Lightheadedness???

Question

I recently have been getting over a sinus infection...I noticed that I have been feeling lightheaded on and off. Not dizzy or anything. I also have been eating horrible the last few months, with no proper nutrition....Any suggestions on what might be causing this? I feel it more when I drive or stand up fast...

Answer 1

Hi, Rick - I got your email regarding your symptoms, and just glanced through your questions asked.

So it started with after a flight almost 3 months ago as a sinus infection. You've taken 3 courses of antibiotics, and the sinus infection is nearly cleared up. Now you feel lightheaded and like you have a something stuck in your throat. But you also admit that you've been eating poorly and you are looking into detox options.

Well - as an Audiologist, hearing and balance are my primary areas of knowledge. You say that you aren't dizzy, but that the lightheadedness is associated with movement. This is more suggestive of a systemic issue effecting your equilibrium, rather than a primary inner ear disorder. As for the feeling of something in your throat, it could be post-nasal drip or just inflammation of the membranes from coughing and clearing your throat; enlarged tonsils or tonsiloliths (if you still have tonsils); enlarged thyroid gland/goiter.

First of all, start with hydration: drink lots of clear fluids and avoid caffeine and artificial ingredients. Dehydration can really effect our bodies in many, many ways. Plus, with all the mucus production from the sinus infection, that will remove even more fluids from your body (even more if you had fevers and sweating). So get at least 64 ounces/day of caffeine-free fluids. The current recommendations are to take the number of your weight in pounds and divide it by 2 and drink that many ounces of fluids/water a day. So if you weigh 180 pounds, you should be consuming about 90 ounces of water.

Take at least a multi-vitamin (and maybe an immune boosting supplement, like AirBorne or just extra Vitamin C) and choose fresh foods over anything artificial or over-processed. If you exercise regularly, continue to do so, but do it in moderation; now is not the time to push your body. If you don't exercise regularly (or get physical activity during your job), then start walking for a half-hour, 3-4 evenings per week. This helps with digestion and with my next topic:

SLEEP. I don't know how old you are, but you should probably be getting about 7-8 hours per night. Sleep is our body's maintenance time, when work is done on the cellular level. If you have to get up at 6:00 in the morning for work, then start going to bed at 10:00 -- so at 9:30 shut down the computer, turn off the TV (you can TiVo; or download your programs and watch them on your iPod while walking on a treadmill after dinner the next night). Take a nice warm shower; drink a warm cup of herbal bedtime tea with honey; do some gentle stretching or yoga with some relaxing music. Take a few minutes to meditate/reflect on your day, and maybe journal about how you are feeling and what your symptoms are. Brush your teeth, tongue and the roof of your mouth, and gargle with a mouthwash that kills germs. Consider using a humidifier/vaporizer in your room (it was probably one of the recommendations during the sinus treatment) - this will help keep your mucous membranes (including the back of your throat) hydrated.

If you don't feel better within a week of getting good hydration, nutrition and rest, then it's back to the Doctor's - if you haven't seen and Ear, Nose and Throat specialist that is the next step. If you have, then go back and if dissatisfied, get a second opinion. Be as detailed and specific as you can about your symptoms and the course of this whole health problem you've had for 3 months now - a good case history is the BEST tool in diagnosing most illnesses.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon. Email me again if you have any more questions.

Answer 2

get up slowly and eat properly---no sugar!