Dizziness at menopause in women: signs, what to do, folk remedies

Every woman has an idea of what menopause is: in simple terms, it is a natural sign of aging of the female body, which is associated with changes in sexual function. Menopause can manifest itself in changes in the condition of the skin and hair, deterioration of the elasticity of blood vessels, the well-known "hot flashes" and sleep disturbances. No less common is such a symptom as dizziness during menopause - this condition causes a lot of discomfort to women and therefore requires special attention.

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Causes menopausal dizziness

Dizziness during menopause can bother a woman until the onset of postmenopause: additional symptoms such as anxiety, nervousness, and depression may also be present.

Experts believe that the main reason for this condition is the increasing change in hormonal levels, which primarily consists of a decrease in the production of hormones by the ovaries.

The pathogenesis of dizziness is simple. Acute lack of estrogens leads to changes in the vessels:

• to a decrease or increase in vascular lumen;
• to sudden changes in blood pressure;
• to an increase in the load on the heart, which can manifest itself as tachycardia or heart rhythm disturbances;
• to disruptions in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system;
• to thermoregulation disorder.

The above processes secondary lead to oxygen deficiency in some organs and systems of the body. Thus, dizziness primarily occurs due to oxygen starvation of the brain.

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Risk factors

Dizziness may be more pronounced if a woman has secondary causes or factors:

• changes in the inner ear;
• Meniere's disease;
• vestibular disorders;
• cerebrovascular accidents;
• osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• tumor processes in the brain;
• traumatic injuries to the spine or head;
• migraine;
• anemia.

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Symptoms menopausal dizziness

Dizziness during menopause can occur in three forms:

1. Vertigo-like dizziness, which is an illusion of movement of one's body in space, or the environment relative to one's body. Such dizziness may be accompanied by the appearance of a veil before the eyes, blurred vision (especially against the background of sharp turns of the head). Sometimes myasthenia, attacks of nausea, intolerance to bright light and noise may be observed.
2. Vestibular dizziness is accompanied by motor coordination disorders: it becomes difficult for a woman to perform certain movements, for example, walking.
3. Pre-syncope dizziness is one of the most dangerous conditions during menopause. Such dizziness appears suddenly: suddenly the vision dims, tachycardia begins, nausea sets in. If at this moment you try to make any sudden movements, you can aggravate the condition up to fainting.

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First signs

The first signs of dizziness during menopause can be considered the following symptoms:

• illusory movement of space, especially when changing body position;
• double image;
• difficulty maintaining balance;
• general discomfort and severe weakness;
• increasing nausea;
• sudden sweating;
• slight increase in temperature;
• a feeling of ringing in the ears, deterioration of hearing and vision.

Sometimes an attack of dizziness may be preceded by periods of severe headache, mood swings, and depression.

Dizziness and nausea during menopause can be caused not only by menopause itself, but also by other diseases, and this must be taken into account. Although during menopause this condition is considered physiological and does not require drug correction.

You should be wary if, against the background of dizziness and nausea, there is a strong increase in temperature, speech and spatial coordination disorders, paresis and paresthesia, severe vomiting (exhaustive, with streaks of blood, complicated by diarrhea).

In case of dizziness and nausea, it is necessary to exclude such diseases and conditions as stroke, acute intoxication, pathologies of the digestive organs, and brain tumors.

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Complications and consequences

Negative consequences can develop if a person with dizziness is not helped. For example, during an attack, a woman can fall and get injured - head or other parts of the body. To prevent this from happening, at the first signs of dizziness, a woman should lie down, or at least sit on a chair or armchair with a back.

Complications from dizziness during menopause are rare and are a consequence not of the fact of dizziness itself, but of its cause. For example, among such complications one can single out permanent hearing loss – the result of damaging processes in the inner ear.

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Diagnostics menopausal dizziness

To make sure that dizziness is a consequence of menopause, the doctor can use a number of tests.

• Blood tests to assess the levels of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), estradiol, LH (luteinizing hormone). The levels of these hormones indicate the degree of ovarian function.
• Instrumental diagnostics:
  • audiographic examination;
  • examination of the fundus with assessment of the state of the optic nerve;
  • CT scan of the brain, angiography;
  • ultrasound dopplerography;
  • X-ray of the skull and spine.
• Consultations with a cardiologist, neurologist, vascular surgeon, vertebrologist.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics of dizziness during menopause is carried out with cerebrovascular accident, anemia, hypotension, intoxication conditions, and tumor processes in the brain.

Treatment menopausal dizziness

It is possible to get rid of dizziness during menopause. To do this, it is necessary to apply a comprehensive approach, using several treatment measures simultaneously.

