Constant Dizziness: Here’s why it happens
One of the most common and complained-about issues by patients is feeling giddy. It can be explained in simple terms as the feeling of imbalance. Giddiness is often mixed up with dizziness, lightheadedness, and the sensation of head spinning.
Giddiness, according to physicians, can be a very simple symptom of a common disease. In some cases, it maybe points towards a more extensive chronic condition that manifests along with giddiness. The correct diagnosis to know what’s potentially causing it can save you from developing a severe problem.
If you are always feeling giddy, look for signs as they may be precipitating it. The most common giddiness reasons are listed here.
1. Vertigo
Physicians emphasize the need to differentiate the symptoms of feeling giddy with vertigo. Symptoms like spinning and rotation, when present, are a marker for vertigo, and this should be diagnosed and treated immediately. The vestibular system plays a vital role in vertigo. It involves a connection with the inner ear, the vestibular nerve, and the cerebellum relationship.
Abrupt head movement can cause terrifying giddiness in some patients, and they straight out refuse to shift the position of their head, even slightly. There should be an emphasis on getting the diagnosis of vertigo if rotation and spinning are present.
Benign paroxysmal Positional vertigo is one of the most frequent causes of dizziness. This is usually due to problems associated with the inner ear, which is involved in maintaining balance.
2. Cardio-vascular conditions
Low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension, can be the reason you feel constantly giddy. This usually happens when there is a fall in systolic BP by 20 mm Hg when changing posture from lying down or sitting to standing. Arrhythmias and shocks are the most common causes that lead to orthostatic hypotension, which might be leaving you feeling giddy.
Emergency cardiac situations like acute coronary symptoms and pulmonary embolism can result in severe giddiness. A patient with a history of supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation might feel dizzy even while lying down. It’s always safer to be well as aware of what you are feeling and immediately contact your healthcare provider when you are feeling giddy for longer durations to prevent any severe complications like stroke.
Be proactive in noticing the symptoms to avoid any significant health-threatening circumstances from developing.
3. Psychiatric disorders
The overlooked cause of feeling giddy can be due to many underlying mental conditions. Patients experiencing panic and anxiety attacks, depressive phases, etc. might complain of feeling light-headed. Hysteric fits, hyperventilating, and always stressing in a situation can also cause precipitation of a giddy reaction.
Patients experiencing post-traumatic relapse might often complain of feeling unsteady and nauseous. Drug interaction in those introduced with antidepressants recently can be another cause of you feeling down and always dizzy. It becomes crucial that the complete medical history of the patient is taken into account along with the medication he is on to identify if this is the cause of dizziness and treating it from the root level.
4. Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic Neuropathy is the feeling of lightheadedness or blacking out when getting up or changing posture. This is due to a lack of sympathetic response due to weak muscle and sympathetic tone.
Patients of diabetes mellitus, drug users, and the elderly are most susceptible to developing autonomic Neuropathy.
5. Change in blood volume
Changes in blood volume can be due to excessive bleeding from wounds, leaking peptic ulcers in the gut, and many other reasons like vomiting and diarrhea that result in the loss of fluid from the body.
Fluid loss causes fluctuations in blood volume, thereby decreasing circulation and causing symptoms of constant giddiness. Accelerated hypertension can also be a reason you’re experiencing symptoms of giddiness.
6. Diabetes
Diabetes can also be a hidden cause that is making you always feel giddy. Hypoglycemia can be present as giddiness, especially when there is an excessively high dose of insulin or sulfonylureas after a meal.
Blood sugar levels lower than 70 mg/dL are hypoglycemic and need your attention urgently. This can be accompanied by excessive sweating, palpitations, and fainting. Peripheral neuropathy in a person with diabetes is prevalent, and it becomes essential to monitor blood pressure in these patients, especially when there is a posture change.
Undergo blood tests, MRI, cardiograms, and ECG as well as brain imaging to see if this cause is showcasing the symptoms.
After the clinical diagnosis is done, and all the underlying problems are identified, a treatment plan should be drawn out to alleviate these symptoms and constant giddiness reasons.
