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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