Treatment FAQ

what cause lightheadedness and whatis the treatment

by Dalton Considine Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Inner ear and balance
Dizziness has many possible causes, including inner ear disturbance, motion sickness and medication effects. Sometimes it's caused by an underlying health condition, such as poor circulation, infection or injury. The way dizziness makes you feel and your triggers provide clues for possible causes.
Oct 15, 2020

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How to Get rid of Lightheadedness Fast? A simple exercise can help you feel better. Sit at the edge of your bed and towards right tilt your head 45 degrees. Lie down on your left side quickly and stay in this position for almost 30 seconds. Move to the other side of the bed quickly and lie down there keeping the head in the same position i.e ...

What provokes my constant constant lightheadedness?

Lightheadedness is the name given to a sensation of feeling woozy, wobbly as if being on a rocking boat etc. Medical conditions that can make you feel light-headed include anemia, inner ear problems, hypoglycemia, motion sickness, dehydration etc.

How to get rid of lightheadedness?

Lightheadedness is a feeling of wooziness or faintness. It is commonly caused by dehydration, drug side effects, blood pressure drops, low blood sugar, heart disease, or stroke. Lightheadedness is not the same as dizziness, which refers to feeling like the surroundings are spinning.

What can make you feel lightheaded?

What are some sicknesses that cause lightheadedness?

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What is the best treatment for lightheadedness?

Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy. Lie still with your eyes closed in a darkened room if you're experiencing a severe episode of vertigo. Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery if you experience frequent dizziness without warning. Avoid using caffeine, alcohol, salt and tobacco.

What is the most common reason for lightheadedness?

The main causes of lightheadedness are: dehydration — this can happen if you haven't had enough to drink, if it's very hot, or if you are sick. side effects of some medicines. a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up quickly.

How do you treat dizziness at home?

Steps people can take to relieve dizziness include:lying down and closing the eyes.acupuncture.drinking plenty of water and keeping hydrated.reducing stress plus alcohol and tobacco intake.getting plenty of sleep.

What is lightheadedness a symptom of?

Causes of lightheadedness may be dehydration, medication side effects, sudden blood pressure drops, low blood sugar, and heart disease or stroke. Feeling woozy, lightheaded, or a little faint is a common complaint among older adults.

How to get rid of lightheadedness?

Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, salt and smoking since these can increase your chance of getting lightheadedness. Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and avoiding stress can also help. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Last reviewed: July 2020. Back To Top.

What does it mean when you feel lightheaded?

Lightheadedness is different from dizziness. Dizziness is when you feel unbalanced and as if the room is spinning. Lightheadedness is when you feel like you might faint. Your body could feel heavy, you might feel nauseous and unsteady, and you may sweat. Your vision might also be affected.

What to do if you are light headed and don't go away?

If your lightheadedness lasts for a long time and doesn’t go away, your doctor might look at any medicines you’ re taking and prescribe diuretics, a low-salt diet, or medicines to treat the underlying cause of your symptoms.

What are the side effects of taking a medicine?

side effects of some medicines. a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up quickly. low blood sugar. a heart attack or stroke. problems in the middle ear. an anxiety disorder or panic attack. low iron levels in the blood ( anaemia) losing a lot of blood.

Can you still be lightheaded?

If you often feel lightheaded, while it’s probably nothing that is life-threatening, it can still affect your life . It’s therefore worth seeing your doctor to find out why you feel lightheaded. CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use our dizziness and lightheadedness Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What does it mean when you are light headed?

At its most serious, lightheadedness may be a sign of a heart attack or stroke. Other symptoms of a heart attack often accompanying lightheadedness are chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, arm pain, back pain, or jaw pain.

Can lightheadedness cause serious injuries?

Even if the lightheadedness does not have a serious cause, it could lead to serious injuries from a fall. And at the worst, the cause may itself be life-threatening," says Dr. Shamai Grossman, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School.

How to overcome lightheadedness?

So, how to overcome lightheadedness? The simplest way is to increase the blood flow to your brain. This can be done by lying down, drinking more water, drinking sugary fluids, or getting injections of fluids that are passed to your bloodstream through your veins.

What does it mean when you feel lightheaded?

Lightheadedness is pretty common in the elderly. If you have ever felt the feeling suggesting you are going to pass out or faint after a bout of dizziness, then you know what it means.

Why do diabetics get lightheaded?

Ans. Yes. That's because Diabetics have a condition called polyuria in which they urinate more often. More urination means more loss of fluids from the body. Thus, leading to lightheadedness.

Why do I feel lightheaded when I hear something in my ears?

It signifies a problem with the inner ear that keeps in check your balance system. Problems with that are sure to make your feel lightheaded as it messes with your brain a little. Elders must be cautious as tinnitus can be a sign of age-related hearing loss.

Why do I faint when I'm sick?

When you are sick, overheated and are not consuming a significant amount of fluids, the volume of your body lowers down. Thus, lowering the blood pressure which may cause you to faint. The problem with less blood pressure is that your brain doesn’t get enough blood flow and thus, oxygen and glucose, which are transported through the blood, doesn’t reach the brain enough.

