Almost everyone has felt dizzy at one time or another even if it was just for a short time. As many as 35 percent of adults over the age of 40 have been diagnosed with a condition that has dizziness as one of its main symptoms. Dizziness is defined as the feeling of not being able to maintain your balance. You may feel as if the world around you or you yourself are spinning about. You will probably feel lightheaded and may even faint. Dizziness is the number one reason for fainting.
Dizziness is usually not a sign of a serious condition. However, it is a good idea to pay attention to it if you have accompanying symptoms that indicate something may be going on that needs professional attention.
The Symptoms of Dizziness
Even though dizziness is a symptom itself, it often comes along with other symptoms:
- Changes in vision
- Blind spots
- Ringing in your ears
- Abnormal headaches
- Incorrect sense of motion
- Irregular or slow pulse
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Paleness
- Sweating and clamminess
Causes of Dizziness
Before talking about what can help dizziness, we need to understand what is causing it. Dizziness can often be due to such conditions as anemia, heart stroke, neurological conditions, low blood pressure, head or neck injuries, and similar conditions. It can also come about due to less serious problems such as car sickness, dehydration, changes in hormones, excessive exercise, or a side effect of a particular medication.
Another reason for dizziness can be circulation problems. If your brain is not getting enough blood from your heart, your systolic blood pressure drops quickly, and you may feel faint or lightheaded. This often occurs when you stand or sit up quickly. Anxiety disorders can also be to blame, along with being overheated or having a neurological condition, like Parkinson’s disease.
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Who Is at an Increased Risk?
- Being older in age: When you are older, you tend to have more health problems, and dizziness is often a symptom. This can be due to medications being taken, too.
- Previous incidences of dizziness: One episode of dizziness often leads to another. It is a good idea to take precautions if you have had a bout of dizziness in the past.
Home Remedies for Dizziness
Most medical doctors will recommend using medications to care for your dizziness. However, this may not be the best option. There are a number of home remedies that can help with your dizziness.
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- Ginger: Ginger is excellent when it comes to increasing the circulation of your blood. If you are feeling dizzy, chew on a little fresh ginger or drink ginger tea several times a day.
- Lemon: Lemon is high in vitamin C and helps to boost your immune system and give the body fluids that help you maintain your energy. You can mix 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice with a pinch of ground black pepper in a cup of water. Add a little salt and drink 3 times daily until your dizziness improves. Or you can add the juice from half a lemon to a cup of water with a little sugar (around 2 teaspoon). Drink daily.
- Mustard: One of the best remedies for dizziness, mustard can increase blood circulation and keep your body in balance on your feet. Mix salt, pepper, vinegar, and mustard in equal portions. Add to a glass of water and drink several times daily.
- Apple cider vinegar: Another very effective remedy for dizziness, mix some apple cider vinegar with a little honey and drink every day.
- Yogurt: Yogurt is known for boosting the immune system, and as a result, it can relieve the symptoms of dizziness. Some suggestions are to eat yogurt daily. For added health benefits, you may want to add pumpkin seeds and cloves.
- Indian Gooseberry (Amla): This is known for containing a large number of vitamins, in particular, A and C, which boost the immune system, increase circulation, and prevent or alleviate dizziness. Grind two amla fruits into a paste and mix with 2 teaspoons coriander seeds. Add this to water and let sit overnight. Strain in the morning and drink daily.
- Honey: Honey contains a high content of natural sugar, making it a good home remedy for dizziness since it improves your energy and eliminates low blood sugar. Mix two tablespoons honey with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and add to a glass of cold water. Drink twice a day for best results. Or mix 1 tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice and add to a glass of warm water. Drink when you feel dizzy.
Seeking Professional Care for Dizziness
If none of the above suggestions help, it may be time to seek the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. Dizziness is often the result of a misaligned bone in the upper cervical spine. If the C1 and C2 vertebrae, the top bones of the neck become misaligned, they can put the brainstem under pressure. This causes two things to occur. For one, the bones may hinder proper blood flow from reaching the brain. As mentioned above, this can lead to dizziness. Another problem is that these bones are located in close proximity to the brainstem. The brainstem is the communication highway between the brain and body. If the misaligned bone puts stress on the brainstem, it may begin sending improper signals to the brain. If it tells the brain that the body is in motion, when it is not, dizziness can be the end result.
We use a very gentle method to help realign these bones. It does not require us to pop or crack the neck or back to move them back into shape. Rather, it is a gentle realignment resulting in a reduction in dizziness and long-lasting relief.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Cedar Park, TX office at 512-572-3976. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.