What Is Giddiness?

Giddiness or dizziness is the feeling of being unbalanced and lightheaded. One might feel woozy or disorienting with the surroundings spinning, reeling or moving. One might also feel faint or like one is about to faint. Giddiness is sometimes accompanied by nausea or vomiting. While giddiness can affect a person severely, it is not an independent medical condition but often a symptom of some other underlying condition. This underlying condition could be something as simple as overexertion or as serious as a stroke. Most often, it is caused by neurological or inner ear issues.

Causes Of Frequent Giddiness

Some of the most common causes of frequent giddiness are:

Hypotension:

Hypotension is a term for low blood pressure, generally a reading lower than 90 mm Hg/ 60mm Hg. Most people experience changes in blood pressure throughout the day within a normal range. A blood pressure of around 120 mm Hg/ 80 mm Hg is desirable. Some people have constantly low blood pressure with absolutely no symptoms. However, a sudden fall in blood pressure can sometimes trigger episodes of giddiness.

Hypoglycemia:

Low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. A blood sugar reading of less than 70 mg/dL is considered low and can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. The causes for hypoglycemia are varied, but it can be a potentially very serious event and should be treated by a qualified medical professional immediately.

BPPV or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo:

This condition is one of the most frequently seen causes of the feeling of giddiness. It is the condition when the patient experiences a spinning sensation with mild to severe giddiness. The spinning sensation is called vertigo. Any change in the position of the patient's head can trigger the sensation. It can also be caused by lying down, sitting up or turning over in bed—problems with the inner ear cause BPPV.

The inner ear has tubes or canals filled with fluid that move according to the person's head rotation. The canals also have hair-like sensors that detect movement in the fluid, thus telling the brain about the person's position. The ear also has Otolith Organs that have crystals that are sensitive to gravity and can detect the up and down, back and forth, as well as the right and left movements of the person. When these crystals get dislodged, they tend to move to the fluid-containing canals. This confuses the body's mechanism for sensing movement and sends confusing signals to the brain, causing the spinning sensation of vertigo.

Inner Ear Problems:

Irritation or inflammation of the inner ear can cause balance problems and giddiness. Rarely, a viral or bacterial infection of the inner ear could occur, which could also cause giddiness. Meniere's disease could also be a cause of vertigo. This disease affects the inner ear and causes hearing problems and vertigo.

Circulatory Problems:

Circulatory problems can cause giddiness. When there is a problem with blood circulation within the body, the blood supply and, consequently, the oxygen supply to all body parts are reduced. Heart muscle disease or problems such as Tachy Brady syndrome can cause dizziness or giddiness. A qualified medical professional should immediately treat such underlying problems.

Anaemia:

Anaemia is the term used to describe low levels of red blood cells (RBC) in a person's body. It is measured by checking a person's haemoglobin count. When the RBC count is too low it reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood thus decreasing the amount of oxygen being supplied to the rest of the body, causing dizziness.

Motion Sickness:

It is a common yet bothersome reason behind episodes of giddiness. Motion sickness occurs in some people when they travel either by boat, car, air or train. It makes a person feel woozy, nauseous and giddy.

Dehydration:

Dehydration is when a person loses more fluid than they consume. When there is too much water loss, the body cannot function normally, and giddiness is one of the symptoms.

Over Exertion Or Excessive Exercise:

While adequate exercise is always good, too much can cause problems. One sign of excessive exercise is episodes of giddiness.

Migraines:

The symptoms of migraines vary from person to person. Some people suffer from migraines that are accompanied by dizziness and lightheadedness.

Head Injury:

Head injuries can cause a host of symptoms and problems. However, giddiness is a prevalent symptom in head injury patients. It should not be taken lightly, and one must immediately seek the attention of a qualified medical professional.

Stroke:

A Stroke is caused when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted somehow. Sometimes, the onset of a Stroke is gradual, and one of the symptoms is giddiness. It is a potentially dangerous condition that a qualified medical professional should immediately treat.

Neurological Problems:

Neurological issues such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's exhibit giddiness as one of the symptoms.

Vestibular Neuritis And Labyrinthitis:

Vestibular Neuritis is the condition of inflammation of the vestibular nerve, whereas labyrinthitis is the inflammation of both the vestibular nerve and cochlear nerve. Since the vestibular nerve transmits information about balance to the brain, it only causes vertigo symptoms. The cochlear nerve transmits hearing information; therefore, labyrinthitis causes vertigo, hearing problems, and ear ringing. Both conditions can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and concentration problems. Viral infections cause most Vestibular Neuritis cases, while some can result from bacterial infections too.

Anxiety Disorders:

When a person has an anxiety disorder, one of the common symptoms is a feeling of giddiness. The types of disorders and the triggers are varied from individual to individual.

Heat Stroke:

Exposure to excessive heat or physical exertion in high temperatures causes the body to overheat. When the body temperature goes above 104 F (40 C) or higher, heatstroke can occur. It is most likely to occur in summer and starts with symptoms of giddiness. It is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

Medication:

Certain medications can cause giddiness as a side effect. For example, incorrect doses of medication to treat blood pressure may lower blood pressure too much, causing dizziness. A medical professional would have to adjust the medication dosage. Anti-seizure medicines, sedatives, antidepressants, and tranquillisers are some of the medications that may have the unpleasant side effect of causing dizziness.