Why do I get lightheaded when I stand up?

The most basic cause of lightheadedness occurs in the moments you quickly move from a seated/lying down position to a standing position. As you stand on your feet, the blood flow rushes down, leading to less blood flow to the top region of your body i.e., the brain.

Can glasses cause lightheadedness?

Ans. Yes. That’s because, with glasses with wrong prescriptions, your eyes don’t get the right signals from the brain. The conflicting signals do not allow the vision to be clear. Misalignment thus created can lead to lightheadedness.

What does it mean when you feel lightheaded?

The term “lightheadedness” refers to a feeling people sometimes experience that the head is weightless while the body isn’t. It often makes a person feel as if they might faint.

Why do I feel light headed when I have a cold?

Lightheadedness is just one of the common uncomfortable feelings that occur when your sinuses are swollen and packed with mucus, making it hard for your body to maintain its equilibrium. In order to avoid lightheadedness while dealing with a cold, make sure to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and avoid moving around or getting up too quickly.

Can alcohol make you lightheaded?

Drinking alcohol can make a person feel lightheaded. Although some see the feeling as a positive outcome of drinking, this lightheadedness can be a sign that your body is at its limit and that drinking more could be dangerous. Certain other drugs can make you lightheaded as well; some are illegal, while others are prescription-based, such as opioid painkillers. It is important to avoid mixing alcohol with drugs that could make you lightheaded, as doing so causes an intensified version of this effect and can lead to passing out, getting injured, or other dangerous outcomes. [3]

Can you be lightheaded if you stand up?

If you stand up, sit up from lying down, or otherwise change position quickly, there is a possibility you might feel temporarily lightheaded. Vertigo can also occur when this happens, and the two together create the symptom of dizziness. [1] This occurs more often in older individuals, but it still happens occasionally to younger people. However, if you notice this happening to you often, it could be a sign of a more serious condition.

Can blood loss cause lightheadedness?

Often, it’s easy to know when you lose blood and when this blood loss is the cause of lightheadedness. However, internal bleeding is not as apparent. Lightheadedness, dizziness, pain in the area of the bleeding, and bruising caused by blood pooling under the skin’s surface are all signs of internal bleeding. [6] It can be a medical emergency that requires immediate help.

How to stop lightheadedness?

Take a break from whatever activity you’re doing. No matter the cause of your lightheadedness, stop what you're doing and rest for a couple of minutes. This will help your circulation and brain adjust. [18]

How to avoid feeling lightheaded?

Making sure that you are eating healthy and regular meals can help you avoid feeling lightheaded. Natural, whole foods including lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and legumes will help you maintain normal blood sugar throughout the day, making you less likely to have a spell of lightheadedness.

How to stop lightheadedness from low blood sugar?

If you have lightheadedness because of low blood sugar, try carrying a snack with you, like a granola bar or an apple, to combat any symptoms that may flare up during the day.

What to do if you are lightheaded from a migraine?

If you have lightheadedness because of vestibular migraine, your doctor may help you figure out what triggers your attacks, such as diet, stress, sleep and exercise. Your doctor may also prescribe to help prevent attacks or relieve nausea. [11]

What age do you get lightheaded?

If you are over the age of 65 years, you are more likely to have a medical condition or take medications that causes lightheadedness. [2] Medications including drugs to lower blood pressure or pain, prevent seizures, sedatives and tranquilizers can cause lightheadedness. [3]

What foods can cause lightheadedness?

Examples of iron-rich foods are red and organ meats such as beef and liver, spinach, and dried beans. In some cases, not having enough sodium in your diet can cause lightheadedness. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into a glass of water and this may help regulate your circulation and relieve your lightheadedness.

Can sedatives cause lightheadedness?

Medications including drugs to lower blood pressure or pain, prevent seizures, sedatives and tranquilizers can cause lightheadedness. [3] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Lightheadedness is the feeling that you may faint, but you do not. Your heartbeat may be fast or feel like it flutters. Lightheadedness may occur when you take certain medicines, such as medicine to lower your blood pressure. Dehydration, low sodium, low blood sugar, an abnormal heart rhythm, and anxiety are other common causes.

Follow up with your healthcare provider as directed

You may need more tests to help find the cause of your lightheadedness. The tests will help healthcare providers plan the best treatment for you. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

Self-care

Talk with your healthcare provider about these and other ways to manage your symptoms:

Watch for signs of low blood sugar

These include hunger, nervousness, sweating, and fast or fluttery heartbeats. Talk with your healthcare provider about ways to keep your blood sugar level steady.

Check your blood pressure often

You should do this especially if you take medicine to lower your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure when you are lying down and when you are standing. Ask how often to check during the day. Keep a record of your blood pressure numbers. Your healthcare provider may use the record to help plan your treatment.

Keep a record of your lightheadedness episodes

Include your symptoms and your activity before and after the episode. The record can help your healthcare provider find the cause of your lightheadedness and help you manage episodes.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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