Lightheadedness is a type of dizziness in which the patient also feels he may faint. Lightheaded dizziness occurs when the brain is not receiving enough blood. Since blood is responsible for delivering oxygen to the body tissues, when blood to the brain is decreased, the amount of oxygen the brain receives is also decreased. Lightheaded dizziness is usually not serious, but if it occurs in conjunction with chest pain or mental confusion, the individual needs to see his doctor.
Low Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the measurement of pressure in the arteries and consists of two numbers, systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading and represents the blood pressure exerted when the heart contracts. Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number in a blood pressure reading and represents the pressure when the heart relaxes. Normal blood pressure is typically defined as 120/80 mm Hg. However, since normal blood pressure varies between individuals, low blood pressure can be difficult to define. A drop of 20 mm Hg from individual normal blood pressure is usually considered low blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
A number of factors can cause low blood pressure, including bed rest, certain medications, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies and shock.
Symptoms of low blood pressure include lightheadedness, fainting, increased thirst, lack of concentration, nausea, pale skin, shallow breathing and fatigue. Treatment is not usually required for low blood pressure. If the low pressure is caused by medications, dosage will be adjusted.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the body does not contain the amount of fluid that it needs to function properly. Dehydration is commonly caused by increased vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating or excessive urine output. In other cases, dehydration can result from inadequate fluid intake. Symptoms of minor dehydration include lightheadedness, dry mouth, sleepiness, thirst, decreased urine, muscle weakness and headache. Severe dehydration can cause sunken eyes, shriveled skin, rapid heartbeat, extreme thirst and fever, according to MayoClinic.com. Minor dehydration usually only requires an increase in water intake. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency that requires intravenous fluids and electrolytes.
Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat. An arrhythmia can be an abnormally fast heartbeat, an abnormally slow heartbeat or an irregular heartbeat. Minor arrhythmias are usually caused by lifestyle choices such as excessive alcohol use, smoking, caffeine, stress and exercise. More serious arrhythmias usually occur as a result of problems with the heart such as coronary artery disease, heart valve dysfunction and heart failure, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Symptoms of an arrhythmia include lightheadedness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and chest pain. Minor arrhythmias do not usually require treatment. Severe arrhythmias can be treated with pacemakers, cardiac defibrillation, which is a strategically placed electrical shock, or surgery.
