You jump to your feet, and it strikes you. You feel dizzy for a moment and nearly lose your footing. Or maybe it affects you when you don’t drink enough water. Most of the time, dizziness is a mere annoyance, but it can indicate something more serious, such as a heart problem.
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What Is My Dizziness Telling Me?
Dizziness isn’t all created equal. It can cause you to feel off balance, light-headed, faint or like you’re spinning, a condition known as vertigo. Dizziness itself isn’t a disease, but it’s often a symptom of an underlying health issue that may or may not be serious.
“Dizziness tells you something is going on with your body,” says Dr. Yvette Pellegrino, a family medicine physician at Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine. “It can be associated with a sudden drop in blood pressure, motion sickness and inner ear infections. It can also be a side effect of a medication you’re taking.”
Other health issues associated with dizziness include the following:
- Anxiety
- Brain bleeding
- Brain tumors
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizures
Getting to the root cause is important, especially if you experience dizziness frequently or it impacts your day-to-day activities. Always ask your doctor about dizziness associated with a medication. You should also see a doctor about dizziness if you experience a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, weakness, hearing loss or other unusual symptoms.
When Dizziness Is a Sign of Heart Disease
Dizziness can be a sign of cardiovascular disease. Heart conditions that cause dizziness include:
- Atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular heartbeat
- Heart attack
- Neurocardiogenic syncope, a sudden drop in blood pressure and fainting, often triggered by standing up, seeing needles or blood, or becoming fearful
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In most cases, dizziness associated with heart problems is accompanied by other symptoms. These may include shortness of breath, swollen extremities, frequent fatigue or chest pain. In the event heart disease is suspected, you will undergo one or more tests to get to the root of your problem. Blood tests, imaging examinations (MRI, CT, etc.) and exercise-based tests are often used. If heart disease is diagnosed, treatment begins immediately. Depending on your condition, your treatment may involve one or more of the following:
- Lifestyle modifications — A healthy heart requires a well-balanced diet. This means plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein, and low-fat dairy products. Regular exercise is also vital. Try to get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. If you smoke, drink alcohol excessively or have other heart-damaging habits, now’s the time to quit.
- Medications — A variety of medications can help manage heart disease. Options that thin your blood to prevent clots or lower your blood pressure are available. Others reduce chest pain or help your heart have a healthy rhythm.
- Surgical interventions — When all else fails, surgery can help manage heart disease. Surgical treatments include implanting special devices that regulate heart rhythm and repairing damaged heart muscle.
Suspect your dizziness might be serious? Talk to a primary care provider who can refer you to a member of our heart and vascular care team.
