Does rheumatoid arthritis cause dizziness?

As if living with rheumatoid arthritis wasn’t enough, some RA patients also complain about feeling dizzy at times. But is there a real connection between RA and dizziness or are these just random occurrences? Let’s find out.

The Lowdown on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Before we delve into the connection between RA and dizziness, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what rheumatoid arthritis really is. Simply put, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body mistakenly attacks its own joints causing inflammation and pain.

While most people think of joint pain when they hear about RA (and for good reason), it can also have other related symptoms including fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, dry mouth/eyes…the list goes on! Hence why this chronic condition affects different people in different ways.

Fun Fact: Did you know that “arthritis” comes from “arthro”, meaning joint in Greek and “-itis” which means inflammation? Now you do!

What Causes Dizziness?

Dizziness refers to a feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness that can make you feel like the room is spinning around you (not surprisingly called vertigo). There are many things that can cause dizziness such as low blood sugar levels, dehydration, anxiety disorders or poor sleep patterns.

More serious causes include inner ear infections/conditions affecting balance mechanisms. Drugs prescribed for blood pressure issues or heart disease among others mayalso cause feelings of drowsiness/diziness.

Okay but WHERE does Rheumatiod Arthritis Come In?

The link between RA patient experiencing bouts of dizzines could be attributed to several factors:

1) Medications

RA treatments may comprise drugs known to cause occasional side effects such as headache,drowsy spells or even trigger disorienting spins.Always verify your medication interactions with healthcare provider.

2) Inner Ear Fluids

In some RA patients, inflammation and related swelling may extend beyond the joints resulting in inner ear problems which might explain why they feel dizzy or experience occasional vertigo. Also known as rheumatoid arthritis-associated vestibular disorder,

3) Low Blood Pressure

Another possibility due to reduced blood volume circulating through peripheral vessels causing an insufficient return of blood supply from lower limbs. This could result in a lightheaded feeling upon standing ubruptly after sitting for extended periods.

In short, there are many possible explanations for this correlation between Rheumatoid Arthritis and dizziness. In order to address it accurately, one must be specific in tracking changes notiing its nature/document frequency of symptoms felt.

What You Can Do: Tips To Help Dizziness

So you’ve read all about how some people with RA get dizzy every now and then. But what can YOU do about it? Here are some tips:

  • Stay hydrated! Drinking enough water keeps your body functioning at at optimum level reducing drowsiness
  • Don’t stand up too quickly as it increases occurrenceof low pressure situations which could make unsteadiness worse.
  • Practice relaxation techniques like yoga/meditation;
  • Identify any triggers that may cause dizziness and avoid them
  • Keep emergency numbers handy just incase!

Conclusion

While managing your joint pain is definitely top priority when living with rheumatoid arthritis, experiencing moments of disorientation can potentially minimize life’s quality efforts..If you find yourself feeling dizzy often or having vertigo spells don’t hesitate to seek medical attention. For those who have never experienced this symptom1 before,it does NOT mean they should panic if I happens(excluding falls). As always mild cases usually go away on their own with no definite resolution needed(sounds great right?). Aim to maintain balance so the potential impact doesn’t evolve into anything more serious than mere irritation.

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