Dizziness is defined by MayoClinic.com as many symptoms--feeling faint, lightheadedness, feeling weak or unsteady and vertigo. MayoClinic.com also reports that dizziness is the number one reason adults visit their health care providers. Identifying the specific symptoms of dizziness will help determine the cause and treatment.
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo is the sensation that the room is turning around you. A most common cause of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, BPPV, which occurs because of a disturbance in the vestibular system in the inner ear. ClevelandClinic.org reports that episodes of vertigo associated with BPPV typically last a minute or less and may occur with imbalance, nausea and vomiting. Otoconia, or calcium carbonate crystals, are a normal part of the anatomy of the inner ear. With age, trauma or illness, the otoconia can shift from their position into the semicircular canal of the inner ear. When the crystals shift, when a person moves her head in relation to gravity--getting out of bed--the otoconia move around in the semicircular canal, disturbing the tiny hairs that are responsible for sending the brain messages about balance. This stimulation of the vestibular system creates a false sense of imbalance that the body tries to correct, which causes the vertigo.
Causes of Feeling Faint
Feelings of lightheadedness or faintness without losing consciousness are referred to as presyncope. Presyncope can be caused by a significant drop in systolic blood pressure, a condition called orthostatic hypotension. This may occur upon standing too quickly from a sitting or lying down position. MayoClinic.com also reports decreased output from the heart as a potential cause of presyncope. With decreased output from the heart, less oxygen is available for your brain to function, causing lightheaded or faint feelings.
Causes of Imbalance
The loss of balance or feeling unsteady while walking, also called disequilibrium, can be caused by many factors. The inner ear is responsible for balance, and disruptions in this system can cause difficulty. MayoClinic.com reports that peripheral neuropathy causes a decrease in sensation in the feet and legs, which can cause a sensation of imbalance; a decline in a person's vision may provide the same result. There are also certain neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's, that can cause a loss of balance.
Alternative Causes of Dizziness
Dizziness may be difficult for some individuals to qualify. Feelings of floating, spacing out or spinning out of control may be caused by a number of things. Inner ear disturbances, medications and anxiety disorders can cause these atypical symptoms of dizziness.
Warnings
Feeling faint, imbalance, vertigo, lightheadedness and dizziness are all inconvenient and can be extremely disruptive to daily life. It is important to take precautions during episodes of vertigo, presyncope or dizzy spells to ensure safety. Driving and running machinery can be dangerous if done during episodes of dizziness. Falls are also common in the elderly as a result of dizziness symptoms.
