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What Causes Light Headedness?
Question: Woke up this morning slightly light headed, but also with a forced tilt to the right which took several minutes to go away??? Concern? Symptom of anything serious?
Brief Answer:
It might be muscular spasm- watch quick position changes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
If you head was tilted to one side and took a while to go away, this is mostly something that would happen with muscular contractions or spasms.
Feeling light headed might be due to quick position changes especially in elderly and after being in bed for long (in the morning)
Symtoms that I would suggest you to be aware of are if you have any chest pain, heart racing, weakness or numbness on one hand or one arm, difficulty with the speech or swallowing or if you faint. All these speak for heart problems or stroke. If you do not have any of those and if the lightheadedness is not lasting than I would recommend you to:
1. be careful with position changes, never do quick changes or sit up very quick, this might cause quick drop of blood pressure and make you feel bad and also you might fall and have head trauma or other trumas.
2. make sure you see a doctor if any of the above symptoms or the lightheadedness is coming back or is still there
3. if your neck is hurting due to the muscular spasm you can use local warm compresses and some paracetamol to help with it- careful neck exercises are helpful also
4. If you have not had a general check in the last 2 years it might be helpful to have one: blood pressure check. This can be sited and when you stand briefly to check for orthostatic hypotension- which might cause lightheadedness when you stand. Check of the lipids, check for diabetes, CBC, creatinine are helpful also to make sure you are healthy.
Hope this is helpful and answers to your question.
Kind regards
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
It might be muscular spasm- watch quick position changes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
If you head was tilted to one side and took a while to go away, this is mostly something that would happen with muscular contractions or spasms.
Feeling light headed might be due to quick position changes especially in elderly and after being in bed for long (in the morning)
Symtoms that I would suggest you to be aware of are if you have any chest pain, heart racing, weakness or numbness on one hand or one arm, difficulty with the speech or swallowing or if you faint. All these speak for heart problems or stroke. If you do not have any of those and if the lightheadedness is not lasting than I would recommend you to:
1. be careful with position changes, never do quick changes or sit up very quick, this might cause quick drop of blood pressure and make you feel bad and also you might fall and have head trauma or other trumas.
2. make sure you see a doctor if any of the above symptoms or the lightheadedness is coming back or is still there
3. if your neck is hurting due to the muscular spasm you can use local warm compresses and some paracetamol to help with it- careful neck exercises are helpful also
4. If you have not had a general check in the last 2 years it might be helpful to have one: blood pressure check. This can be sited and when you stand briefly to check for orthostatic hypotension- which might cause lightheadedness when you stand. Check of the lipids, check for diabetes, CBC, creatinine are helpful also to make sure you are healthy.
Hope this is helpful and answers to your question.
Kind regards
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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