Giddiness: Meaning, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments & More

This is some text inside of a div block.

July 13, 2022

min read

This is some text inside of a div block.

views

Home

/

What is giddiness?

‍Giddiness, also known as lightheadedness or dizziness, is the feeling of being unbalanced in the head, as though the surroundings are spinning or reeling. This might also make one feel as though they are going to faint, further causing nausea or vomiting. It generally has a direct temporary effect on the sensory organs such as eyes and ears. Although, giddiness is not a disease by itself, it could be a cause of an underlying disease.

‍Symptoms of giddiness‍

Giddiness by itself could be a symptom of many other underlying diseases. However, the sensations experienced while one is feeling giddy could be:

Feeling faint or light headedness
A sense of spinning
Loss of body balance or unsteadiness
A feeling of floating in the air

Nausea, vomiting or fainting is often accompanied with giddiness. In case, you experience these giddiness symptoms for a prolonged period of time, it is best advised to seek medical help. Your doctor can determine your giddiness diagnosis and help you with a suitable treatment for the same. ‍

Who is at risk

Below mentioned people are at higher risk

Over 50 years old
Women are at higher risk than men
Suffered Head injury
Taking certain medications like antidepressants
Having family history of giddiness

Causes of giddiness

‍Migraine and alcohol could be common causes of dizziness, however, certain medications may also cause this condition. Other underlying reason could be a problem in the inner ear, the area which regulates balance in the body. People with vertigo often experience giddiness as well. The benign positional vertigo causes short-term giddiness when someone stands up too quickly from a sitting or sleeping position. There are many other possible reasons that can cause giddiness. Some of the other common giddiness causes may include:

Low bp or a sudden drop in blood pressure
Heart related diseases
A decrease in the volume of blood
Anxiety or other mental health disorders
Low levels of iron in the body or anemia
Low blood sugar levels – hypoglycemia
Infection in the ear
Heat stroke
Dehydration
Excessive wear out through exercise
Motion sickness

Multiple Sclerosis such as a stroke, a tumor or a brain disorder could also cause giddiness in rare cases. ‍

How is Giddiness diagnosed‍

If the doctor suspects that you may have suffered a stroke or a head injury, an MRI or CTI scan will be recommended. Doctor may conduct various exams to check your balance:

Eye movement testing
Head movement testing
Posturography
Rotary chair testing

In addition to that, blood tests may also be recommended‍

Treatments for giddiness‍

The underlying cause of giddiness needs to be treated. Generally, home remedies and basic medications can help in controlling giddiness. Some treatments are based on the underlying causes and the types of giddiness:

Inner-ear issues – home remedies and medications that help in controlling balance
BPV (benign positional vertigo ) – can be resolved with regular motions practiced that can reduce the effect of symptoms. In cases where the BPV is not controlled, surgery is a good option.
In case of the Maniere’s disease, a low salt diet and occasional injections may help.
Migraines are treated with medications and lifestyle changes, such as learning to identify and avoid migraine triggers.
Migraines – medications and simple lifestyle changes. Identifying and avoid migraine triggers is important.
Anxiety-reducing techniques such as medication can help with giddiness caused due to anxiety
In case of dehydration – consuming plenty of fluids help with avoiding dehydration, in turn giddiness

How to prevent giddiness?

If you experience recurrent bouts of giddiness, here are a few steps that you can follow for giddiness revention:

Rest by sitting or lying down immediately until the feeling of giddiness goes away. This can prevent you from losing your balance and falling, which could possibly cause head injury at times
In serious cases, use a cane or walker to gain stability
Get a grip of handrails while climbing up or down the stairs
Practice Yoga, Tai Chi or any activity that helps improve balance
Avoid switching positions all of a sudden
Caffeine, alcohol or tobacco could be triggers for giddiness, avoid consuming them if you experience the feeling often
Keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration
Get enough rest by sleeping for at least 7-8 hours a day
Eat nutritious and healthful food
Avoid stress and anxiety inducing situations
If you feel that your dizziness could be caused due to a medication, talk to your doctor about the same. They will probably lower the prescription or switch to an alternative medicine for giddiness

It is important that you consult your general physician and talk about the frequency and severity of your giddiness, in order to understand and determine the reasons for giddiness and get it treated.

Top Search Terms For Yoga