Dizziness When Lying Down
Feeling ‘dizzy’ can imply two possible scenarios, either you are feeling unwell and may think that you are about to faint. Another scenario may be you might feel that the surroundings and the objects are in constant motion as if there is an earthquake whereas in reality there is no movement. This condition is known as ‘Vertigo’. So it’s important to know what the conditions you are experiencing are and what is causing this dizziness.
Dizziness is mostly found to occur in adults and old people. However, they are also found to happen to young ones too. Subjects have problems like keeping their balance and may have a tendency to fall and may have whirling feelings.
Let’s examine the reasons causing this dizziness and how to control and prevent it.
Reasons for Dizziness
The following may be the reasons you experience dizziness when lying down or when trying to get up from a horizontal position.
1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
During this condition, the patient feels as if the surrounding is rotating around him in a whirlpool manner. This can happen when a person is lying down. It occurs mainly because of the obstruction of movement of calcium stones beneath the labyrinth section the ear. It happens, when the movements of calcium stones are obstructed, the body balance is lost, and the patient feels as if the whole world is rotating at a fast pace around him. This condition may persist from two seconds to two minutes. This condition is mainly experienced by elder people because of the age deterioration of the ear but can also occur in individuals having met with head injuries.
2. Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure is one of the most common causes of dizziness. When the blood pressure drops substantially and at a fast pace or if there is a sudden spike in blood pressure, both of them can lead to dizziness. This condition is medically termed as hypotension. Various medications are available for maintaining the right blood pressure in the body. Salt intake should be increased for individuals with low blood pressure conditions.
During this condition, the patient may feel like the surrounding is in constant motion even though he may be in still position. This is a type of vertigo condition caused due to infection to the labyrinth, the inner section of the ear that aids in hearing and keeps body balance. Because the body balance is lost the patient may feel dizziness. This condition is mainly caused due to a virus or may be a bacterial infection. Fever accompanies it.
Medications can cause dizziness in some patients. Improper consumption of drugs, taking allergic drugs can lead to dizziness. The doctor should be immediately consulted in response to such events and either the drug should be changed or the overall method of treatment should be changed.
Dizziness is also found to happen in individuals who experience panic attacks or anxiety or stress. Stress leads to the release of some hormones that can impair proper thinking and also result in a weakness feeling in some individuals. Hearing some unpleasant news is also found to trigger dizziness in some individuals. Frightening nightmares can also give rise to severe headaches ultimately culminating in dizziness. For such individuals, the cause of the anxiety should be identified and should be avoided as far as possible.
6. Dehydration or Overheating
Dehydration is yet another the major causes of dizziness. Dizziness is also found in individuals who go without eating for prolong periods. This is caused due to low blood sugar levels and can be cured by having timely food routine. Going without water for prolong periods, increase exposure to heat can give rise to nasty headaches that culminate in dizziness and weakness. Therefore, the body should be kept properly hydrated with water and glucose supplements.
Old people are found to have recurrent cases of dizziness because of their failing parts and inability of the body to keep balance.
8. Other notable reasons
Ø Breathing polluted and poisonous fumes may cause dizziness because of lack of oxygen and finally become unconsciousness.
Ø Irregularities in heart beat pattern can cause dizziness.
Ø More consumption of alcohol or consumption of spurious alcohol can also cause dizziness.
Ø Low blood sugar mainly occurring in diabetic patients can cause dizziness.
Ø Blockage of blood carrying veins resulting in the lack of supply of oxygen to the brain can cause dizziness. Also, dizziness is also experienced during the onset of heart attacks, strokes, etc.
Ø People having migraine problems are found to be recurrent occurrences of dizziness.
When do you require a Medical Treatment?
If following conditions are experienced, it is better to consult a doctor.
Ø Continuous vomiting
Ø Dizziness after sustaining a head injury
Ø High fever
Ø Chest pains, loss of vision, inability to move body parts
The doctor will first know about your medical history to certify whether you have any cases of medical history or hereditary diseases where dizziness is one of the symptoms. One of the primary checks is to see whether there no damages to the ear, as the adequate presence of the ear fluid is essential in maintaining the balance in the body. The doctor may further look at the various body organs to confirm as the patient is not suffering from anybody injuries.
If no such injuries are found the doctor may suggest for going for MRI scan to confirm there is no damage to any part of the brain. Cardiac arrests are diagnosed by dizziness of the subject followed by profuse sweating and temporary paralysis. Medical history of the subject should be taken into account when there are repeated occurrences of such dizziness.
Routine blood checks, blood pressure, are also carried out to diagnose whether the patient is suffering from ailments like diabetes or low blood pressure where dizziness is one of the symptoms. Proper medications should be taken if such conditions exist.
Ø Rapid movements of the body like twisting, turning can throw the body out of balance thereby causing dizziness. Such rapid movements should be avoided.
Ø Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine consumption should be avoided as far as possible.
Ø Dehydration can cause dizziness, hence, consume lots of fluids with glucose to have a rapid source of energy.
Ø Allergy to some items can also result in dizziness. Eliminate and avoid things that are allergic to the patient.
Ø Ear infections can cause the imbalance in the body leading to dizziness. Proper ear drops and treatment can be used to cure such infections.