Constant Dizziness

Constant dizziness is a common complaint that patients present with, and is more commonly seen in case of females. Many people tend to take this symptom very lightly; however, this could be a vital symptom, indicative of an underlying grave disorder.

One of the most common causes is vertigo, wherein a person feels that he is in motion even when he is stationary. These symptoms are exhibited due to the dysfunctional vestibular system of the inner ear. This condition is also often associated with nausea and vomiting, along with difficulty while standing and walking.

The person feels unsteady and also often complains of excessive perspiration. Other symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty in speaking coherently, relatively lowered level of consciousness, etc.

The most common causes that spur on this disease include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and vestibular migraine. Other relatively less common causes include Meniere's disease and vestibular neuritis.

It is a condition where the person experiences a sensation of being off balance. This makes the person fall repeatedly, often in a particular direction. This condition, however, is not associated with any of the symptoms that are commonly seen in conjunction with vertigo, like constant dizziness and nausea and vomiting.

It is a condition that precedes actual syncope, or fainting. It is the sudden feeling of lightheadedness that eventually leads to fainting. This could be triggered by a deficiency of oxygen, as is seen in a hypoxic environment, or may occur due to a sudden drop in the blood glucose levels, which could lead to a hypoglycemic attack.

Any kind of changes or fluctuations in blood pressure which are untoward in nature can lead to a feeling of severe dizziness. This is because, if the heart does not pump enough blood to the brain, it leads to a deficiency of oxygen and nutrients in the brain.

This hampers its normal functioning, leading to the person feeling giddy. This is especially seen in people who have constant low-blood pressure, which in turn leads to constant dizziness and lightheadedness.

There are many other causes that are transient in nature, and are seen temporarily. These persist only for a specific duration of time:

• Severe dehydration can cause dizziness. Although dizziness and fatigue is not seen, if the body is not hydrated enough, he/she could eventually feel dizzy and weak, and may succumb to a syncope.
• Stress is another cause. When a person is constantly under stress, the brain ceases to function at its normal level, leading to the person feeling weak and woozy.

• Sometimes, women who tend to have very heavy menstrual bleeding can become easily anemic, at least for that period of time. This leads to lowered levels of oxygen reaching the blood, which causes dizziness and lightheadedness.

• Other causes include sudden changes in posture, migraine, side effects of certain medications, hormonal imbalances, circulatory disturbances, etc.

The treatment of this condition depends on the underlying cause. Due to the diversity of causes, it is important to properly diagnose the condition so that the treatment meted out is effective. Also, this symptom should not be taken lightly as it could be indicative of an underlying brain disorder, which could go undiagnosed otherwise.

Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.