An inner ear infection can certainly cause dizziness and constant lightheadedness, and sometimes headache too, but the dizziness is often pronounced and rotational (vertigo) or associated with ear pain, and in any case the negative ENT evaluation and VNG makes this unlikely. I get occasional dizzyness or lightheadedness episodes and Brain MRI shows all normal. Also Carotid doppler report is normal. ENT specialist gave me Betserc 16 Tab 3 times a day, to improved blood flow, but he said inner ear function and hearing is all normaland I get no nausea or vomiting! I would appreciate your feedback. Lightheadedness: Feeling lightheaded when standing or moving is due to drop in blood pressure which decreases blood supply to brain. Feeling dizzy when turning head.

1. Reasons For Occasional Lightheadedness
2. Cure For Lightheadedness
3. Occasional Lightheadedness And Dizziness
4. Occasional Lightheadedness And Dizzy
5. Occasional Lightheadedness When Standing
6. Occasional Lightheadedness Is That Normal

Health Q & A with Dr. Michael Jacobson, D.O. 

From the December 2019 issue ofHeartfeltMagazine.

Q: Recently I have been experiencing occasional lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when I stand from a sitting position. I am a 63-year-old in generally good health. Can you please give me some insight as to what might be the cause? Should I be concerned? Can you suggest a possible solution? Thank you in advance for your input; I always find your articles helpful.

A: Dehydration, a lack of water in the body, is the most common cause for general lightheadedness. Considering that your body is 60 percent water and your brain is 73 percent water, it’s not surprising that proper hydration is a crucial element for optimal health. Jesus, the Living Water, also reminds us in a metaphor how crucial water is for spiritual health, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).

Dehydration can often be caused by diarrhea or from excess perspiration associated with increased physical activity. Medications (such as diuretics for blood pressure or heart disease) can also cause dehydration. In older folks (usually later in life than 63), it’s quite common for dehydration to occur without any connection to the above-mentioned reasons. Dehydration is often associated with a faster-than-normal heart rate and a lower than-normal blood pressure, so these can be checked as well. Given the common nature of dehydration, I suggest drinking plenty of water and perhaps adding some yogurt or probiotic to your daily diet to see if that helps the symptoms.

Perhaps the second most common cause is an inner ear problem, known as Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV). This condition typically manifests as severe symptoms of room-spinning (vertigo) and can be triggered by changing the position of your neck (thus the name). BPV symptoms are typically managed by medication, such as meclizine, and tends to be self-limited, resolving over the course of several weeks.

Reasons For Occasional Lightheadedness

If it persists, I recommend that you see a doctor about it to make sure you don’t have another, perhaps more serious cause.

Please note: My office requires a one-week turnaround for medical information. If you have an acute or emergency medical incident, please seek immediate medical attention.

If you have a health question for Dr. Jacobson, CHM Medical Director, please email it to doc@chministries.org. This information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician.

Pay attention to such symptoms as lightheadedness or dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even heart palpitations, all signs of cardiovascular problems.

© Decade3d Dreamstime.com

There are many types of heart disease, but the most common in the United Sates is coronary artery disease (CAD) which is decreased blood flow to your heart. Heart attack, abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias), and heart failure are other common heart disease conditions. [1] Common heart disease warning signs for these conditions include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling from fluid retention. [1-3]

1. Chest Pain

Chest pain is the most common symptom of CAD and of heart attack. The medical term for chest pain is angina. Angina occurs when there is not enough blood or oxygen reaching your heart muscles. Angina can be mild or severe. It may be described as crushing, squeezing, or burning. It can occur under your chest bone (sternum) or in your arm, neck, jaw, or upper back. Angina may be triggered by stress or exercise. [2]

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to your heart is blocked. Heart muscle may start to die if blood flow does not improve. Heart attack warning signs along with chest pain may include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Severe anxiety
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Palpitations
• Severe sweating
• Heartburn or indigestion [1]
• Extreme fatigue [1]
• Fainting or loss of consciousness [3]

Chest pain can be caused by other conditions that are not related to heart disease like indigestion. [2] Chest pain can also be caused by heart conditions different from CAD, like heart infections or arrhythmias. [3]

2. Palpitations

Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rates or abnormal heart rhythms. Arrhythmias can cause palpitations. However, most palpitations are not caused by an arrhythmia. They can be an occasional missed beat or a brief change in your hearts rate or rhythm, lasting a few seconds. Palpitations may be felt in your chest or in your neck. They may feel like your heart is racing, fluttering, skipping, or pounding. [4]

Common causes of palpitations include stress, anxiety, exercise, caffeine, nicotine, cold medications, and fever. Palpitations may be caused by an arrhythmia if they are becoming more frequent or more severe. Several heart diseases cause arrhythmia, including heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Let your doctor know if you have frequent or severe palpitations or palpitations along with:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Dizziness or fainting (called syncope)
• Difficulty breathing

3. Shortness of Breath

Cure For Lightheadedness

The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea. Many common causes of dyspnea are not related to heart disease, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. One common heart disease that does cause dyspnea as the main symptom is congestive heart failure (CHF). [5]

Occasional Lightheadedness And Dizziness

If you have CHF, it means your heart is not beating strongly enough to pump all the blood out of your heart. As blood backs up into your lungs, fluid leaks into your lungs causing dyspnea. People may describe dyspnea as shortness of breath, not being able to get enough air, being unable to take a deep breath, or tightness in the chest. [5]

CHF dyspnea may be worse when you are active or lying flat on your back. Dyspnea may wake you from sleep or cause you to wake up tired. Other symptoms that go along with CHF are swelling in your feet and ankles and tiring easily (fatigue). [3,5] Fluid that builds up in your lungs from CHF can also cause persistent wheezing or coughing that produces blood-tinged mucous. [3,6]

4. Fatigue

Occasional Lightheadedness And Dizzy

Fatigue may be a warning symptom of heart disease if you have fatigue all the time and it is severe enough to interfere with your everyday activities. You may have trouble climbing stairs or going for a walk. This type of fatigue may be a warning for CHF. Because your heart does not pump well with CHF, you have trouble getting enough blood and oxygen to your body. Your body will direct the blood supply to the most important areas, like your brain and heart. This reduces blood supply to your muscles, especially the muscles of your arms and legs, leaving you fatigued. [6]

5. Swelling

Occasional Lightheadedness When Standing

A type of swelling called edema is a common warning symptom of CHF. It happens because your heart is not pumping strongly enough to return all your blood to your heart. Fluid leaks out your blood into areas that are farthest away from your heart, like your feet, ankles, and legs. One of the first warning signs may be that your shoes feel tight. As edema gets worse, you may have swelling in your belly, hands, and neck. [1,3,6]

Prevention of Heart Disease

Managing heart disease risk factors with your doctor is the best way to prevent heart disease. This includes getting control of conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. You should also maintain a healthy weight, eat a heart-healthy diet, get enough exercise, avoid alcohol, and not smoke. [1]

Tell your doctor if you have any heart disease warning signs. Call 911 if:

Occasional Lightheadedness Is That Normal

• You have symptoms of a heart attack or think you may be having a heart attack.
• You have been diagnosed with angina and you have angina that does not go away in 5 minutes.
• You have difficulty breathing. [2,3]

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