Effective Home Remedies For Dizziness
Everybody has felt dizziness or lightheadedness at least once in their lives. Whether the dizziness results from some health condition or extreme fatigue, it will appear like you have lost total control of your body, and the world around you is spinning. Fortunately, some home remedies for dizziness exist and can help you regain control of yourself. In addition, these natural remedies work long-term to reduce dizziness attacks.
Dizziness can be various things to different people and can be triggered by several situations and reasons.
You will learn the following from this post:
- Meaning of dizziness
- Causes of dizziness
- Diagnosing dizziness
- Home remedies for dizziness
Table of Contents
What is Dizziness?
Dizziness has several descriptions. Some people define dizziness as a feeling of lightheadedness, and some others call it a feeling of movement in the world around them or themselves. Some other people might refer to dizziness as a feeling of being unbalanced, while a few might not be able to describe it besides calling it plain dizziness.
Some people who experience dizziness usually have their condition accompanied by vomiting, nausea, or a feeling that they are about to faint. Technically, dizziness is not a condition or disease but a symptom of a more severe condition from which a person is suffering.
Dizziness often disappears over time. In some situations, however, dizziness may not go away on its own. Thankfully, there are several ways one can treat it. First, a doctor can find out what is causing the symptom and recommend treatments that include lifestyle changes, therapies, medications, or even surgery.
Medications
In most cases, no medication is needed for dizziness, but there are some medicines that you can use to treat the underlying causes of dizziness. Depending on the cause of the dizziness, these medications can include:
- medicines for migraines, if the dizziness is associated with migraine
- antihistamines or anticholinergic drugs, which may offer some relief from dizziness
- anti-anxiety medications, when dizziness is caused by mental health issues or is a result of panic disorders
Each of the medications provided above can be used to treat the underlying cause of dizziness, such as side effects from a certain drug, anxiety, fluid buildup in the ear, or other reasons. However, a further visit to the doctor or lifestyle changes may be required if the treatments do not improve the dizziness.
Lifestyle Changes
If medication is not effective enough against dizziness, a person may need to try some lifestyle changes. These changes could be as simple as lying down when feeling dizzy, drinking more water, or taking other non-alcoholic drinks to remain hydrated.
Steps you can take to improve your dizziness include:
- getting plenty of sleep
- reducing stress, including decreasing tobacco or alcohol intake
- drinking plenty of water and remaining hydrated
- acupuncture
- lying down and shutting the eyes.
Other therapeutic approaches you can take to reduce dizziness include psychotherapy, balance therapy, or head position maneuvers.
- Psychotherapy: If someone experiences dizziness that is linked with an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy may help them find relief from the dizziness.
- Balance therapy: You can do various exercises to train your body to become less sensitive to movement. These exercises can help if dizziness is due to a problem with the inner ear.
- Head position maneuvers: This process is also known as the Epley maneuver, which may help improve the feeling of dizziness. Epley maneuver involves moving the head position in specific ways to reposition small calcium crystals causing the dizziness. You should first discuss the Epley maneuver with your doctor before trying it.
A lifestyle change can be pretty fundamental yet make a significant difference in reducing dizziness.
Causes of Dizziness
When trying to eliminate dizziness, it is crucial to remember that it is a symptom of an underlying health issue and not a medical disorder on its own.
A wide range of different factors can cause dizziness, such as:
- inflammation of the inner ear, known as labyrinthitis
- Meniere’s disease
- motion sickness
- infection of the middle ear
- panic attacks or panic disorder
- hyperventilation
- dehydration
- stroke
- low blood sugar
- low blood pressure
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- consuming alcohol
There are several other causes of dizziness. Certain medications can also trigger dizziness as a side effect. Before taking any medications, you should always check their side effects to see if they may cause dizziness.
Vertigo
Vertigo is similar to dizziness, but unlike dizziness, which is a symptom of an underlying health condition, vertigo is a standalone condition. A person who experiences vertigo will feel like the world around them is spinning or moving. The perfect way to differentiate the two is that dizziness is a sensation while vertigo is an illusion of movement.
It is known as subjective vertigo when a dizzy person feels like they are moving in the same manner.
Diagnosing Dizziness
Dizziness is often straightforward to diagnose. First, your doctor will check to know whether the patient feels unbalanced, woozy, or disoriented. The doctor will then search for other symptoms before confirming the underlying cause of the dizziness. Finally, your doctor will narrow down the cause of the dizziness so that they can find the underlying condition and treat it.
The doctor will want to know some things about the onset of the dizziness and other symptoms you may have experienced.
Your doctor may also check your blood pressure, inner ear, and other physical characteristics that you possess to ensure that you are hydrated and your blood sugar is at a healthy level, including checking for other possible causes of dizziness.
As soon as the doctor has established the probable cause of the dizziness, they will be able to recommend treatment plans for you, such as the best natural cures for dizziness.
You should consult your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
- seizures
- a severely stiff neck
- any head injury
- struggle breathing or shortness of breath
- loss of consciousness
- ongoing or frequent nausea and vomiting
- a struggle when walking or falling over regularly
- severe or persistent migraines or headaches
Home Remedies for Dizziness
There are therapies, medication, and surgical treatments for dizziness, depending on the severity of the underlying condition that causes it. If you are not suffering from a severe issue that brings about dizziness as a symptom, there are simple home remedies for dizziness that can help prevent a bout. Here are some ways you can get rid of dizziness.
1. Strive for a Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy diet can fight dizziness, which includes consuming of plenty fluids. In addition, reduce tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine use, as these substances can aggravate the causes of dizziness. Getting enough sleep and staying away from anything that can bring you stress also helps prevent lightheadedness.
