Here at Express Emergency Room in Temple, TX, 76504 we want you to know that one must remember that dizziness alone is not a disease, but a symptom that is usually associated with something else that is wrong in your body. There are several bouts with dizziness that are caused by minor and temporary issues, while others should be treated as an emergency. The following are a list of reasons that dizziness can occur that are warning signs for you to see a doctor quickly.
Some of the Symptoms for dizziness include
- Feeling lightheaded
- Spinning sensation
- Loss of balance
- Weakness
- Headache
- Lethargy
When you are talking to your doctor, you must describe every sensation you experience as clearly as possible so he can make the best diagnosis possible for a reason you are dizzy.
There are some common causes of dizziness
Dizziness can be caused by simple things like motion sickness or from a more complex issue like something going on in your inner ear. In other matters, it can be a symptom for an extremely serious disorder that affects your heart or blood vessels. We are only touching on a few of the reasons that can occur.
Heart Attack
You can develop symptoms of dizziness when there is a reduced blood flow to your brain, and that could be the sign of a heart attack.
If you should lose consciousness, it will probably mean the blood flow to your brain is drastically reduced. Should you or someone you love or know faint or lose consciousness, you should call for medical attention as soon as possible.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
If your blood sugar is low, every part of your body, which includes your brain, will go into what is called a reservation mode. It is your body’s way of reserving as much energy as possible and can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
There are some cases in which drinking juice will help relieve symptoms, but it is better to get your blood sugar tested as soon as you can.
Motion Sickness
There are a lot of people who suffer from motion sickness when they travel by plane, boat, car, or train. If this is the case, dizziness is the sign that your body’s sensory organs could be sending some mixed messages to your brain.
The kind of confusion from the mixed up messages in your head can not only cause you to feel dizzy, but you might also feel nauseated and lightheaded too. If you already know you get motion sick, you can try prevention strategies by using over the counter medications or getting the script for the patch behind your ear.
Hypotension
Hypotension is nothing but low blood pressure and is preferred to having high blood pressure. When it dips too low, it can make you feel dizzy, tired, or even pass out and fall. When you come to from passing out, you will have no idea what happened. In these instances, low blood pressure could be a sign of another condition.
Low blood pressure can be caused by:
- A bloodstream infection
- Anaphylactic shock
- Extreme blood loss
- Diabetes or other endocrine disorders
- Too many blood pressure medications
Dehydration
If there are not enough fluids in your body, it causes your blood to decrease in volume. It lowers your blood pressure and will prevent the brain from getting the blood it needs, and making you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
Sometimes a glass of water might be enough to help, but if you have not been drinking or eating enough for a few days, it will take even more than that to dehydrate. If the case is severe enough, you need to see your doctor to have an intravenous fluid infusion.
When Should You Go to Get Help
Most will find that dizziness clears up on its own after a short while. If you have a dizzy spell, do whatever you can to avoid caffeine and tobacco products and be sure to lie or sit down until the feeling goes away. If the dizzy spell is associated with a severe headache, hearing loss, vomiting, or nausea, then get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible.
If you are also feeling short of breath, having any type of vision or speech change, chest pain, or limb weakness, have someone get you to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.
24-Hour Emergency Room Services
24-hour Emergency Room services are near you here at Temple Express Emergency Services. Remember that dizziness is not a symptom that you should brush off, that it could be a symptom or something more severe for you.