While nearly everyone has feeling of lightheadedness — classified as a form of dizziness — periodically, while some will even experience it often, due to stress or low blood sugar for instance, you should pay close attention to this symptom, especially when it's persistent. When you start to have constant lightheadedness, it will not only severely impact your daily life and ability to perform tasks, you should also take it seriously because an underlying medical problem could be the culprit. In this article, we will explore some of the possible causes of constant lightheadedness and walk you through what you can do about it [1].
Anxiety Disorders as a Cause of Dizziness or Lightheadedness
One of the more obvious causes of constant lightheadedness is related to dealing with chronic stress. Our brain is programmed to be able to only focus for about one hour; after spending this time in deep concentration, it starts to stray. Due to the demanding nature of jobs in modern society, we are forced to perform in high-stress environments for hours a day in order to fulfill all our duties. This type of intense concentration can surely lead to dizziness and lightheadedness; like you, your brain will be working "overtime". Ways to reduce stress, like yoga and breathing exercises, have been proven to be a great way to reduce the level of stress and improve your mental health. [2] On the other hand, if your job constantly brings you significant stress, exploring the option of moving to a less stressful occupation, or taking a sabbatical, could also be a step to take. Removing your source of stress permanently is one of the best ways to cope with stress, after all.
Hypoglycemia
Another obvious cause of constant lightheadedness stems from poor diets. Due to the same demanding pace of an employed individual in modern society, meals can be easily skipped as you attempt to complete your work within set deadlines. Low levels of blood sugar are a physiological response by our bodies to try to remind us what we need most: food! Meals may also be skipped because of a desire to lose weight, which is another common cause of hypoglycemia. Studies indicate that patients with hypoglycemia are 4 times more likely to have shakiness, 3 times more likely to sweat and two times more likely to have chronic fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness and problems with concentration. [3] Make sure you are eating a good and balanced breakfast; there is a reason we call it the most important meal of the day.
Primary Hypertension
If you are suffering from constant lightheadedness, there is a good chance that your underlying problem comes from issues with blood pressure. This is one of the most common illnesses in the world yet only 22 percent of the global population is believed to have adequately controlled their symptoms through medications [4].
Lightheadedness is a potential physical manifestation of our body telling us that it is not happy with its current environment. You may not realize it, but the blood flowing through our bodies is not able to freely pass to the brain because of the dangers toxins and bacteria can cause if they are able to access the brain unopposed. The blood-brain barrier is an intricate defense to these chemicals and is very sensitive to pressure changes [5]. It will let you know that there is a problem that you need to correct. Make sure you routinely check your blood pressure after the age of 20 to make sure you are not suffering from hypertension.
Chronic Sinusitis
Another type of disease that can cause pressure imbalances in your head have nothing to do with your blood pressure, but the pressure in the cavities in your skull. Your sinuses are important at humidifying air and removing potential pathogens before they are able to enter your system but they can be overworked in certain situations. Your body will overreact to foreign substances and a much stronger immune response will be triggered than what would be necessary. Patients with this condition will routinely present with headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness and a decreased quality of life. We have several sinuses in our skull so you may not even have a runny nose if you suffer from this condition. A simple CT-scan of your head is a great way to diagnose chronic sinusitis if you have it. [6]
Medication Side Effect
Another major reason that you may have constant lightheadedness could be from an iatrogenic origin. This is just a fancy way of saying that your doctor caused your illness. This is not what we intended but unfortunately, a number of medications on the market have lightheadedness as a potential side effect. Medications like diuretics, anti-hypertensives, and anti-arrhythmic are some of the most common medications on the market that routinely can cause lightheadedness [7]. ACE inhibitors, a treatment option for hypertension, are some of the worst medications for dizziness [8]. Should you have constant lightheadedness, make sure you address your medication list with your doctor to determine if one of these could be the culprit behind your dizziness.
Intracranial Tumors
This is one of the causes of constant lightheadedness that all physicians should consider, but it is the last on this list for a reason: because it is very rare. An unfortunate reaction in society is anytime there is some type of pain or chronic condition, the automatic reflex is to assume it is cancer. Although intracranial tumors would cause constant lightheadedness, there are many more common things to consider before we get to this category. A mass in the brain will increase the intracranial pressure and lead to constant headaches, lightheadedness and then neurological changes if the mass grows unopposed and undetected. Physicians must rule out conditions like vertigo or other diseases related to your inner ear while pursuing this diagnosis. A CT-scan of your head will be able to detect most masses but if they are microscopic, an MRI is a better diagnostic tool. [9]
Also be aware, however, that though lightheadedness is a common phenomenon and the cause is most often identified after patients seek medical care, as many as 20 percent of people never find out what the cause of their lightheadedness was. In this case, after diagnostic tests fail to find a medical cause, it may be best to focus on healthy living habits and stress relief. [10]
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