Dizziness
Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations involving unsteadiness with your balance or orientation. It is a common symptom and can vary in severity and duration.
Dizziness can be caused by many things: inner ear problems, blood pressure changes, heart conditions, low blood sugar, anxiety or panic attacks, medication side effects, dehydration, anemia, infections, and other health conditions. Specific movements, changes in position (like standing up quickly), particular environments (such as heights or confined spaces), and visual stimuli (like scrolling on the phone) can trigger or exacerbate dizziness.
Types of dizziness:
- Vertigo: Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you feel like you are spinning or whirling as if your surroundings are moving when they are not. It often occurs due to issues with the inner ear, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease, or vestibular migraines.
- Lightheadedness: Lightheadedness is a sensation you might pass out. It can be caused by a drop in blood pressure, dehydration, anemia, or certain medications.
- Disequilibrium: Refers to a general feeling of instability or imbalance, often described as feeling dizzy or shaky.
If you or someone you know experiences persistent or severe dizziness, it's important to consult a medical professional for proper evaluation and diagnosis. A healthcare provider can determine the underlying cause of the dizziness and recommend appropriate treatment.
Home Remedies and Natural Cures for Dizziness
While home remedies can help manage mild cases of dizziness, it's important to note that a medical professional should evaluate severe or persistent dizziness to determine its underlying cause. Here are some home remedies that might provide relief from occasional dizziness:
Eat and Drink Frequently
It may seem silly to say this, but being dehydrated can cause dizziness, so stay hydrated, especially in hot temperatures. Extreme calorie limitations from dieting can also make you dizzy, so ensure you eat enough food to avoid this.
Avoid Caffeine and Sugar
Caffeine and sugar are both dehydrating and can cause dizziness. If you are already prone to dizziness, it's best to avoid caffeine and sugar in excessive amounts.
Deep Slow Breathing
Deep breathing techniques are good for many things and are also helpful as a home remedy for dizziness. Practice Learning to take and hold deep, slow breaths to ward off feelings of dizziness.
Physical Therapy
If a specific head position seems to be causing the dizziness, visiting a physical therapist may be in order. Sometimes, tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become loose and lodge in an area where it affects your equilibrium. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can be treated with physical therapy to dislodge the crystals.
Dizziness may be a symptom of medical conditions affecting your balance, causing muscle fatigue or headaches. Physical therapy can help with dizziness caused by more serious reasons such as ménière disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, migraine headache, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
Helpful information on Vestibular rehabilitation therapy can be found here: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15298-vestibular-rehabilitation
Peppermint Oil
Breathing in peppermint oil or rubbing peppermint oil on the temples is a natural cure for headaches and can be helpful for dizziness. You can get a roll on with peppermint essential oil to help with headaches and reduce stress and tension. Do not get peppermint oil in the eyes, and follow all manufacturer's instructions.
Ginger Tea with Honey
Natural juice from ginger root has anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory properties to help as a natural cure for dizziness. Ginger tea is known for its warming and soothing properties, and it can be particularly helpful in alleviating nausea, aiding digestion, and providing a comforting beverage.
You can make tea from ginger root sweetened with sugar or honey and keep it in the refrigerator to drink as needed. If you don't like the spicy taste of fresh ginger, you can take powdered ginger in capsules instead.
Ingredients:
- Fresh ginger root (about 1 to 2 inches)
- Water
- Optional: Honey, lemon, or other flavorings
Instructions:
- Wash and peel the ginger root.
- Finely slice or grate the ginger.
- Add 1-2 tsp ginger to 1 cup of hot water
- Allow the ginger to steep for 5-10 minutes
- You can strain the ginger pieces, but it's unnecessary.
- Sweeten if preferred.
Sip your freshly brewed ginger tea slowly and savor its warm, soothing flavors. You can drink this spicy, anti-inflammatory beverage hot or cold.
Rest
Illness can weaken the body and make you sluggish. If you feel weak and dizzy, you may need to rest more to help your body heal and recover.
Cautions
Remember, if your dizziness is severe, recurrent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or loss of consciousness, seek medical attention promptly. It's important to rule out any serious underlying medical conditions.
