Dizzy
spells are often thought to be nothing to worry about, especially if they don’t
linger. However, if you’re getting them very frequently, and you often feel
dizzy when standing up suddenly, it is not a sign you should ignore.
People get
dizzy spells, or the feeling of light-headedness, when their blood pressure
drops and there is insufficient oxygen or poor circulation of oxygen in the
brain. You get dizzy when you didn’t eat your breakfast and lack energy. You
get dizzy when you’re dehydrated. You get dizzy when you didn’t get sufficient
sleep. You get dizzy when you stand up too fast and the blood didn’t get to
your brain in time. Usually, these are minor problems that are easily rectified,
and it gives the delusion that dizziness is not something to really worry
about. Indeed, a one-off dizzy spell should not be a cause of concern, but if
it is happening frequently, it could be linked to dementia, according to
researchers from the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands.
This
research has been conducted for 24 years, on 6,204 people in their 60s
or 70s who did not have dementia, for an average of 15 years.. The purpose was to examine whether people who
had Orthostatic hypotension (also known as postural hypotension, a form of low
blood pressure one gets when standing up) at the start of the study were more
likely to get dementia than those who didn’t. Factors that might contribute to
dementia, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, medicine use, smoking
history and other illness were taken into account in the calculation of the
chances of getting dementia.
Researchers
noted an increased risk of 4% for people with postural hypotension compared to
those without it. Despite the small percentage, many elderly people suffer from
postural hypotension around the world, and thus this finding could have a
significant impact. Nevertheless, the study only establishes a possible link
between postural hypotension and dementia, and those who do suffer from it
should not assume that it is a sure indication that they do have dementia.
However, those who do get frequent dizzy spells from standing up should visit a
doctor, and not simply cast it off as a natural occurrence with old age. Early detection is key to slowing down progression of the illness.
It is thought
that constant fall in blood pressure and poor circulation of blood around the
brain could contribute to dementia, which is characterized by a deterioration
of brain activities, including physical changes to the brain. For now, research
needs to continue to get a better understanding of Dementia. Current research
suggests that ways to keep the brain healthy include not smoking, drinking in
moderation, being mentally and physically active, having a balanced diet and
keeping cholesterol levels at healthy levels. In other words, leading a healthy
lifestyle.
Sources:
http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002143
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/10October/Pages/Blood-pressure-drop-on-standing-may-be-linked-to-dementia.aspx
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