What Is Light-headed?

When a person is light-headed, it is usually because his blood is not flowing to his head properly. This is a condition not to be taken lightly, especially if it happens frequently, as it can be an indication of a more serious problem.

Symptoms

When a person is light-headed, she feels dizzy and unstable. Some people describe the condition as feeling like a balloon that is about to float away.

Causes

Light-headedness can be due to a simple temporary lack of oxygen (what happens when you hold your breath) or it could be due to a more serious condition, such as anemia, stroke, diabetes, internal bleeding, or problems with your blood pressure. It can also be due to an allergy, cold, drug use, or anxiety attacks.

Vertigo

Vertigo is also a major cause of feeling light-headed. Signals are not sent to the brain properly, causing the person's sense of balance to become confused.

Effects

Being light-headed could lead a person to faint. This becomes a dangerous predicament if the person is in a compromising position, such as driving or operating heavy machinery. A fall due to fainting from light-headedness could also cause injury.

Solutions

The best thing to do when you feel light-headed is to sit down. Drink water and eat something, in case the problem is due to a lack of nutrition. If you are in hot weather, get to an air-conditioned room as soon as possible. Put your head between your legs to relieve symptoms or breathe into a small paper bag.

References

• Mother Nature; Light-Headedness
• WebMD; Dizziness: Lightheadedness and Vertigo