Menopause and Dizziness

Interesting, many women going through menopause have no idea that dizziness is often a symptom. Sure, women know about hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, and so on, but dizziness is also a common problem. Keep in mind that what makes this particular symptom so fascinating is that it could be directly or indirectly related to the change of life. That means dizziness could be caused by the changes in the body themselves or from medication being taken for other symptoms. Regardless, menopause and dizziness can be difficult to handle and if the problem persists, it should be checked by a doctor.

Dizziness is frustrating and in some cases, it could be dangerous. For instance, if the woman was driving a car and suddenly felt overwhelmed with dizziness or vertigo (sensation of swaying, falling, or spinning), she could momentarily lose control and cause an accident. Therefore, while it might sound like no big deal, for some women, menopause and dizziness is a very big deal. For this reason, she should not overlook this symptom but find appropriate solutions to help. As mentioned, menopause and dizziness could be the result of many things. For some women going through the change of life, they experience significant bone loss that leads to osteoarthritis.

In this case, the arthritis, especially when in the neck or cervical spine, could cause dizziness. Typically what happens is that the arteries traveling up the back of the neck going to the brain become compressed. When this occurs, blood flow to the part of the brain controlling hormones is reduced or restricted, thus dizziness. Additionally, dizziness can occur when there are changes in the blood vessels of the nervous system caused by reduction of oestrogen levels. Often in this case, the woman will also experience hot flashes and night sweats. Another side effect of menopause is migraine headaches, again leading to dizziness. Then, women often struggle with mood swings, depression, frustration, irritability, and anxiety, all contributors of menopause and dizziness.

Women will also experience such dramatic hormone fluctuations that they actually go into panic attacks, which often includes dizziness. In addition to physical causes, there are some medications and herbal remedies, to include hormone replacement therapy, that do not work well in some case. In fact, one of the side effects listed for many menopause treatments is none other than dizziness. The most important thing to remember is that while menopause and dizziness is normal, dizziness can also be a sign of something much more serious, such as a tumor. Therefore, any woman going through the change of life that finds herself dealing with excessive dizziness or an overload of any associated symptoms should not chance it but take time to visit with a doctor to rule out anything other than menopause.

In the case of menopause, there are many types of prescribed and herbal medications that work well to diminish symptoms although some women prefer to just work through the dizzy spells, viewing them as nothing more than an annoyance. Remember that during the years a woman is going through menopause, usually anywhere from 48 to 51 years old on average, her body is undergoing radical changes. Her ovaries are no longer producing eggs and the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are beginning to stop. Considering the degree of changes and the fact that menopause can last from four to ten years, it is no wonder women have such as array of symptoms. After all, just the deprivation of estrogen alone is enough to send her into a tailspin. However, this is not a permanent condition, simply a normal part of aging.

See Also: Dizziness and the menopause | Does menopause cause dizziness?