Can Heart Problem Cause Dizziness?
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 86, Word Count: 668,
Can heart problem cause dizziness? Many people are trying to find this answer. And yes, it can cause dizziness in some cases. Dizziness is of two types. In one case, lightheadedness is a common symptom and the other case is of vertigo. In this condition, a patient always feels that he / she might faint. Sometimes, there is a sensation that the room is spinning around you. The duration for which this feeling persists, determines the severity of the dizziness. There are numerous causes of dizziness. Some are serious and some are common. Some causes can be treated by generic treatment. Serious causes need to be treated by specialists.
There can be two types of causes: cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular. Sometimes certain medications also cause dizziness. The causes which are serious ones are hypoglycemia, increase in blood pressure, heart conditions, and anemia. A lot of stress also causes dizziness. There are more possibilities which cause heart problems and that can result into dizziness. You should always consult with your physician to find out the correct cause of your disorder. Dizziness due to heart problems is more serious and should be treated immediately to avoid further complications.
Can Heart Problem Cause Dizziness?
There are some heart conditions that create dizziness. People suffering from dizziness due to any of the following conditions should immediately consult a doctor.
- Arteriosclerosis: This is a common disorder found in arteries where hardening of small or large arteries occurs. Arteries become stiff and lose elasticity. Due to this, they become narrow and can reduce the blood supply to many parts of the body like heart, brain, and intestines. Due to reduced blood supply to the brain, dizziness occurs frequently and you often feel like fainting or spinning. Apart from dizziness, pain of angina and breathlessness are other two common symptoms of arteriosclerosis.
- Vascular Vertigo: Vascular vertigo refers to the blood vessels. Due to vascular vertigo, there is a reduced supply of blood to several body parts. Also, the circulation of blood to the lowermost part of the brain is reduced at the minimum level. This is the main reason of dizziness. This can be caused due to family history of heart attacks, strokes, or high blood pressure. In vascular vertigo, dizziness is the common symptom. If you are suffering from similar conditions, it is better to take medical advice.
- Angina Pectoris: In simple terms, this is nothing but chest pain. Due to insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart, patients can feel severe chest pain. It occurs when the heart does not get the required oxygen. Dizziness and nausea are the two causes of angina pectoris. This disorder is found in men over the age of 50 and women after their menopause.
- Coronary Artery Disease: This disease is also caused by the shortening of arteries. The symptoms of this disorder are feeling of fullness and trouble in breathing. Due to the shortening of arteries, circulation of blood gets hampered. Breathing problem also creates shortage of oxygen to the heart. This results into severe chest pain. It is better to start treatment for this as it gets worse shortly.
- Arrhythmia: In this disorder, heart rate becomes irregular and there is constant fluctuation between heart beats. Due to this, palpitation and dizziness are two symptoms seen in patients. Sometimes, chest pain also occurs due to irregular heartbeat. Heart conditions in young adults include arrhythmia which causes dizziness.
So the answer to the question, can heart problem cause dizziness, is definitely yes. These are some heart conditions that cause dizziness. Whenever you come across such dizziness along with these symptoms, it is better to visit your doctor. Never ignore your heart problems because that can turn into serious disorders. However, heart problems are not always responsible for dizziness. Nevertheless, it is better to start treatment before it’s too late.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
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