AARP Hearing Center
Key takeaways
- Understand your dizziness with Dr. Adam Rosenbluth’s guidance to identify the root cause.
- Prevent dizzy spells by rising slowly, staying hydrated, and reviewing medications or exercises with your doctor.
- Take dizziness seriously — Dr. Adam stresses it’s your body’s way of signaling a potential issue.
Summary
Feeling dizzy can be concerning, especially as you get older, but understanding the causes of dizziness is the first step to staying steady on your feet. Dr. Adam Rosenbluth explains that “dizzy” is a vague term that can mean different things — from a spinning sensation caused by inner ear conditions like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo to a shaky or faint feeling triggered by low blood pressure or low blood sugar. Simple steps like rising slowly from a seated position, staying hydrated, and talking with your doctor about your medications or specific exercises can help prevent or manage episodes of dizziness.
If you find yourself feeling unsteady, pay attention to how you experience dizziness, as specific symptoms can help your health care provider pinpoint the cause. Dr. Adam emphasizes that dizziness shouldn’t be ignored — it’s your body’s signal that something may need attention. Working with your doctor to identify triggers and solutions can help you feel safer, more confident and better equipped to enjoy everyday life. For more answers to health questions, explore Ask Dr. Adam at aarp.org/AskDrAdam.
The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
Full Transcript
[00:00:00] Dizziness can be unsettling, even dangerous, especially as we age. It’s an issue with many possible causes, which is why as a doctor, I
[00:00:09] have to do a bit of clinical detective work to get to the bottom of it. Like with this reader:s question. “I’ve been feeling dizzy lately.
[00:00:16] What’s going on with me?” When a patient says they’ve been feeling dizzy, the first thing I do is ask them to describe how they’re feeling without using the word dizzy.
[00:00:26] Why? Because dizzy is a vague term. It means different things to different people. For example, when a patient can’t use the word dizzy, they might say
[00:00:35] something like, “Dr. Adam, as I was walking down the street, I glanced over at something, and the next thing I knew, it was like the ground was moving.”
[00:00:44] This tells me that the underlying cause may be related to the inner ear, which helps control balance.
[00:00:51] One common inner ear condition that’s prevalent in older adults is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
[00:00:59] Vertigo occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear shift out of place. This can cause the sensation that the world is spinning or moving around you.
[00:01:09] In this case, I would tell my patient to try sitting still with their eyes open and fixed on one spot.
[00:01:16] Another option is to talk to your doctor about specific head positioning exercises, called Epley maneuver, that can help guide those inner ear crystals back into place.
[00:01:27] A different scenario might be when a patient says, “I stood up and immediately had to sit down. I thought I might pass out.”
[00:01:35] That could indicate a drop in blood pressure. When blood pressure drops, it causes reduced blood flow to your brain.
[00:01:41] Low blood pressure can be common in older adults, especially if you’re on blood pressure medications.
[00:01:48] If this happens, rise slowly from your bed or chair, and pause before walking.
[00:01:53] You can even take a few steps marching in place. This gives your body time to adjust and helps prevent
[00:01:59] sudden drops in blood pressure. Staying hydrated and reviewing your medications with your doctor can also help.
[00:02:07] Another scenario might be when a patient describes their dizziness as feeling shaky and sweaty or confused. This signals to me that they might have low blood sugar.
[00:02:18] You experience low blood sugar when the level of glucose in your blood falls below
[00:02:23] what your body needs to function properly. This is particularly common when you haven’t eaten or if you have diabetes.
[00:02:30] If your blood sugar level drops too low, it can lead to fainting. A quick snack like juice or crackers can help you feel better.
[00:02:38] Bottom line: If you’re experiencing dizziness, don’t ignore it, especially if it happens often.
[00:02:45] It’s your body’s way of asking for help. Talk to your doctor. We’ll work together to find the cause and help keep you steady on your feet.
[00:02:53] For more advice like this, please check out Ask Dr. Adam at aarp.org/AskDrAdam.