If you have low blood sugar or diabetes, focus on controlling your blood sugar. Some research suggests that drinking apple cider vinegar may help regularize blood sugar. If it appears as if your dizziness is linked with food intake, consult your healthcare provider to make sure that you identify and manage underlying or pre-existing conditions.
2. Stay Hydrated
To avoid dizziness triggered by exercise, stay hydrated. Hydration – especially drinking water before a meal – is crucial in older adults who experience postprandial hypertension, which means an excessive reduction in blood pressure after eating.
It often causes lightheadedness, dizziness, and even falls. However, research has indicated that drinking water before eating, including eating small, low-carb meals, can go a long way in managing dizziness.
3. Practice At-Home Maneuvers
Because dizziness can cause loss of balance, practicing balance exercises like yoga or tai-chi can help you keep symptoms in control and improve balance. If you experience vertigo due to BPPV, you can try the Semont-Toupet or Spley maneuvers – exercises that assist in shifting the calcium crystals in your inner ear to their correct positions.
Most experts suggest performing these maneuvers with a doctor or healthcare provider, but you can safely do an adapted exercise at home. Some researchers suggest restricting movement after carrying out these maneuvers, including avoiding cervical rotation or extension, not lying on the side, lying in bed with at least three pillows, and reducing head movement.
Another option, however, is to practice breathing exercises to help regulate your breathing. For example, pick a spot to hold your gaze steady – rather than allowing your eyes to jump around, which can result in feelings of disorientation – and practice breathing. Ensure that you do not hold your breath for too long.
4. Avoid Hot Showers or Baths
Avoid spending too long in hot water if you are susceptible to dizzy spells. Low blood pressure and a heart that has overworked itself can cause feelings of dizziness and lightheadedness. Reducing the time spent in baths and showers may get rid of the cause of your dizziness.
High temperature makes your blood vessels dilate, which reduces blood pressure. In addition, the hot water increases the blood volume your heart pumps. This increased volume of blood causes an increase in the heart’s workload.
5. Take Gingko Biloba Extract
Gingko Biloba has been in existence for a very long time. It is a Chinese herb popular as a natural solution for many health issues, including improving the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo. Most ginkgo products are produced with an extract from the leaves of the maidenhair tree.
Gingko Biloba treats dizziness and vertigo by managing blood flow to the brain, relieving balance and dizziness issues. One study claimed that the use of Ginkgo Biloba for treating vertigo was just as effective as betahistine, a drug prescribed for balance disorders such as vertigo. Betahistine is the most prescribed medication for vertigo and everything related.
6. Try Ginger
Ginger has been used for a long time as a natural remedy against nausea and motion sickness. While research has not completely established ginger as an effective remedy for dizziness, it is suggested that this natural herb prevents the development of gastric dysrhythmias and the rising of plasma vasopressin, which causes nausea linked with motion sickness.
You can take ginger in many forms you desire, from ginger supplements and tea to ginger chews. There are several different options to experiment with.
7. Take it Easy
If you constantly experience a dizzy spell, lie or sit down immediately and hydrate as soon as you can. Avoid engaging yourself in activities that put you in a situation where a fall or an accident could be possible.
You should also avoid driving, walking in the dark, climbing a ladder, standing in high places, or wearing high-heeled shoes – until you are sure that the feeling has subsided.
Additional Lifestyle Tips to Treat Dizziness Naturally
Besides the aforementioned home remedies for dizziness, you can also make a few changes to your daily lifestyle to prevent such instances from repeating themselves.
- Avoid jerky and instantaneous changes in your posture. Instead, sit down or stand up with slow movements, thus making your body adapt to the posture change.
- Practice eye movement exercises based on the principles of REM. The exercises will help bring your focus back to the present and instantly decrease the effects of dizziness.
- Include food products that possess a high amount of vitamin B12. These vitamins are effective in developing a strong mind
- Try breathing deeply. Anxiety usually makes you take short breaths that deny your body of necessary oxygen. Instead, train yourself you practice deep abdominal breathing that keeps you calm and stabilizes the level of oxygen in your body.
- Set a water alarm to remind yourself to regularly consume water. You may also choose herbal juices, teas, or other liquid foods.
- Change your meal schedule from eating three big meals a day to eating in small portions throughout the day. These meals could be snacks high in fiber and carbohydrates that can help you maintain normal sugar levels always.
- Begin meditation or yoga to achieve stability and calmness in the face of an anxiety attack. It can also help control stress levels.
Final Thoughts
While experiencing the occasional period of vertigo or dizziness may not be a significant concern, dizziness that occurs frequently and lasts more than 15 minutes should be shared with your healthcare provider.
And if you want to attempt any of the home remedies for dizziness, ensure that you first talk to a healthcare provider. They are professionals who can help you determine what is perfect for you. You also want to ensure that the remedy you choose to use will not interfere with any medications you are on.
FAQs
What Supplements are Recommended If You Have Dizziness?
Dizziness is generally due to Low Blood Sugar levels, so to improve the blood sugar level, intake of nuts, dried fruit, wholegrain bread, wholegrain porridge oats, skinless chicken, fish, quinoa, and barley are recommended. In addition to this, good sleep and a long break can make it better.
Is Ginger Good For Dizziness?
Adding fresh ginger or ground ginger to your diet, ginger tea, or ginger supplements can help you with the Dizziness with the help of its beneficial ingredients like calories, fat, sugar, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, etc.
What Should I Avoid During Dizziness?
If you have Dizziness, you should avoid caffeine, alcohol, salt, and tobacco. These are the supplements that will flare up the Dizziness.
The information contained in this post is for educational purposes only. Always consult your primary care doctor before using the remedies that are provided. The information is provided by The Hidden Cures and while we do timely, in-depth research on the information that we provide to you, everything stated may not be up to date or accurate from the time it was written.