Dizziness is common in almost all adults. However, it can happen more often in the elderly. Understanding dizziness might help stop it from occurring.
The brain receives signals from the whole body. The signals are from the eyes, nerves, structures in the inner ear, and nerves. The brain uses these signals to help it understand where the body is in space. The brain stem and a small area of the brain nearby are functioning parts in body position and balance.
Why and How Dizziness Happens
Dizziness happens when the signals do not reach the brain, are split up, or the brain doesn’t read them correctly. It could be due to dehydration or medical problems.
The elderly are more likely to have problems that can lead to dizziness. This is typically due to changes in eyesight, the inner ear, or medical conditions such as low blood pressure. Also, older adults could experience changes in blood flow to the brain. This can affect how the brain works.
Several Reasons
Seniors can have one or more conditions that may cause dizziness. Some medicine could cause dizziness, and the elderly are probably taking one or more of these medicines. This raises the risk of dizziness in seniors and makes it difficult to pinpoint a cause.
Conditions that increase the risk of dizziness include:
- Dehydration
- Diabetes
- Migraines
- Anxiety
- Head trauma
- Arthritis
- Heart problems
- Smoking
- Neurological disorders
Blood flow problems could cause lightheadedness, resulting in dizziness. This might occur with:
- Low blood pressure
- Heart issues
- Hypertension
- Poor blood flow
Dizziness that occurs at a certain time of the day could be due to specific medications. Several medicines can cause dizziness. They are:
- Heart meds like beta blockers, nitrates, and alpha blockers
- Central nervous system meds like tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, and drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease
- Erectile dysfunction meds
Do Not Suffer in Silence
Dizziness is not a customary part of aging. It’s an indicator that something isn’t functioning correctly.
If you’re experiencing dizzy spells, talk to your physician. Keep track of when the dizziness happens and what you were doing before you felt dizzy. Explain how you were feeling and if you took any medicine. Your doctor can get the dizziness under check.
Dizziness and Seniors
As you get older, your risk for conditions like dizziness increases. The reason for this is dizziness is an indication of other health issues common with getting older.
One main reason is a change in your blood pressure. As you grow old, your heart isn’t as efficient at moving blood through your body. If you stand up too fast, your blood pressure could immediately drop. If your blood pressure change is the reason for your getting dizzy, it should last no more than a few minutes. When your blood pressure goes back to normal, your dizziness disappears.
If your dizziness is disrupting your daily life, schedule an appointment with us to discuss dizziness treatment options that will get you back to your normal way of life.