One of the worst feelings in the world is dizziness. It can make you feel sick and out of control, and when it lingers for more than few seconds, it is more than alarming.

Feeling lightheaded or like the room is spinning can throw you off your feet, forcing you to lie down or sit. Dizziness affects children and adults, but the reasons for it could be something minor or serious.

Below are just a handful of reasons for dizzy spells, but you should visit a doctor if your symptoms are persistent as it could indicate many other conditions such as an infection, migraines, or stroke.

1. Low Blood Sugar

   You know the feeling when you haven’t eaten something in a while and you start to feel woozy. A drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can make you feel dizzy and shaky. Whether you’re diabetic or not, this can occur and is best remedied by getting your glucose levels up, pronto.

2. Dehydration

   Dehydration makes your body’s stores of water too low and dizziness can result. When temperatures warm up, we may forget to take in more fluids, and even the tiniest amount of fluid loss through sweat or other activity can cause you to feel dizzy. Remember to stay hydrated and keep your kids loaded up on fluids too!

3. Ear Infection

   An infection in the inner ear – whether connected to a sinus infection, cold, bacteria, or virus – can cause problems with balance and dizziness. You may or may not experience intense pain, but visit a doctor to get checked out.

4. Anemia

   Iron deficiency anemia can lead to a variety of symptoms and one of the most common is dizziness. Watch out for fatigue, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat as well, but see your doctor about ways to increase your iron intake.

5. Medications

   Side effects from medication are one of the main causes of dizziness, but some people fail to report this symptom to their physician. If you notice you’re having bouts of dizziness after taking your prescriptions, seek medical attention.

6. Allergies

   When allergens like dust, pet dander, or pollen, enter your system, they can cause obstructions or inflammation in the middle ear. One of your body’s reactions is to try to regulate the pressure, causing you to feel dizzy. In addition to airborne allergens, food allergies may also be behind your dizziness.

7. Vertigo

   With vertigo, people often experience nausea along with their dizziness. Patients often complain of feeling imbalanced or that the room is moving with vertigo. It can be the result of an infection, old age, injury, or inflammation in the inner ear. Sometimes it goes away by itself but other times treatment for the ear is warranted.

8. Meniere’s Disease

   If your ear feels full or you experience ringing sounds along with dizziness, it could be due to Meniere’s. An ear condition that results in too much fluid buildup, Meniere’s is linked to bouts of vertigo or dizziness that can last for long periods as well as hearing loss.

9. Low Blood Pressure

   Ever stood up quickly and felt off? Having a dizzy spell due to low pressure feels like that, and can happen when you move from a seated position to a standing one, or from lying down to sitting up. Hypotension (drop in blood pressure) can result from not enough blood flowing to the brain, thus making you feel dizzy.

Because dizziness affects your coordination, it’s important to get checked to lower your chances of falling or another accident. Speak with a health care professional if you experience it suddenly without any explanation, or on a regular basis.

Have you ever had recurring dizzy spells? Did you learn the cause behind it? Were you aware of these causes above?

Source:

Mayo Clinic