15 Common Causes of Dizziness in Women

Have you ever felt lightheadedness and instability upon getting out of bed or after a strenuous workout? That being said, if the episodes of dizziness are brief and rare, you shouldn’t be too concerned, but if they occur frequently and last longer, you might want to see your doctor.

Dizziness is a symptom of feeling lightheaded, unbalanced, and weak. There are many reasons to feel dizzy, but it can also be a sign of numerous underlying conditions, such as anxiety, low blood pressure, dehydration, and anemia, which we will discuss in detail below. In most cases, it’s not life-threatening, but if one experiences frequent bouts of dizziness, then it’s time to seek medical attention.

Causes

1. VERTIGO – Women, particularly those over 65, may experience vertigo as a prevalent cause of dizziness. The sudden sensation of spinning inside the brain is one of the symptoms, along with nausea. Many pregnant women report vertigo experiences, which may be caused by the following reasons:

•  Alterations in metabolism during pregnancy
• Resting in bed for longer than usual
•  Hormonal changes

Vertigo can be a sign of several underlying health conditions affecting your ears and your vestibular system. The vestibular system helps you to coordinate your movements, and stay upright in a position and balanced. A common cause of vertigo and dizziness related to vertigo is benign positional vertigo. BPV leads to short-term dizziness when one changes positions swiftly.

2. MENOPAUSE – Menopause occurs during midlife years in women and can be one of the causes of feeling nauseous and dizzy, as there are a lot of hormonal changes during menopause.

3. ANAEMIA – The production of red blood cells slows down due to iron deficiency in the body, called anemia. This condition further leads to dizziness and fatigue. As women lose blood during their menstrual cycle, therefore they are more susceptible to increased risk of iron deficiency anemia.

4. DEHYDRATION – Maintaining a healthy balance in the body’s composition of water will reduce the effect of dizziness drastically. Especially during workouts or during summers when the atmospheric temperature shoots up and becomes sweaty. Along with dizziness, mild dehydration in a woman’s body can cause headaches, fatigue, and muscle weakness.

5. MIGRAINES – One of the main reasons why women get nausea and dizziness is sharp, one-sided shooting headaches termed migraines.

6. POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION – Poor blood flow to the brain can result in tingling, numbness, weakness, and dizziness. Because it seriously impairs the brain’s ability to get oxygen, it can induce sudden episodes of dizziness.

7. MENIERE’S DISEASE – This disorder involves a buildup of excess fluid within the inner ear. Dizziness spells that come on suddenly and last for several hours are its defining feature. Additionally, possible symptoms include ringing in the ears, fluctuating hearing loss, and the sensation of a hearing block.

8. VESTIBULAR NEURITIS – Dizziness can also occur due to vestibular neuritis, a condition that affects the nerve responsible for transmitting signals from the inner ear to the brain. This illness also causes chronic vertigo, although typically without any hearing loss.

9. ANXIETY AND STRESS – Women experience dizziness due to panic attacks, which are frequently brought on by anxiety and despair following menopause. Hormonal shifts, midlife experiences, and worries about ageing and health are some of the contributing factors.

10. LOW BLOOD SUGAR (HYPOGLYCEMIA) – Women who use insulin and have diabetes typically develop this ailment. Sweating and nervousness are common side effects of dizziness, also known as light-headedness.

11. HORMONAL CHANGES DURING PREGNANCY – During early pregnancy, hormonal changes can expand blood vessels, which may result in feelings of dizziness. The symptoms may get better or get worse as the pregnancy goes on.

12. PARKINSON’S DISEASE – Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes trembling and problems with balance. Dizziness is a common symptom of this condition that can become more apparent in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease.

13. AGEING – The dizziness can also be caused by age-related issues because when the human body ages, the body systems, particularly the inner ear, might not function as well as they once did.

14. EAR INFECTION – Balance issues and dizziness may arise from inner ear inflammation brought on by an ear infection. Both bacterial and viral factors can lead to ear infections.

15. OVER EXERCISING – Exercising to the extent of gasping for air may result in hyperventilation, a fast-breathing pattern that lowers blood carbon dioxide levels and leaves one feeling dizzy.

Symptoms

Dizziness can result from a variety of symptoms. A doctor’s visit is advisable if symptoms of dizziness are accompanied by  :

• Headache
• High Fever
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Blurred Vision
• Heart palpitations
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Chest Pain
• Hearing and speech loss
• Numbness
• Confusion
• Problems in balancing
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
• Seizures

 Treatments

In most cases, dizziness improves with time. The doctor may carry out a comprehensive evaluation to identify the issue and determine the best treatment, while also checking for any serious hidden conditions. They are as follows:

• Drink plenty of fluids to curb the effects of overheating and dehydration.
• If you believe a certain medication is causing your dizziness, ask your doctor to recommend a different dosage.
• A big cause of dizziness is stress and anxiety, so avoid stressful situations that could result in that.
• Caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco should be refrained from.
• Practicing yoga has been beneficial in lowering the intensity of dizziness in women.
• A healthy, iron-rich, balanced diet boosts red blood cell formation in women going through menopause, perimenopause, or pregnancy.
• Maintain a healthy sleep schedule.
• It’s advisable to get a thorough check-up of the ear to exclude ear infections.
• Practice balance exercises to strengthen the muscles that help balance.       

Conclusion

Most of the time, dizziness is not a major worry. However, if not addressed promptly, there may be dire repercussions. If women experience dizziness more frequently, seeing a doctor regarding the underlying causes is important. Ignoring and postponing treatment of dizziness might have detrimental effects because it can range from a minor spinning spell to a significantly deeper condition. In the long term, diet adjustments and exercise can undoubtedly help rule out all the causes of dizziness in women with the right medical supervision.

When to See a Doctor?

When dizziness gets worse, stays longer, or interferes with everyday activities, people should get medical attention. Dizziness can result from a variety of medical issues. If further therapy is required for the person’s condition, a doctor can assist in determining it.

Frequently Asked Questions