Most people suffer from it at one point or another — the room starts to spin or one feels strangely light-headed. These symptoms are commonly known as dizziness. They can be either harmless or a symptom of an underlying problem. The cause may be something as simple as standing up too quickly, or it could indicate a more serious infection.
Feeling dizzy is not an illness, but a symptom of something else. It is often the result of an inner ear infection, which is closely tied to the sense of balance; if there are problems with the inner ear, then one may feel dizzy. An inner ear infection can throw off the sufferer’s coordination and balance, resulting in frequent dizziness.
There are many ailments that can bring about the symptom of dizziness, including heart circulation problems and irregular blood flow. High or low blood pressure can often make a person dizzy, as can several types of medication, like sedatives. Medical conditions like a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological problems can also lead to dizziness.
Blood flow is a major factor in bouts of light-headedness. If there is not enough blood flowing to the head, dizziness may result. For example, when a person stands up too quickly or has eaten a heavy meal, he or she may feel dizzy. This is because blood pressure has fallen sharply. In these cases, the condition should only be temporary.
Other ailments or illnesses that cause dizziness include low blood sugar, fevers and stress. A simple head injury can also be a cause. Depression and certain phobias, such as agoraphobia, can also cause a person to feel dizzy.
Anxiety or panic attacks are usually accompanied by a bout of dizziness. The room may begin to feel as if it is spinning when a panic attack occurs. This may be because breathing quickens, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood; when this happens, the blood vessels in the brain constrict, and not enough oxygen is delivered.
In medical terms, there are three different types of dizziness. These are classed as vertigo, syncope and non-vertigo non-syncope. Vertigo is classified as a spinning sensation of both the surroundings and the individual. Syncope is used to describe the condition felt when standing up too quickly. Non-vertigo non-syncope is when balance problems occur and dizziness may increase with movement.
Nearly 40% of Americans seek medical assistance at some point in their lives due to feeling dizzy. It is a very difficult symptom to diagnose unless there are accompanying symptoms. A common accompanying symptom is butterflies in the stomach. If this happens every time you see a certain male or female, then it is quite common and no medical advice need be sought.