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What Causes Dizziness And White Waves In Vision?
Question: Hi Doctor,
I regularly have a feeling of head rush and very light dizziness. On one occasion, my vision was disturbed and I saw white waves for an hour or so. The head rush is especially bad if I get up suddenly or walk quickly and it is very mild or gone when I lie down. There is too much lighting in my office and too much direct light on my eyes makes me uncomfortable.
I am a 32 year old male with no major health problems.I underwent a surgery in 2013 to get an ivory ball removed from my right maxillary sinus. That is the only surgery I underwent.
I am able to perform my job duties and I am leading a normal life but I want to understand the reason for the head rush/light dizziness. I am not on any medication. Please suggest.
Thanks and Regards,
XXXX
I regularly have a feeling of head rush and very light dizziness. On one occasion, my vision was disturbed and I saw white waves for an hour or so. The head rush is especially bad if I get up suddenly or walk quickly and it is very mild or gone when I lie down. There is too much lighting in my office and too much direct light on my eyes makes me uncomfortable.
I am a 32 year old male with no major health problems.I underwent a surgery in 2013 to get an ivory ball removed from my right maxillary sinus. That is the only surgery I underwent.
I am able to perform my job duties and I am leading a normal life but I want to understand the reason for the head rush/light dizziness. I am not on any medication. Please suggest.
Thanks and Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Have you checked for migraine with your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
I read your detailed query and understand the concern.
The first thing that strikes to my mind is migraine as you can get dizziness, eye floaters, photo phobia(sensitivity to light) in person with migraine.
To clarify I request you to provide following details.
1. How long you are having problem
2. In a typical day how many hours you have the head rush
3. Do you have fluctuation in your problem other than described episodes
4. Do you get unilateral or bilateral head pain
5. How long a typical episode last once started
6. Can you identify triggers for the problem
7. Do you have some aggravating and reliving factors.
Secondly there appears postural hypotension in which you may get diziiness and increase magnitude of problem at the time of sudden change in posture.
It will be highly appropriate if you can check your blood pressure from nearby clinic in both supine and standing position.
Thirdly it may be due to tension headache in which you get band like tightness around your head. It is more common at nap of neck and those who are stressed and unable to use coping skills to manage stress.
I hope this clarifies the situation and the information is useful for betterment of your health. If you have any other query or doubt feel free to write back to me. I will be glad to assist you.
Thanks and regards
Have you checked for migraine with your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
I read your detailed query and understand the concern.
The first thing that strikes to my mind is migraine as you can get dizziness, eye floaters, photo phobia(sensitivity to light) in person with migraine.
To clarify I request you to provide following details.
1. How long you are having problem
2. In a typical day how many hours you have the head rush
3. Do you have fluctuation in your problem other than described episodes
4. Do you get unilateral or bilateral head pain
5. How long a typical episode last once started
6. Can you identify triggers for the problem
7. Do you have some aggravating and reliving factors.
Secondly there appears postural hypotension in which you may get diziiness and increase magnitude of problem at the time of sudden change in posture.
It will be highly appropriate if you can check your blood pressure from nearby clinic in both supine and standing position.
Thirdly it may be due to tension headache in which you get band like tightness around your head. It is more common at nap of neck and those who are stressed and unable to use coping skills to manage stress.
I hope this clarifies the situation and the information is useful for betterment of your health. If you have any other query or doubt feel free to write back to me. I will be glad to assist you.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thanks Doctor. Below are the answers to your questions.
If you still think it is migraine, what would I need to do to get relief?
1. How long you are having problem.
Answer: Headaches ( sometimes very severe ) started in December 2010 when I worked from XXXXXXX I felt better when I moved to XXXXXXX in May 2011 but in some form, I keep feeling disturbance in my head.
2. In a typical day how many hours you have the head rush
Answer: The duration of head rush would be 2 - 3 hours every day. Some days go without head rush and on some days, it goes up to 4 - 5 hours. But I can do all my tasks with the head rush going on.
3. Do you have fluctuation in your problem other than described episodes
Answer: No fluctuation. Exact same feeling every day. Same intensity ( not too much to stop my tasks and not too less to totally forget ).
4. Do you get unilateral or bilateral head pain
Answer: This is not like pain. It is a feeling of dullness in the center of the head and mild dizziness ( especially when there is too much light ).
5. How long a typical episode last once started
Answer: At least 20 - 30 minutes and sometimes at a strech upto 2 hours.
6. Can you identify triggers for the problem
Answer: Light is definitely a trigger. Any sudden/quick movement is a trigger. If I sleep for less than 7 hours in the night, the problem intensifies. If I am tensed or worried, it intensifies a lot.
7. Do you have some aggravating and reliving factors
Answer: Yes. Light, lack of sleep, quick movements and above all tension/worry are all aggravating. Good sleep, green tea, wearing goggles, staying calm are all relieving factors.
If you still think it is migraine, what would I need to do to get relief?
1. How long you are having problem.
Answer: Headaches ( sometimes very severe ) started in December 2010 when I worked from XXXXXXX I felt better when I moved to XXXXXXX in May 2011 but in some form, I keep feeling disturbance in my head.
