10 Causes of Lightheadedness
5. Heart Conditions
In older adults, lightheadedness may be a sign of a life-threatening heart condition. It can be a symptom of a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), or even a heart attack. Arrhythmias can produce lightheadedness because, temporarily, the heart losses its ability to pump blood effectively, especially during very fast or slow heart rates. This decreases blood pressure and reduces the amount of blood that reaches the brain. Other symptoms of arrhythmias include palpitations, shortness of breath, and fainting.
Similarly, heart attacks (myocardial infarction) can also cause lightheadedness. This occurs because the pumping ability of the heart is also impaired, due to damage to the heart muscle. Other symptoms of myocardial infarction include chest pain, nausea, arm pain, jaw pain, and shortness of breath.
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