1. Keeping Your Balance
For some people, closing their eyes in the shower and washing their hair isn't a big deal, while others get dizzy and have to grab the wall. The sensory system works using visual signals, sensory nerves and the inner ear to balance the body. If one system fails, the other two compensate, and the body generally stays balanced. The systems that fail often determine the type of dizziness you experience. An inner-ear and sensory nerve disruption may cause vertigo, which feels like the room is spinning. At times, you may need to compensate for a failing system, such as by using a cane.
2. Don't Panic
An interruption of circulation to the brain causes dizziness. When you get dizzy, you may feel lightheaded, be unsteady, lose your balance or feel like the room is spinning. Sudden dizziness occurs frequently and often resolves quickly without medical attention. While dizziness does accompany serious medical conditions, other symptoms arise to indicate what the problem could be. When you panic, your breathing becomes shallow and may induce hyperventilation, which reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your heart and brain. This then creates additional sensations of dizziness.
3. Seeing Stars, Hearing Whistles, Feeling Pain
When accompanied by a knock on the head, a fever, a stiff neck or other symptoms, you need to contact your doctor. Sudden dizziness may indicate a stroke or heart attack, especially if the dizziness occurs with chest pain, loss of speech or vision changes. Meniere's disease, caused by a disorder in the inner ear, affects balance, often causing dizziness. Other symptoms include ringing, whistling or other noises in the ear or a loss in hearing.
4. Shake Off Temporary Dizziness
Have you ever stood up and experienced dizziness? Known as benign position vertigo, this dizziness stems from a sudden change in position like going from a sitting position to standing. Often the movement upsets the equilibrium of the ear. Shaking your head three to four times helps reset the equilibrium. If this frequently occurs, focus on changing positions slowly to allow your body time to adjust to the movement. You may want to grab onto something to steady your body for the few seconds that you experience the dizziness.
5. Hydrate Your Body
Do you drink four 8 oz. glasses of water a day? If not, you may not be supplying your body with enough liquid. For active individuals, the body requires two to three times more water to stay hydrated. Illnesses with vomiting or diarrhea dehydrate your body as well. Not a fan of water? Mix Smart Water, which has electrolytes, with powdered drinks like Crystal Light or Pink Lemonade. Electrolytes found in the body include sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium.
