Allergy symptoms that are commonly found include coughing, sneezing, and an itchy throat. Lightheadedness, vertigo, and dizziness, however, may be brought on by sinus pressure caused by allergies. These could be linked to more significant problems.
Sometimes you may be dizzily asking yourself what makes you feel so. Dizziness and nausea could be due to dehydration, some medications, and a wide variety of conditions.
Dizziness seems like a rather minor condition but can actually really disrupt daily life. In its worst form, it can make you stay stuck in bed for hours or days.
Sometimes dizziness can be caused by allergies.
An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to a foreign substance that is usually not harmful to your body. Such foreign substances are called allergens. Examples of allergens include certain foods, pollen, or pet dander.
What is an allergy cause of dizziness?
Allergies cause allergy-induced dizziness.
When your immune system identifies particles in the air as threats, such as dust, pollen, or the dander from a family pet, it starts producing chemicals such as histamine to defend itself against perceived invaders. These chemicals are what you have come to know as allergy symptoms.
Symptoms of allergic reactions include the following:
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- itchy throat
- postnasal drip
- cough
Allergies can cause an irritation of the Eustachian tube. This tube is, in essence, a tunnel connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat, which regulates your balance, while also equalizing the pressure inside your middle ear with the ambient air pressure.
When you start experiencing symptoms in your ears, especially that annoying clogged feeling that makes it difficult to hear, it is often because your Eustachian tube is blocked with mucus.
When blocked, it is no longer able to equalize pressure in the ear and maintain balance in your body.
These middle-ear disturbances can cause symptoms of dizziness in people with allergies, colds, and sinus infections.
A person can also be suffering from allergies. Lightheadedness and dizziness are two distinct symptoms which are often individually recognizable from each other.
When you’re experiencing lightheadedness, you feel as if you might pass out or lose consciousness, whereas in the case of dizziness, it gives you the impression that the room is spinning, or that your head is spinning.
In most instances, lying down makes lightheadedness disappear temporarily, whereas dizziness usually does not respond to lying down.
What is allergy-induced vertigo?
Vertigo is a severe form of dizziness that causes you to see the room as though it’s spinning. Someone with vertigo may also feel as though they’re moving when they’re actually sitting or standing still.
In the case of allergy-induced vertigo, the culprit is fluid building up in the middle ear.
It’s worth noting that however debilitating or disruptive vertigo may be, it’s often treatable. Your doctor will likely run a variety of tests to try and establish the cause.
If it’s established that the vertigo is allied to allergic rhinitis, your doctor should see to appropriately treat it or refer you to a specialist (usually an allergist or ear, nose, and throat doctor).
Since vertigo may be associated with more serious medical conditions, one should seek a cure as soon as possible if they experience the symptom.
How is allergy-induced dizziness treated?
The cure for allergy-induced dizziness is usually to treat the cause-the allergy itself.
Avoiding the allergen altogether is the best way to treat an allergy. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely avoid allergens in the air.
Medications, such as prescription medicines and over-the-counter medications, are available to help relieve dizziness among other symptoms associated with allergies, but treating the cause itself is generally a more effective manner to remove dizziness for good.
The first thing your doctor would try to do is find out what could be causing your allergic-induced dizziness. This is typically done through the traditional allergy test, whereby there is an in-depth analysis of your particular allergens.
Medications
There are many choices for fighting allergy symptoms. Antihistamines are commonly used for short-term use and can be very effective in relieving the congestion that may be causing your dizziness.
Antihistamines are also used to treat vertigo. Be aware that many older antihistamines can cause drowsiness. It’s important to not drive or operate machinery when you first take an antihistamine.
You should not also take them together with antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, or alcohol. You may consult your doctor or pharmacist in case of doubt.
Other than antihistamines, other forms of medications that are used in the treatment of allergies or allergy symptoms include;
- corticosteroid pills
- cromolyn sodium
- nasal steroid sprays
- decongestants
- leukotriene modifiers
Allergy shots
Your doctor will probably want to treat the allergy causing your symptoms in the long term. This can be done with prescription medication that’s safe for daily use. It can also be done with specially formulated allergy shots.
That would be when a small amount of the allergen is injected, and you go through an allergy shot. As time goes on, your body becomes desensitized to this allergen.
Gradual increase in your dosage will let your body adapt. Your symptoms will decrease eventually.
Diet
Your doctor may also watch for signs of celiac disease. This is a more serious form of gluten intolerance that requires complete avoidance of gluten in your diet or serious health complications can follow.
Outlook
Dizziness can be a problem, but when allergies are the root cause, treatment can leave you free of symptoms.
The key is to determine the reason for your dizziness and treat the cause, rather than the symptom itself.
