Why do I feel dizzy?

Symptoms:

» You’re eating irregularly and you’re feeling dizzy every now and then when you’ve gone a long time between meals.

» You recently had a sore throat and you find yourself dizzy, unsteady and nauseous. If you move your head suddenly, the world spins.

» When you get up in the morning or stand suddenly from a sitting position your head seems to spin. The dizziness goes in 10-15 seconds.

It could be:

» Low blood sugar, hypoglycaemia. Your dizziness is because there isn’t sufficient sugar in your blood to nourish your brain. It also happens when an insulindependent diabetic fails to eat.

» Labyrinthitis, an inner ear condition where your balancing organ which detects head movement has become inflamed.

» Postural hypotension, where your blood pressure sinks as you stand because the blood pools in your legs.

Stop it:

» Eat small, regular meals often and keep dextrose tablets in your bag, in the kitchen or in the office if you go without meals. Suck one as soon as you feel dizzy.

» Keep your head as still as possible and sleep sitting up. See or call your doctor for medication to calm your inner ear. Your dizziness may take 2-3 weeks to settle down but see a balance physiotherapist for manipulation if it doesn’t.

» When getting up, sit on the edge of the bed for a few moments before standing. Get up from the sitting position gradually. See your doctor to have your blood pressure checked.