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Home » Chronic Dizziness Can be a Health Warning in Seniors
Chronic dizziness can be a symptom of a serious medical issue and should not be ignored in elderly relatives. If your loved one is frequently dizzy or complains about being lightheaded all the time, you may want to make an appointment for them with a doctor to resolve the problem.
The cause of dizziness in elderly loved ones can range from nothing important to very serious health issues. Preventing a senior from falling and finding the reasons why is paramount. Because chronic dizziness can be a health warning in seniors, you must act immediately.
What Might Cause Dizziness in Elderly Adults?
Dizziness may be one of many symptoms that are a result of ailments and chronic illnesses. They can range from mild and easily curable to critical problems that need immediate medical attention. Some of the milder causes of chronic dizziness include drinking too many caffeinated beverages, too much alcohol, and as a side effect of medicine. Other curable causes of dizzy spells include dehydration, malnutrition, low blood sugar and common illnesses like a cold or the flu. In most of these instances, their dizzy spells are temporary and easily handled.
In other cases, dizzy spells are a symptom of a more serious health issue. Some common triggers consist of vertigo, panic or anxiety attacks, high or low blood pressure, inner ear problems, anemia, heat exhaustion, diabetes, brain tumors, a stroke or a heart attack.
Regardless of what the cause is, your elderly relative should see a doctor soon. Any dizzy spells that last more than 10 minutes or are happening more frequently should trigger you to seek out medical attention for your aging loved one.
How Family Caregivers Can Help
Keeping your aging loved one safe before, during and after a dizzy spell should be your top priority. One of the first things you can do is to hire a senior care provider to help your elderly adult with daily tasks that they cannot do because of their health. From cooking and cleaning to helping seniors bathe, dress, and more, senior care providers can be there when they are needed most.
As your elderly loved one goes to various doctor appointments to seek treatment for the dizzy spells, the senior care provider is there to give them a chance to rest, prepare their food and snacks and watch out for all the hidden risks. The professional senior care provider will always be there to assist if your aging relative succumbs to the dizziness which could result in a fall.
Dizzy spells are not something to be overlooked, and if you think they are just minor issues that will go away on their own, you’d be wrong. Dizziness is often a warning sign that the elderly person’s health is suffering, and only a doctor can determine what. To avoid the problems that can result from chronic dizziness, you can build up a support network for your relative that includes doctors, senior care providers and others. Working together, you can reduce the impact of chronic dizziness in elderly adults and keep your loved one safe and well.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Services in Northridge CA, please contact the caring staff at 1Heart Care Services today.