No doubt you have experienced sensations such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. This is referred to as dizziness. However, if this dizziness gives you a false sensation that your surroundings are spinning or moving then this is referred to as vertigo. Dizziness and vertigo are common reasons for people to visit their doctor and can impact daily living. Falls are often caused by dizziness or vertigo and can result in serious injury. Dizziness is rarely life-threatening but the cause must be known and then management can happen. Treatment will depend on the cause and the symptoms. It is not a disease, but a symptom of any number of disorders.
I get dizzy sometimes when I stand up too quickly so my solution should be to get up slowly and for me this is easier said than done. I know the reason I just have to follow my advice.
Medical information suggests that an estimated 33% of all adults with chronic imbalance have problems with their daily activities.
Your sense of balance is controlled by input from various parts of the sensory system. These include the eyes which sense the direction and speed of head motion in relation to the space around you; the sensory nerves are responsible for sending messages to the brain about your movements and the inner ear where sensors help detect gravity and back-and-forth motion.
Causes of dizziness/vertigo might include:
Inner ear disorders- injury to the inner ear can send false signals to the brain indicating that the balance mechanism of the inner ear detects motion. If these false signals conflict with signals from the other balance and positioning centres of the body, then vertigo can happen.
Head or ear injury, migraine
Heart and vascular conditions- low blood pressure (sitting up or standing up too quickly); poor circulation, irregular heart rate
Anxiety, panic attacks, depression
Alcohol use
Vision problems- infection of an eye, poor eyesight, cataracts
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Low iron levels (anemia), fatigue
Medications- certain classes of medications such as drugs to treat seizures, drugs for depression, sleeping aids, anxiety medications, blood pressure lowering pills, pain medications, antibiotics and even some medications for diabetes management can cause dizziness. Always ask your pharmacist for counselling on any new medication and read the package inserts. If you think your dizziness is caused by a medicine, it would be wise not to drive or perform hazardous tasks until you and your body have become adjusted to it
Overheating and dehydration- if you overheat and sweat a lot without replenishing yourself with fluids, then dizziness might occur
Age- the older we are the greater the risk
History of dizziness- if you have experienced dizziness before, then you are more likely to get it in the future
What is the connection between diabetes, dizziness and balance?
Diabetes related complications that can affect our balance and lead to falls include:
Peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage- resulting in the loss of sensation in the feet/legs and thus interfere with walking causing unsteadiness and loss of balance and coordination
Hypoglycemia- the brain lacks sugar to function properly. Symptoms of blurred/double vision or confusion and dizziness could trigger loss of coordination ( I have experienced this symptom and have fallen luckily with no major damage other than pride)
Eye damage (damaged blood vessels in the eyes)- as well as cataracts and glaucoma making it difficult to see objects in your path
Higher risk for bone issues such as osteoporosis and hip fractures
Hyperglycemia- leading to dehydration. If low levels of water in the body happens, then the brain may have difficulty to function correctly and cause light headedness
Tips to improve balance and dizziness:
Take your time when moving from a lying down position to sitting and standing
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water/fluids and avoid beverages that could cause stimulation like alcohol, coffee and high containing caffeine drinks
If you feel unsteady, grab something stable and/or focus on a non-moving object
Avoid crowded areas if that tends to bother you
Manage blood sugar levels to reduce lows and highs
Talk to your pharmacist/doctor about any medications that you think are causing your dizziness
Exercises for balance
See a doctor if you experience any sudden, severe or prolonged unexplained dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following symptoms:
Sudden, severe headache
Chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat
Numbness or paralysis in arms or legs, facial numbness or weakness
Double vision
Confusion or slurred speech (often a symptom of hypoglycemia but don’t disregard this)
Stumbling or difficulty walking
Continuous vomiting
Seizures
If you are suffering from dizziness/vertigo I suggest keeping track of your symptoms, when they happened, if you know why such as did you eat or drink something that might have caused it and then when the doctor asks you these questions you can provide the details. This could help in making a diagnosis easier and faster.
I would like to end today’s discussion with this song that was written by Tommy Roe and was number one for four weeks in 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdtQ99yIUo. I hope you enjoy it and it brings a smile and some fond memories.
Stay safe everyone. Thank you for your time.
The information provided does not replace that of your health-care team. It is meant for information purposes onlReferences:Websites included in the above discussion
BC Health Link accessed on April 17th,2021
Mayo Clinic website accessed April 14th,2021
Today's picture information:
I was walking with a friend and we noticed this rock with the message of Be Happy. When you see one, you are suppose to pick it up and move it somewhere else so that another person would see it and do the same. It is meant to make you smile as we all go through this pandemic. Each rock is hand painted. Check out this Facebook link.
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