Giddiness And Its Link To Tachy Brady Syndrome

Tachy Brady Syndrome is the name used to refer to Tachycardia Bradycardia Syndrome, a heart condition that is a type of Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS). The SSS type of disorder is caused by the malfunctioning of the Sinus Node in the heart, which controls the pace of one's heartbeat. When the sinus node malfunctions, the heart does not beat properly and exhibits different types of issues with the heart rate, which are called arrhythmias.

When the heart beats too fast, it is called Tachycardia; when it beats too slowly, it is called Bradycardia. When both issues alternate, it is called Tachy Brady Syndrome. When one suffers from this syndrome, the heartbeats alternate between abnormally fast and abnormally slow.

This causes improper blood flow to the rest of the body, which can cause fatigue, giddiness, and even fainting in some cases. It is usually seen in people who have experienced Atrial Fibrillation. The most common symptoms of this condition are dizziness and palpitations.

Symptoms Of Giddiness

Giddiness presents with some or all of the following symptoms:

Feeling faint
Feeling lightheaded
Feeling like the surroundings are moving or spinning
Being unsteady on one's feet
Losing one's balance
A disoriented feeling of floating or swimming

Should You Consult A Doctor?

Giddiness is not an issue but is often a symptom of an underlying health issue. When it occurs frequently or over longer periods, it could indicate an underlying health issue for which one should consult a qualified medical professional. When the following symptoms accompany giddiness, one should see a qualified medical professional immediately.

Headache
High Fever
Chest Pain
Head Injury
Drooping of Eye or Mouth
Hearing Loss or Blurred Vision
Speech Difficulties
Numbness or Tingling
Ongoing Vomiting
Loss of Consciousness

Diagnosis Of Frequent Dizziness

Frequent dizziness or giddiness is not a condition by itself but is often a symptom of an underlying condition. Therefore, you will be asked about your dizziness episodes and medical history when you consult a doctor. Your doctor will want to know

A list of medication that is being taken.
When giddiness happens.
Is there any pattern or particular situation in which it occurs?
How frequent are the episodes of feeling giddiness?
How severe are the episodes of feeling giddiness?
Are the episodes accompanied by other symptoms?

The doctor will investigate and diagnose any underlying giddiness. This may include a physical exam, eye and ear examinations, balance tests, and neurological tests. CT or MRI scans may be recommended to rule out neurological issues if warranted.

Treatment Of Giddiness

When giddiness is caused by hypotension, treatment to normalise blood pressure will cure the episodes of giddiness. When dizziness is caused by hypoglycemia, treating the condition will resolve the dizziness.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) can be treated by Epley's Maneuver, a series of movements that cause the crystals in the ear to be dislodged from the ear canals, thus resolving vertigo. This can be performed at home without the need for any equipment. Two other exercises that could be better known are the Semont-Toupet Maneuver and the Brandt-Daroff exercise, which can also be done at home. The Brandt-Daroff exercise sometimes makes a person feel dizzy for a short while after the exercise, and adequate precautions must be taken. Sometimes, BPPV requires medication to be resolved. It would include anticholinergics, antihistamines or sleep aids. It can also recur even after being successfully treated. If BPPV is accompanied by vision or speech problems, it could indicate another underlying issue that needs further investigation and treatment. Some studies have shown that BPPV symptoms get worse in some patients if they also have a Vitamin D deficiency. Treating this deficiency with supplements and dietary means has helped reduce the severity of BPPV.

The giddiness caused by Meniere's disease can be resolved by maintaining a healthy sodium diet with medications or ear surgery if required. Taking adequate quantities of Vitamin C can help Meniere's disease patients.

When heart problems cause dizziness, treatment of the heart and circulatory problems as required will resolve the issue. Tachy Brady Syndrome treatment to regularise the heart rate with medication, ablation, or pacemaker implantation will resolve the giddiness.

Simple measures to maintain a healthy food and water intake are the best giddiness treatment for symptoms caused by dehydration, exertion, anaemia, and heat. Migraines, neurological, and anxiety-related giddiness problems can be treated through appropriate medication and lifestyle changes. Stress relief and balance improvement practices such as yoga and Tai Chi also help.

Some people have found great relief through acupuncture. The consulting doctor will suitably treat bacterial and viral infections of the inner ear.

Dizziness caused by medication would require an adjustment in the dosage or, in severe cases, a change of drugs altogether. This would have to be done in consultation with the treating doctor.

It is also advised to avoid salt, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol, as these could worsen the dizziness. One should be aware of and avoid triggers for giddiness episodes.

What To Do While Feeling Giddy?

Lying Down Before Calling For Help
Lie Down and Rest
Drink Enough Water
Avoid caffeine
Use Stair Rails
Tai Chi for Stress Relief and Balance

The very first thing that one should do when feeling dizzy is to sit or lie down immediately and then call for help. One should rest until one is feeling stable. This will be an essential measure to prevent serious injuries caused by falling due to losing one's balance.

If the giddiness is caused by heat or overexertion, one should rest in a cool place and drink water. Any severe giddiness and nausea warrants a period of lying down and rest.

Maintaining adequate water intake is vital to prevent the body from becoming dehydrated. Maintaining a balanced diet will also prevent vitamin deficiencies that may worsen conditions, causing dizziness.

One should avoid operating any machinery or driving if one is prone to spells of dizziness.

Using a walking stick or cane makes sense if one is prone to frequent giddiness. Handrails, when available, especially when using stairs, are also sensible to avoid falls.

Ask your doctor for over-the-counter medication to be taken when one experiences nausea and dizziness. These medications sometimes tend to cause drowsiness and may not be suitable for people who need to be active after taking the drug.