One of the most commonly reported medical complaints is dizziness. A symptom of various illnesses and other medical conditions, dizziness can be treated in a variety of ways. Getting rid of dizziness, particularly chronic and severe dizziness, can be quite complicated due to the wide variety of other medical conditions associated with it.

If you are one of the millions of people around the world who experiences dizziness, do not fret, as there are many things you can do to get rid of it. Aside from medications, you can also try alternative remedies, such as building up your balance and focal strength. Various physical and medical conditions can cause dizziness, so the best thing to do to be able to get rid of it is to find out what is directly causing it. Various external factors can also cause dizziness, which is why you need to pay careful attention to your surroundings.

To determine if the dizziness you are experiencing is severe or not, you have to know the symptoms. The more common symptoms of dizziness are a feeling of spinning, difficulty balancing, nausea and light-headedness, feeling of fatigue and weakness, difficulty concentrating, and blurring of vision after sudden movement.

What exactly causes dizziness depends on your condition. Dizziness primarily affects balance, and balance in turn is determined by three main things in the vestibular system. These are visual signals represented by the eyes, sensory signals represented by the nerves, and auditory sensors represented by the equilibrium in the inner ear. When at least two of these three signals have problems, dizziness occurs.

There are many things you can do if ever you feel dizzy, whether it is caused by medical factors or physical factors.

Don't Rush It: Move Slowly

When you feel dizzy, the best thing to do is to move slowly. Making quick movements can only worsen your condition. As soon as you start feeling dizzy, try to find a focal, non-moving point where you can turn your attention, such as the wall or a piece of furniture. If you can, it is better to sit or lie down. Keeping still and moving slowly will help you regain equilibrium, while rapid movements can only complicate matters. When you move quickly, your body experiences a drop in blood pressure, which can worsen dizziness. Continue moving slowly until you feel more stable and steady on your feet.

Avoid Dizzying Medications

If you are taking medication of which you are not sure the side effects, make a thorough and careful check of it. Maybe you are regularly taking a type of medication that can make you feel dizzy almost every time you take it. Chances are, you have been prescribed medication that has dizziness as side effect. Some examples of these medications are sedatives, antihistamines, anti-seizure drugs, tranquilizers, and blood-pressure medication. The best thing you can do about this is to talk directly to your doctor to find out if there are alternative medications you can take, or possibly just a change in your dosage.

Eat Right, Feel Right

Your diet can also be a cause of dizziness, especially if you are suffering from weight or appetite problems. If such is the case, it would be helpful if you modified your diet and eating habits to reduce dizziness. Avoid excessive intake of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco, all of which induce dizziness, particularly if you are prone to experiencing vertigo, light-headedness, and problems with balancing. Refrain from excessively oily foods, as they can contribute to high blood pressure, which can trigger dizziness. Avoid artificial sweeteners, as well as highly sweet or salty foods. Too much sugar and salt in the body can affect your ability to balance. For example, aspartame can cause problems in the central nervous system, while salty snacks can affect the balance in your inner ear. Try to reduce or eliminate these types of foods in your daily diet and see a dramatic decrease in your dizziness.

Stay Hydrated, Be Dizziness-Free

Drinking lots of water keeps your body hydrated and supplied with the necessary amount of water it needs to maintain balance. It is a fact that dehydration is one of the most common causes of dizziness, especially during hot seasons and when doing rigorous physical activities. To counter dizziness caused by dehydration, drink more than the recommended eight glasses or 64 ounces of water daily. When you are highly active or exposed to severe heat, it is wise to increase the dosage to almost double. Also, increase your liquid intake when you consume excessive alcohol or sweat profusely.

Move and Groove to Avoid Dizziness

There are various physical activities that can improve your balance and help reduce dizziness. The main thing developed in these exercises is your focal strength. The most common exercise is to focus on following moving objects, such as a moving hand or a passing car, while standing or sitting still. Another way is to focus on a stationary object that is surrounded by various moving objects. You can also try going from a sitting position to a standing position with your eyes completely closed. You can ask a therapist or a doctor for other exercise routines and activities that you can practice.

Like with other medical conditions, it is better to consult with a doctor or specialist as soon as possible or once you start experiencing dizziness. Frequent or long-term dizziness – especially if accompanied by fainting, difficulty in walking due to weakness in the limbs, numbness, severe headache, high fever, chest pain, severe ear pain, slowed heart rate, and difficulty hearing, speaking, and seeing – may be caused by a more dangerous medical condition. In the event that you experience two or more of the symptoms mentioned above alongside dizziness, see a doctor immediately. Do not wait until your dizziness causes problems that are worse than what you are already experiencing.