1. Hormonal treatment of dizziness is prescribed only after taking tests to determine the hormone content in the blood. If necessary, the doctor can prescribe medications such as Proginova, Estrogel, Estriol, etc.
2. Sometimes, when there is no need for hormonal treatment, conventional drugs with a calming effect help: Andaxin, Seduxen, as well as Sedistress, Antistress, Novo-Passit tablets.
3. For severe nausea, the following medications will help: Cerucal, Metoclopramide, and mint tablets.
4. Vitamin remedies for dizziness during menopause are prescribed for anemia, malnutrition, hypovitaminosis and weak immunity. Among such drugs, the following are considered especially effective:
   • Complivit "Ca D³" is rich in calcium and vitamin D³, prevents the development of osteoporosis and normalizes the functions of the nervous and muscular systems.
   • Femicaps is a Finnish preparation containing B vitamins, magnesium and tocopherol, as well as beneficial plant components.
   • Alphabet 50 plus – contains a large number of vitamins and microelements necessary to prevent rapid age-related changes in the body.
   • Menopace is an English preparation with a high mineral content, with passionflower extract and other plant components. It relieves negative symptoms of menopause, including dizziness.

Folk remedies

To stabilize your mood, get rid of dizziness and discomfort, you can drink teas with the addition of mint leaves and calendula, as well as decoctions with hawthorn, lemon balm, fennel, sage, and valerian rhizome.

A good effect is given by a contrast shower, cool dousing - such procedures tone the cardiovascular system and relieve "hot flashes", dizziness during menopause and headaches. A contraindication to such procedures is hypertension.

In addition, it is useful to eat berries - especially raspberries, red and yellow vegetables and fruits, and greens.

Tea based on raspberry leaves, lemon balm, viburnum berries, chamomile flowers and clover flowers can be drunk daily throughout the entire period of menopause. At night, it is advisable to drink a decoction of valerian root or tincture of motherwort and peony. This will help normalize sleep, the lack of which can also cause dizziness.

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Herbal treatment

• Red brush tincture (25 g of raw material per 500 ml of vodka, leave for a week) is taken three times a day 30 minutes before eating, 1 tablespoon.
• Tincture of hop cones (25 g of raw material per 100 g of vodka, leave for a week) is taken in the morning and at night, 10 drops.
• A herbal infusion of 10 g rose hips, 10 g hop cones, 10 g mint leaves, 30 g lady's mantle in 500 ml boiling water is infused for an hour and drunk 1 tbsp. three times a day 20-30 minutes before main meals.
• An infusion of 20 g motherwort, 10 g hawthorn berries, 30 g blackberry leaves is poured with 600 ml boiling water and infused for 1 hour. Drink 1 tbsp. 3-5 times a day.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic medicines are more often than other medicines in demand for dizziness associated with menopause. These medicines are safe, do not cause addiction or dependence, have no side effects and eliminate negative symptoms gently and efficiently.

The most popular homeopathic medicines among women are:

• Remens is prescribed 1 tablet or 10 drops three times a day for 90 days. After a month's break, the course can be repeated.
• Klimadinon is taken 1 tablet or 30 drops twice a day for at least 3 months.
• Inoklim is taken 1-2 capsules daily for 3 months.
• Klimakt-heel is taken 1 tablet three times a day half an hour before meals. The tablet is placed under the tongue and held until completely dissolved. Continue treatment for 4-8 weeks.
• Klimaktoplan is prescribed for dizziness and hot flashes, 1-2 tablets three times a day, under the tongue.

Homeopathy is an excellent and safe alternative to hormonal drugs, which is why both doctors and women themselves often choose homeopathic remedies to relieve menopause symptoms.

Surgical treatment

Surgical intervention for dizziness during menopause can be prescribed only when tumor processes in the brain are diagnosed. The decision on surgery is made by the doctor, based on the results of diagnostic studies, taking into account the age of the patient and the severity of the disease.

Prevention

It is possible to prevent the development of dizziness during menopause, and there is nothing complicated about it: it is enough to follow the following recommendations from specialists:

• try not to drink coffee and strong tea - these drinks are overly stimulating and impair the absorption of many microelements;
• reduce the amount of salt in your meals – this will help avoid fluid retention in tissues and excessive calcium removal from the body;
• it is not advisable to consume large amounts of carbohydrates and fatty foods - this has a negative effect not only on the figure, but also on the blood vessels;
• make up a diet based mainly on vegetables and fruits, cereals, legumes, seafood, soy;
• don't forget about physical activity, breathe fresh air in any weather, do morning exercises - this will tone the blood vessels and improve blood circulation;
• have quality rest, do not exhaust yourself with physical and mental work: if you have worked well, then have a good rest;
• Yoga and breathing exercises are useful for preventing dizziness during menopause.

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Forecast

Dizziness during menopause is usually eliminated simultaneously with the stabilization of the hormonal background in the female body. The difficulty may only be that with age, dizziness is usually combined with other concomitant chronic diseases, which can delay recovery. However, if you undergo examinations in a timely manner, monitor your health and take the necessary measures, you can avoid the occurrence of dizziness, or quickly get rid of it.

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