Dizziness (Dizzy) (cont.)
Hyperventilation
While the body may use hyperventilation or rapid breathing to help with
acid-base balance, it may also occur as a response to an emotionally stressful
situation. In hyperventilation syndrome, the rapid breathing blows off some of
the body's carbon dioxide, leading to a tingling sensation in the hands and feet
and around the mouth. Dizziness and lightheadedness are associated symptoms. The
symptoms may increase the perceived emotional stress and cause even more
hyperventilation.
Heart conditions
The heart is an electrical pump; for it to work, the electrical conduction
system must be operating properly to stimulate the heart muscle to squeeze
in a coordinated fashion to pump blood to the body. The heart muscle itself must
be strong enough to pump blood, and the valves in the heart must work
properly to allow blood to flow in the direction intended during
contraction.
- Conduction disturbances: Electrical conduction disturbances may make the heart beat too quickly
(tachycardia) or too slowly (bradycardia), and either of these situations may
result in an inadequate blood supply to the brain, causing dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Cardiomyopathy: Dizziness is also a symptom of
cardiomyopathy
(cardio=heart +myo=muscle + pathy= disease), a disease of
the heart muscle, resulting in muscle that doesn't beat properly. Most commonly
the weakness is due to atherosclerotic
heart disease or ischemic cardiomyopathy
(ischemic=decreased blood supply), in which the heart muscle itself doesn't get
enough blood supply to work properly. Other cardiomyopathies may be due to
diabetes, alcohol use, and viral infections.
Next: Vasovagal syncope »
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