Feeling dizzy can certainly be disorienting. It can make you feel woozy, off-balance and even nauseous.
What causes this strange feeling? Typically, feeling dizzy is a sign that something has impacted your sense of balance. The central nervous system, ears and eyes all play important roles in maintaining spatial awareness and balance.
Dr. Dara Lee Lewis, MD, a preventive cardiologist with Mass General Brigham Heart & Vascular Institute, says that dehydration is a common cause of dizziness. “Most people will feel dizzy at times, and often this is due to dehydration. Any time we lose more salt and fluids than we take in—such as through sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, skipped meals or certain medications, including diuretics—we can become dizzy. If drinking fluids and electrolytes helps you feel better, then dehydration was the most likely cause,” she tells Parade.
But it isn’t just dehydration that can cause dizziness. Dr. Lee Lewis says that it could be a sign that your blood pressure is off. Here, she shares how you can know for sure what’s causing dizziness and when it’s important to see a doctor about it.
Related: Feeling Dizzy? Here Are 11 Possible Reasons Why Your World Is Spinning
The First Question a Cardiologist Asks About When Someone Feels Dizzy
If a patient tells Dr. Lee Lewis that they’re feeling dizzy, she says that the first questions she asks are geared toward getting a better understanding of what they mean.
“The term ‘dizziness’ can mean different things to different people, so I start by asking them to describe exactly what they are feeling. Some people feel lightheaded, as if they might faint. Others feel a sense of motion or that the room is spinning. Then I ask, ‘What makes the dizziness worse, and what makes it better?’” she explains.
Related: Is It Normal to Feel Lightheaded Every Day?
After asking these initial questions, the first test Dr. Lee Lewis runs is checking blood pressure. “I often see patients who have low blood pressure, which can cause dizziness that is worse when they stand up and better when they lie down,” she says, explaining that dizziness caused by low blood pressure feels different from dizziness caused by a problem in the inner ear or brain, which feels more like a spinning sensation.
“This type of dizziness is often worse with head movement rather than the upright position,” she tells Parade.
This is exactly why she asks questions about what exactly the dizziness feels like: Dizziness caused by a problem with the cardiovascular system feels different from dizziness caused by a problem in the inner ear or brain.
Related: The One Thing To Do Every Single Day To Support Healthy Blood Flow, According to Cardiologists
Cardiovascular Issues That Can Cause Dizziness
As Dr. Lee Lewis has explained, low blood pressure can lead to feeling dizzy, specifically when standing up. “Any condition that causes the blood pressure to drop can cause dizziness. These might include excessively slow or excessively fast heart rate, overmedication with blood pressure-lowering medicines and dehydration,” she says.
The reason why low blood pressure can cause dizziness is because it leads to cerebral hypoperfusion, which means the brain is temporarily receiving less blood flow and oxygen than it needs.
Dr. Lee Lewis adds that some health conditions, such as advanced diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, can also cause a drop in blood pressure and lead to dizziness when standing upright. She explains that it isn’t unusual for people with advanced diabetes or Parkinson’s disease to frequently experience dizzy spells.
Diabetics experience dizziness for a different reason than why people with low blood pressure experience it. The dizziness that diabetics experience is due to low blood sugar. When blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL, the brain loses its main source of fuel. This lack of energy is what causes the dizziness.
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When To See a Doctor About Dizziness
If you’re feeling dizzy, Dr. Lee Lewis says that the first step is to sit down, drink some water and have something to eat. Remember, dehydration is a common cause of dizziness. If you’ve been outside in the heat, working out or have lost a lot of fluid through sweat for some other reason, she recommends drinking an electrolyte drink.
If the dizziness is so severe that you come close to fainting or you do faint, that’s when Dr. Lee Lewis notes it’s important to see a doctor ASAP.
“If dizziness is accompanied by a feeling of palpitations, racing or skipping heartbeat, this would also be a reason to see a doctor. But if the dizziness is mild and gets better on its own, it can usually be managed at home,” she adds.
Certainly, if dizzy spells are something you’re experiencing frequently, that’s another reason to see a doctor. With your doctor’s help, you can pinpoint the root cause of your dizziness and treat it accordingly. No one should have to suffer through dizzy spells, and once you know the reason they’re happening, you’ll no longer have to.
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Sources
Dizziness. Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Dara Lee Lewis, MD, preventive cardiologist with Mass General Brigham Heart & Vascular Institute. Ah Kim, H., de Bisdorff, A., Bronstein, A. M., et al. (2019). Hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo: Diagnostic criteria. Journal of Vestibular Research. 29(2-3):45-56. Your Brain and Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hence then, the article about i m a cardiologist this is the first thing i ask about when someone says they re dizzy was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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