By: Sheila Kun RN, BA, BSN, MS

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Dizziness for me is a recurrent symptom; whenever I have stomach virus, my predominant symptom is dizziness. I usually get over it within 24 hours. However, dizziness is a sign of many conditions. They could be mild in my case, but it could also mean serious signal of health issues. Hence I resorted to the Mayo Clinic Educational Information for a better look at the issue of dizziness. Below is what they posted. 

Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo.

Dizziness is one of the more common reasons adults visit their doctors. Frequent dizzy spells or constant dizziness can significantly affect your life. But dizziness rarely signals a life-threatening condition.

Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms. It’s usually effective, but the problem may recur.

Symptoms

People experiencing dizziness may describe it as any of a number of sensations, such as:

• A false sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• Unsteadiness or a loss of balance
• A feeling of floating, wooziness or heavy-headedness

These feelings may be triggered or worsened by walking, standing up or moving your head. Your dizziness may be accompanied by nausea or be so sudden or severe that you need to sit or lie down. The episode may last seconds or days and may recur.

When to see a doctor

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo.

Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following:

• Sudden, severe headache
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Numbness or paralysis of arms or legs
• Fainting
• Double vision
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Confusion or slurred speech
• Stumbling or difficulty walking
• Ongoing vomiting
• Seizures
• A sudden change in hearing
• Facial numbness or weakness

Your homework from the Care Ministry this week: recognize the difference between mild condition vs. serious condition of dizziness.

The Care Ministry welcomes your comments/suggestions: kunlouis@gmail.com