2. In a typical day how many hours you have the head rush
Answer: The duration of head rush would be 2 - 3 hours every day. Some days go without head rush and on some days, it goes up to 4 - 5 hours. But I can do all my tasks with the head rush going on.
3. Do you have fluctuation in your problem other than described episodes
Answer: No fluctuation. Exact same feeling every day. Same intensity ( not too much to stop my tasks and not too less to totally forget ).
4. Do you get unilateral or bilateral head pain
Answer: This is not like pain. It is a feeling of dullness in the center of the head and mild dizziness ( especially when there is too much light ).
5. How long a typical episode last once started
Answer: At least 20 - 30 minutes and sometimes at a strech upto 2 hours.
6. Can you identify triggers for the problem
Answer: Light is definitely a trigger. Any sudden/quick movement is a trigger. If I sleep for less than 7 hours in the night, the problem intensifies. If I am tensed or worried, it intensifies a lot.
7. Do you have some aggravating and reliving factors
Answer: Yes. Light, lack of sleep, quick movements and above all tension/worry are all aggravating. Good sleep, green tea, wearing goggles, staying calm are all relieving factors.
Brief Answer:
It seems to be more as tension headache
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
From the available description it appears as more of a tension type headache rather than migraine. In this kind of headache first you need to remove the triggers because there are multiple factors which maintain the particular head rush.
For removal of triggers it is ideal to follow the principal of stress management.
I am writing down few of the strategies that will help you in management of stress leading to reduction of your head rush problem.
1. Diet: Ensure intake of adequate quantity of fiber. 2 servings of vegetable salad and 2 servings of fruits (One preferable citrus fruit). p
2. Ensure adequate water intake. Recommended intake of water is 2 to 3 liter a day. Insufficient intake of water could be a contributing factor in causation of symptoms.
3. Early morning Exercise: Brisk walking for 30 minutes at a stretch preferably in garden will be very helpful.
4. Avoid excessive tea/coffee/ nicotine and alcoholic beverages: If at all you want to drink something, drink fresh lime water. It is very much refreshing. The green tea is good as an anti oxidant that can also be used.
5. Start your day with a glass of Lemon water with 2 spoons of honey added, have a good breakfast.
6. Don't take work so seriously: We all have the feeling to excel in our respective fields and don't spend adequate time with our own self trying to understand our own needs.
The work pressure is high: Call it a day, take a short leave and hit out to picnic spot which you always wanted to go
Spend time with your family and friends.
7. While working take frequent regular breaks: Taking regular breaks will not waste the time, but it will definitely increase the productivity, concentration and reasoning. Take break for 5 minutes every 30 minutes.
Close your eyes and rotate the eye balls for couple of minutes
8. Avoid late night socialization
9. Avoid starring for longer time at the computer screen or TV for longer time.
10. Steam inhalation before going to sleep will be very refeshing
11. Multivitamin and Calcium supplement.
12. Having good night of sleep
13. Meditation and yoga
Having said this it is ideal to go CT/MRI brain to rule out any pathology that may be causing dull aching feeling. The brain scan will reveal any other pathology which may not be evident on history taking and clinical examination.
I hope this clarifies the situation for you. If you have more questions or doubt feel free to write back to me. I will be happy to answer you.
"If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health".
It seems to be more as tension headache
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
From the available description it appears as more of a tension type headache rather than migraine. In this kind of headache first you need to remove the triggers because there are multiple factors which maintain the particular head rush.
For removal of triggers it is ideal to follow the principal of stress management.
I am writing down few of the strategies that will help you in management of stress leading to reduction of your head rush problem.
1. Diet: Ensure intake of adequate quantity of fiber. 2 servings of vegetable salad and 2 servings of fruits (One preferable citrus fruit). p
2. Ensure adequate water intake. Recommended intake of water is 2 to 3 liter a day. Insufficient intake of water could be a contributing factor in causation of symptoms.
3. Early morning Exercise: Brisk walking for 30 minutes at a stretch preferably in garden will be very helpful.
4. Avoid excessive tea/coffee/ nicotine and alcoholic beverages: If at all you want to drink something, drink fresh lime water. It is very much refreshing. The green tea is good as an anti oxidant that can also be used.
5. Start your day with a glass of Lemon water with 2 spoons of honey added, have a good breakfast.
6. Don't take work so seriously: We all have the feeling to excel in our respective fields and don't spend adequate time with our own self trying to understand our own needs.
The work pressure is high: Call it a day, take a short leave and hit out to picnic spot which you always wanted to go
Spend time with your family and friends.
7. While working take frequent regular breaks: Taking regular breaks will not waste the time, but it will definitely increase the productivity, concentration and reasoning. Take break for 5 minutes every 30 minutes.
Close your eyes and rotate the eye balls for couple of minutes
8. Avoid late night socialization
9. Avoid starring for longer time at the computer screen or TV for longer time.
10. Steam inhalation before going to sleep will be very refeshing
11. Multivitamin and Calcium supplement.
12. Having good night of sleep
13. Meditation and yoga
Having said this it is ideal to go CT/MRI brain to rule out any pathology that may be causing dull aching feeling. The brain scan will reveal any other pathology which may not be evident on history taking and clinical examination.
I hope this clarifies the situation for you. If you have more questions or doubt feel free to write back to me. I will be happy to answer you.
"If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health".
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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