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It is common to feel dizzy or unbalanced at times. You can get it from spinning around or from getting up too quickly. In some cases, dizziness can be a symptom of something much more serious. Let's learn more about dizziness 😵......
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Dizziness is a feeling of lightheadedness that feels like you may be about to faint. It also brings loss of balance, difficulty walking straight and disorientation. It is usually mild and gets better without treatment. However, dizziness increases the risk of falling and subsequent injuries. Â
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You may also come across the word vertigo which is often associated with dizziness. They are similar but vertigo refers more specifically to seeing things spinning or moving around you.
Dizziness can be caused by many different reasons. Common causes that might lead to dizziness include:
Other possible causes of dizziness:
You must see a doctor if you:
Treatment for dizziness depends on its underlying cause. You need to see a doctor if it persists and some tests may need to be carried out to exclude any underlying medical condition.Â
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Treatment is not always necessary, particularly if it only lasts for a few seconds to minutes. Chronic dizziness will go away when the underlying conditions are managed, such as:Â
Your doctor may prescribe you antihistamines (e.g. dimenhydrinate and cetirizine) and anticholinergics (e.g. benztropine mesylate) if nausea occurs as well. Benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam and lorazepam) are effective in controlling spinning sensation. Â
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You may also opt for canalith repositioning if you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. It can be done by your doctor or a therapist. Another therapy is called balance rehabilitation in which you will learn some exercises to help your body adjust to changes in motion. Â
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Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if your dizziness is caused by medications.
Below is a list of do’s and don'ts if you are feeling dizzy:
Dr. Lily Wong 黃淑婷醫生 is a family practitioner at The London Medical Clinic. She is both a registered general practitioner and a pharmacist in the UK and HK. Having lived and worked as a general practitioner for many years in busy practices in London, she relocated to Hong Kong with her family a few years ago. Dr. Wong has also been appointed Honorary Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Hong Kong University, for her teaching of medical students.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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