the world around you. Damage in the inner ear can make you feel dizzy as it throws you off balance. It’s worth exploring if you think your hearing has been damaged – an audiologist is the best person to book in with here.
Dizziness is a side effect of pretty much every medication out there, so if you happen to be super sensitive to some ingredients of medicine that you are on, dizziness can be the result. If it’s something that happens repeatedly, you need to speak to your doctor. They’ll either adjust the medication or put you onto a new prescription. Often, circulation medication causes this, but pretty much anything can have dizziness as a side effect – check yours out if you’re feeling dizzy.
Sneezing repeatedly at the cat on your lap or the flowers in the garden can show you that you have allergies. Most sufferers are familiar with those symptoms, but dizziness is something to add to the list for some! Allergies are irritating enough, but if you have congestion and dizziness at the same time, it may be worth getting your meds prescribed rather than over the counter. It’ll prevent you from going off balance!
When was your last drink of water? If you can’t remember, go right now and get one. Sit down and sip slowly – too fast, and you risk intoxication. It’s a common dehydration sign, so pay attention to your water intake!
Migraines or tension headaches, you’ll feel dizzy if you’re in pain too often. Chronic headaches are one thing, but migraines are the cannonball to the head that you didn’t expect. They can cause dizziness, which is why many people choose to lay in a dark room while they wait for it to pass.
If you are currently on medication for your heart or your circulation, then your dizziness could be linked to things like low blood pressure. If your circulation is poor, you’re going to deal with regular dizziness. You may find this is more common when you stand up! The best person to help you here is your doctor; dizziness is not healthy when it is happening all too often, and your existing condition could be a problem.
Even if you’re not a smoker, smoke inhalation could cause problems for you and make you dizzy. The chemicals in second-hand smoke can make you dizzy, and you don’t have to be that sensitive to the chemicals, either. Please stay away from those who smoke or at least move away while they light up. Protect your health!