As you approach the menopause, you will most likely begin to experience different signs and symptoms, some well known and some less so. One of the lesser-known symptoms is dizziness during menopause.

Here we will discuss dizziness in greater detail so that you can become familiar with its causes and learn how to overcome them. To do this, it is important to first of all understand the difference between vertigo and dizziness as the two are often confused ⁽¹⁾:

• Vertigo is the feeling that everything around us is spinning (but not ourselves).
• Meanwhile, dizziness is understood more as a sensation of feeling sick or lightheadedness, as if you were going to pass out.

As you can see, both sensations are closely related to each other, which is why for the person feeling them, vertigo and dizziness during menopause become difficult to differentiate between. But do not worry! We’ll explain more here.

Signs and symptoms that accompany dizziness during the menopause

Dizziness may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms of the menopause such as ⁽³⁾:

• Headaches.
• Feeling faint.
• Loss of balance.
• The sensation that everything around you is spinning (vertigo itself) or that the person is spinning.
• Palpitations.
• Nausea.

What are the causes of dizziness during menopause?

Dizziness can appear due to the hormonal changes that lead to the absence of menstruation. Similarly, there are other reasons that may cause this: stress, anxiety and fatigue caused by sleep disturbances, mood disturbances and hot flushes ⁽⁴⁾.

That said, menopause is not the only cause of dizziness. Other alterations of the heart, of the ear or metabolism can cause dizziness. And these can occur during the menopause transition without being directly due to it. Even standing up too quickly could be one of the reasons for this ⁽⁵⁾.

When should you visit the doctor?

If you experience dizziness regularly or you’re concerned at all, please contact your GP. If you experience dizziness alongside symptoms such as nocturia or changes to the pelvic floor it’s important to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

How to reduce the frequency and intensity of dizziness?

Before taking any measures to reduce dizziness during menopause, it is best to visit your GP. Once you do this, you can consider these recommendations ⁽⁶⁾:

• Stay hydrated. To achieve this, you can drink water, tea, or other types of beverages.
• Try to maintain a balanced diet that includes snacks, but avoid foods that are highly processed or high in sugar.
• When you get up, do so slowly.
• Discuss the potential use of hormone treatment with your GP.
• Avoid stress and seek to reduce day-to-day anxiety. For this, you can practice relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.

Now you know what dizziness during menopause is and why it happens, as well as what the symptoms and warning signs are so you won't be taken by surprise by this feeling.

References:

1. MedlinePlus. Dizziness

2. Henderson R. Can menopause cause dizziness?

3. Australian Menopause Centre. Dizziness

4. Terauchi M, Odai T, Hirose A, Kato K, Akiyoshi M, Masuda M, Tsunoda R, Fushiki H, Miyasaka N. Dizziness in peri- and postmenopausal women is associated with anxiety: a cross-sectional study. Biopsychosoc Med. 2018 Dec 12; 12:21. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30559834/

5. Henry D. Menopause and dizziness: Causes and treatments

6. Norris T. Menopause and Dizziness: Is It a Symptom? . Healthline; 2017 Apr 25. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/menopause-dizziness