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Everyone must have felt dizzy. Harmless dizziness can occur after riding a roller coaster, watching 3-D movies, or when you are sleep deprived. However, sometimes there are stories of someone having a stroke, which begins, "At first I felt a little dizzy…"
Dizziness is an unpleasant feeling and can be scary. It's natural for some people to worry that they might have a stroke when dizziness occurs.
Dizziness is described as a feeling like spinning or being in a rotating room, which is often referred to as vertigo. This can make you feel off balance and even like to pass out. This can progress so badly that you feel shaking. In some cases, dizziness can feel like being in a rocking boat. Dizziness can also feel like your environment is unstable enough or like you are outside your body, or your head is like a cloud.
Sometimes dizziness occurs with these symptoms:
- nausea
- vomiting or diarrhea
- headaches or migraines
- chest pain
- hard to breathe
- fever
- ringing in the ears
- shadowed vision
- blurred vision
- numb
- tingling in an arm or leg
- talk rambling
- tingling around the mouth
- tired
Why shouldn't I worry if I get dizzy?
There are several causes of dizziness, and stroke is one of them. One of the characteristics of a brain stem stroke is dizziness. Usually, when someone has a stroke or mild stroke, there are other symptoms besides feeling dizzy. It is rare for dizziness without other symptoms to be the only sign of a stroke or mild stroke.
In general, dizziness may be a sign your body is trying to convey something.
When should I be worried?
Check with your doctor if dizziness is accompanied by other symptoms. When you experience severe dizziness, this may be a sign of a sudden change in heart function or a sign of another serious problem. When dizziness affects balance, coordination, and ability to walk, it's important to get a medical diagnosis and get it done as soon as possible.
Dizziness can be a sign of several serious health problems, such as:
Dehydration or loss of body fluids, whether from lack of proper hydration, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea or metabolic problems.
Heat stroke - Heart rhythm irregularities or arrhythmias are heart rhythm disorders that can disrupt the blood supply to the brain, resulting in a sensation of dizziness.
Hypertension or high blood pressure can affect blood vessels throughout the body and can result in an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
Hypotension or low blood pressure can cause low blood supply to the brain or watershed stroke thus resulting in dehydration.
Stroke - All types of strokes can cause dizziness, but especially strokes that involve the brain stem.
Mild stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) are symptoms that resemble a stroke but not a stroke.
Heart attack caused by a lack of blood supply to the blood vessels of the heart. This often results in low or irregular blood supply to the brain, causing a sensation of dizziness.
Ear disease can cause loss of balance because the ear is very important in maintaining balance and coordination.
Infection the lining of the brain causes headaches, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and hypotension.
Meningitis - Infection of the lining of the brain causes headaches and dizziness.
Encephalitis is a more serious infection, involving brain tissue and generally accompanied by fever.
Neuropathy - is the loss of sensory fibers in nerves. This can cause difficulty with balance and coordination, often difficulty walking. Neuropathy sufferers often feel dizzy when they shower when their eyes are closed because they cannot feel their feet on the ground.
Brain tumor can cause dizziness due to pressure on the brain, especially if the brainstem is involved.
Drug side effects - some drugs cause dizziness. It takes time to adjust to a new drug that causes dizziness. Sometimes the dizziness subsides within a few days. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you on what to do when you are dizzy.
Migraine headaches often accompanied by dizziness, either before, during, or after a migraine. If dizziness and migraines follow a predictable pattern, symptoms are usually less of a cause for concern.
Tired can cause dizziness and feelings of confusion without significant long-term effects.
What should I do?
Dizziness is a common problem and can be a sign of both a minor problem and a more serious problem. It is better if you consult a doctor so that it can be evaluated and treated. Often times dizziness is not a sign of serious problems, such as a stroke, heart attack or brain tumor, and a thorough examination of the causes of dizziness is usually complex and lengthy. However, if you are worried that something is wrong with your body, never hesitate to get clear answers and help.
