Do you remember the time when as a child you looked at the rotating fan and decided to turn into a fan yourself and gyrated around your spacious hall swaying your arms amidst fits of laughter? The whole exercise usually ended up with a confused mind and a fluttery feeling in the stomach, peeking till you sprawled out on the floor laughing uncontrollably. Dizziness, when self-induced, can be a pleasurable feeling, like the one mentioned above. Dizziness herein can be explained as one of the first extreme sensations of childhood; more like the first discovery of the haziness that life is. However, it is hard to imagine the same feeling when not induced by the self. Imagine feeling that way while you are just walking down the road or sitting in class or hanging on to the footboard in a bus!
Have you ever anticipated the feeling of falling off into that dark crevice to the dulling blackness, never to wake up to light again? If you are hounded by dizziness and have had instances where you have blacked out more than once, then it could be a problem that requires immediate medical help. When it comes to dizziness the first question you need to be asking yourself is, if your dizziness is vertiginous or non-vertiginous. In case of vertiginous dizziness, most people suffering from it claim that it is like true love—you just know that you have it. For non-vertiginous dizziness, you just do not know that you would be inflicted with bouts of lightheadedness. There are plenty of reasons for dizziness; a few of them have been listed below. Read on to know the common causes of dizziness.
Common Causes Of Dizziness
Vertiginous Dizziness
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The most common cause for vertigo dizziness is inner ear infection called labrynthitis. It is mainly caused due to fluid fluctuations in the inner ear. The ear sends a message to the brain that the victim is moving, while the eyes send a different message. The conflicting messages as such result in dizziness.
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Another very common cause of vertigo is dehydration. Changing your position when you are highly dehydrated increases the dizziness. Dehydration is usually followed by diarrhea and vomiting and can worsen the situation.
Non-Vertiginous Dizziness
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If you have been lying down for too long and get up too fast, then you are bound to experience the feeling of dizziness or blackout. This is known as lightheadedness. A certain amount of lightheadedness is normal and caused if there isn’t enough blood reaching your brain. However, if lightheadedness is persistent, it could be because of anemia from blood loss or fluid loss from sweating or when you are short on fluids.
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Dizziness is also caused if you are on medication that affects the blood pressure levels in your body. Medication like antihypertensives, diuretics and antidepressants are common culprits that cause lightheadedness.
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Lightheadedness with near fainting is common in the frail elderly. Lack of nutrition and nourishment are the basic cause of such dizziness. Adolescents in a growth spurt can also seen complaining of dizziness. However, there is nothing much to worry as things return to normal once the growth spurts stops, which is usually in two years.
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People suffering from Parkinson’s disease also experience dizziness. It is usually worst in the morning or after a long period of leaning or resting.
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Diabetic people experience dizziness when it affects peripheral nerves responsible for blood pressure.
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Subclavian steal syndrome is another common cause for dizziness. In the subclavian steal syndrome, the subclavian artery carries blood both to the arms and the brain. Sometimes, it gets blocked in such a way that blood actually flows from the brain into the arm, which causes dizziness and lightheadedness.
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Staying hungry for too long or large gaps between two meals can cause dizziness in a person. Excessive fatigue is also one of the most common reasons for giddiness.
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Do you always have the fear of falling? Do you find it hard to balance and constantly feel unsteady on your feet? These fears might have a lot of validity. They could be because of an impending stroke just waiting to happen or early signs of multiple sclerosis. Consult a physician immediately if the problem persists.