- Low blood sugar: Sometimes if you experience low blood sugar, you may experience a lightheaded feeling.
- Cold or flu: Illnesses can cause various symptoms. It is common for people suffering from a cold or flu to feel lightheaded while they are sick.
- Additional considerations: While the causes listed above are most common, lightheadedness can be a sign of more serious health problems such as shock, internal bleeding or heart problems. Additional symptoms likely will accompany any severe health concern, including vision problems, chest pain or speech issues.
A feeling of unsteadiness when walking or overall loss of balance can be attributed to disequilibrium, a form of dizziness. Common causes of disequilibrium include:
- Sensory problems: Individuals with nerve damage or failing vision can experience disequilibrium when walking, especially in poorly lit areas.
- Osteoarthritis: Muscular disorders or weakness can experience a feeling of loss of balance.
- Medication: Tranquilizers, seizure medication or certain sedatives can cause or contribute to the feeling of disequilibrium in some users.
- Neurological disorders: People suffering from neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease can battle ongoing disequilibrium.
- Inner ear problems: As with vertigo, disequilibrium is a common side effect of inner ear infections or other issues.
If you’ve been feeling dizzy and aren’t sure of the cause, contact your health care provider. It is possible that you are experiencing a normal reaction to a medication or temporary ailment that poses no serious health threat. It is also possible that your dizziness is the signal of a more serious issue that requires medical intervention.