Ladies, I know we have all been there. The time of the month when our bodies seem to have a war against us. As if the cramp, mood swings, and bloating were not enough. Some of us also experience dizziness before our period. It feels like our inner ear takes a ride on a rollercoaster leaving us feeling disoriented and off-balance.
Well, turns out, there are a few different reasons why we might feel dizzy before our period starts. For starters, our hormones can be blamed or go crazy in the days leading up to the period. Estrogen and progesterone levels also rise and fall which can mess up the body’s functions.
But there are some other factors that contribute to it and there also are some useful ways that you can use to alleviate your dizziness. So, let’s dig in and learn more about dizziness that occurs before periods.
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Does this Mean a Sign of Pregnancy?
Dizziness before a period may be a sign of pregnancy. pre-pregnancy dizziness occurs due to changes in the vascular system that causes shifts in the volume of the blood. Blood volume when low can make your blood pressure low which may cause you to feel light-headed and dizzy.
Dizziness due to pregnancy also comes with other symptoms like nausea and vomiting. If you are not experiencing these, then your dizziness might be due to hormonal changes.
You can always take a pregnancy test by using pregnancy test strips to confirm if you are pregnant or not.
Reasons Why You’re Experiencing Dizziness Before Period
Here are some of the most common conditions related to dizziness before a women’s menstrual cycle. Although some of the causes mentioned are mild, some can be more severe and might require immediate medical attention.
So, the reasons or causes include:
It Could Be PMS Dizziness
A lot of women experience premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, about five days (sometimes more) before the menstrual cycle starts. And a lot of people have this question ‘can PMS cause dizziness.’ Symptoms of PMS occur due to hormonal changes in women’s bodies that cause mood swings and changes in appetite.
Research says that lightheadedness that is close to dizziness can be felt due to the fluctuation of estrogen levels in the body.
Maybe it is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Besides dizziness before the period caused by PMS, women can also feel lightheaded due to premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It is known as PMDD for short. In a nutshell, if seen, this disorder is an extreme version of premenstrual syndrome.
Women who suffer from PMDD might need medical and psychological treatment as the symptoms are typically very troublesome.
You Might Be Anemic
Iron-deficiency anemia in people of childbearing age occurs more often due to blood loss during periods. A lot of times this condition occurs due to heavy periods experienced by women.
With this anemia and low levels of iron, there is a decrease in red blood cell production, which causes low oxygen levels. This makes the oxygen circulate less and can be an answer to dizziness before period and after as well. And if you have a particularly heavy flow of blood during periods, the dizziness experienced might be due to iron deficiency anemia.
Or Perhaps it is Low Blood Sugar
Dr. Rabbia Ashraf, one of the top gynecologists in Pakistan says, if you have low blood sugar levels, you are bound to feel dizzy. This is because estrogen does not only influence blood pressure but also the levels of blood sugar levels in your body.
During menopause, women can experience blood sugar variations due to the shifting estrogen levels. Similarly, estrogen levels shift can cause blood sugar level changes during the menstrual period.
Low Blood Pressure Can Be a Cause
Women that have low blood pressure tend to feel lightheaded and dizzy. This usually happens due to sex hormones in the female body and this is similar to dizziness before a period.
These regulate blood pressure. For example, estrogen decreases blood pressure while testosterone boosters it.
Therefore, estrogen levels are high during the week before the menstrual cycle, leading to low blood pressure and dizziness.
Read How to Check Blood Pressure at Home to explore more.
Period Related Migraines Could Also Be a Cause
A migraine is a neurological condition during which a patient experiences painful headaches and sometimes this is accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Hormonal shifts are one of the biggest triggers of migraines. For example, if you have headaches and feel dizzy before your period, behind this a menstrual migraine can be a cause.
Some of the reasons for dizziness before the period caused by menstrual migraines include the serotonin imbalance and a boost in inflammatory prostaglandins.
Some Serious Health Conditions to Watch Out For
The following health conditions are not related to a menstrual cycle, but they can still cause dizziness and lightheadedness. These include,
- Labyrinthitis or other infections
- Meniere’s disease
- Chronic Migraine
- BPPV or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Doctors at Hameed Latif Hospital say that often when these health conditions develop before the menstrual cycle, you may mistake them for your menstrual symptoms.
How to Alleviate Dizziness?
There is a lot that can be done in order to save yourself from dizziness before period and lightheadedness. Here are some of the basic lifestyle adjustments to help with the symptoms.
- Eating a balanced and healthy diet
- Drinking enough water
- Getting regular exercise
- Exercising regularly
As for other causes of dizziness like anemia, the diagnosis needs to be done first. A blood test can always help you out in finding your hemoglobin levels. While patients with low blood pressure and sugar need to stay hydrated all the time.
When to Contact Healthwire!
As always, make sure that you consult your healthcare specialist if you want answers to dizziness before period. You can contact the best lady doctors near you by visiting Healthwire.pk and getting yourself consultations booked with top doctors in Pakistan.
