What does dizziness during menopause look like?
You might find that sometimes you stand up and think Yikes! I better sit back down, you bend to shave your legs in the shower and need to use the walls to steady you more than normal.
This happens to some women during menopause and it can be a royal pain in the bum when you are trying to manage every other menopausal symptom without feeling like the world is spinning.
Dizziness can be feeling a little lightheaded, wobbly or unbalanced and for me, it was like feeling I could faint quite easily at any moment.
Perimenopause is when dizziness can be really noticeable, at this point in time our hormones are at their most erratic.
What Causes Dizziness During Perimenopause and Menopause?
During this crazy stage of life, there are three main hormones that affect how our blood vessels narrow and widen, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
When these hormone levels begin fluctuating we will notice that we can feel faint and dizzy, which is why we notice this more during perimenopause. This is when our hormone levels really are up and down.
These hormones are also responsible for helping us to balance our blood sugar levels so when those levels start to drop and move around you may feel dizzy then too.
Our inner ear is so important for keeping our balance and surprisingly enough this can be affected by our changing hormones.
Another thing to consider during perimenopause is how heavy your period can become. Losing so much blood can easily contribute to feeling dizzy and this was one of the symptoms I suffered with for many years.
It is worth noting here that I am not a medical professional by any means so if you are feeling dizzy PLEASE go and talk to a doctor to make sure the dizziness is not linked to anything else.
What Helps With Dizziness During Menopause?
There are some natural options that you can try to help with dizziness, Not all will work for you but you never know there may be one that does the trick.
Lifestyle Tips
Drink lots of water – dehydration is the most common cause of dizziness and faintness so to better the chances of your dizziness not being so bad, drink plenty of water.
Relax – this is so easy to say and so hard to do but reducing your stress levels will do wonders for lessening the effects of dizziness. Try yoga, meditation, deep breathing or long baths with a book.
Get good sleep – getting that all-important beauty sleep is not just about managing tiredness it plays a key part in keeping dizziness at bay. Prioritise sleep if you are feeling dizzy in the morning.
Exercise – getting your blood flowing around the body is proven to reduce stress levels, and let’s face it with all the symptoms we have to deal with, we are going to be stressed out. Gentle exercise can lower the stress levels which can make us dizzy.
Eat good food – we all know what we should and shouldn’t be putting in our bodies but it is really important during menopause to take food seriously. Too much salt or sugar will make your dizziness so much worse.
Cut down on caffeine – coffee is my weakness, I am a sucker for a black americano but I know that it can dehydrate, which leads to dizziness, so I have dropped a cup out of my day. More water, less caffeine.
Acupuncture – I love a bit of acupuncture to help restore much-needed balance in my body. It does not work for everyone, but I find that it helps with a few of my symptoms, especially dizziness.
Herbal Remedies
- Ginger – Ginger has long been proven to help reduce histamine which help with nausea and dizziness so try a ginger tea or chow down on a ginger root, whatever works for you.
- Celery – Eating celery is great for high blood pressure. If high blood pressure is playing a part in this new stage of your life then try to add a little celery.
- Ginko – ginkgo is great for blood circulation which we know, when poor, can make us feel dizzy, so try some ginkgo to see if it can make a difference.
- Chamomile – getting that rest and relaxation is so important and we have long known that chamomile tea is a great way to help us wind down and settle our bodies.
Closing Thoughts
If you find that you are becoming more and more dizzy and feel any of the symptoms I have talked about above PLEASE go and speak to your doctor.
There are many reasons why you could be feeling dizzy and it is important to understand what is causing yours.
Being anaemic for a lot of my life, dizziness is something I have grown accustomed to but menopause and heavy periods really made things worse. I have tried all of the above and some work, some don’t.
Really try and understand what is causing your dizziness so you can then try a bunch of things and find those few that really can help.
If you want more information from medical peeps, always check out The British Menopause Society.
Kathryn x
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, herbal or physical therapist, and I am not educated in the menopause space. All opinions expressed on this blog are my own and should not be taken as medical advice. This blog is intended to share my personal experiences and insights, and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified medical professional, herbal or physical therapist for any health-related concerns. Additionally, I strive to keep things light and entertaining, but please keep in mind that the topics discussed on this blog may be sensitive or triggering for some readers.
