Dizziness: what is spinning? (Me, the room or my heart??)
- Pierluigi Costanzo
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
Dizziness is a common yet disconcerting sensation that many of us will experience at some point in our lives. It can feel like lightheadedness, a sensation of spinning, or loss of balance.
While it can be caused by a variety of things, such as dehydration, low blood sugar, or inner ear problems, it can also be a sign of something more serious—heart problems.
In this blog, we'll explore the heart-related causes of dizziness and explain why diagnostic tools such as an Echocardiogram or an ECG monitor are so important in identifying these issues.
Heart-Related Causes of Dizziness
When dizziness is associated with heart problems, it usually involves problems with blood flow or heart rhythm. Here are some common heart-related causes of dizziness: Cardiac arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats, either too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia), can prevent your heart from pumping enough blood to your brain and cause dizziness or even fainting.
Heart valve problems: If your heart's aortic valve is narrowed (stenosis), it can reduce blood flow from the heart and cause dizziness, especially during physical activity.
Heart failure: In heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough blood to your body, including your brain, and this can cause dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Ischemic heart disease: In this condition, blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced because one or more of the coronary arteries supplying the heart are narrowed.
During physical exertion, the heart needs more oxygen and blood flow, which can be a problem when coronary arteries become narrowed. This can lead to angina or a heart attack and occasionally also cause dizziness.
Faint: This is when there is a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, often caused by standing for a long period, emotional stress, or heat exposure. It can cause fainting and dizziness.
Why an Echocardiogram and an ECG Monitor are important
To diagnose a heart-related cause of dizziness, your doctor may order an echocardiogram.
An echocardiogram is a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to create images of your heart (like a ultrasound "baby scan").
It can provide information about the size and shape of your heart and how well your heart is pumping. An echocardiogram can also show blood flow through the chambers and valves of your heart. These images can help your doctor to identify problems with your heart that may be causing your dizziness. For example, an echocardiogram can show:
Heart valves: It can show if you have a problem with any of the four heart valves, such as a narrowed or leaky valve.
Heart chambers: An echocardiogram can show if the walls of your heart's pumping chambers are too thick or if your heart is an abnormal size.
This test helps your doctor diagnose heart disease and may also help show how well your heart may be functioning after a heart attack.
ECG Monitor is a simple, painless test that records the electrical activity of your heart. It shows your heart's rhythm, detects arrhythmias. This is particular relevant for people who have symptoms only occasionally, to record heart activity for 24 hours or longer (even up to 14 days).
This test can be valuable for diagnosing arrhythmias that occur at irregular intervals.
In essence, dizziness is more than just an unsettling feeling. It can also be a sign of serious heart problems. Understanding the heart-related causes of dizziness is important for ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic tools such as echocardiograms and ECG monitors can help identify the problem.
If you're experiencing frequent or severe dizziness, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, make an appointment with your doctor. The health of your heart is too important to ignore, and these diagnostic tests can help make sure your heart is in good health.
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