Arrhythmia
When you have an arrhythmia, your heartbeat is irregular. This means that it’s not operating at a steady pace. When your heart rate is irregular, your brain can’t process information regularly. This causes vertigo and dizziness because your sense of balance relies on being able to perceive the world around you in constant motion. In addition, the way your inner ear processes the movements of your body gets thrown off by an irregular heartbeat, so you feel like you’re moving when you’re standing still or standing still when you’re moving.
A common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which makes the heart beat very fast and unevenly. Since it’s very difficult for the body to operate normally with such an irregular heart rate, several side effects can occur from this condition. In addition to causing vertigo and dizziness, it also causes shortness of breath, fatigue, lightheadedness, and chest pain. Atrial fibrillation can also increase the risk of stroke by three times due to blood clots that form in the heart and travel to other body parts via the bloodstream.
Since arrhythmia can cause vertigo and dizziness as side effects, it’s important to see a doctor if you experience these symptoms. Your physician may be able to treat the condition with medication or lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and getting more exercise.
