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Dizziness after being on the computer
Hi, I'm 57 female w/anxiety and vertgo for 17 years,take .25mg Xanax and 80mg Micardis for blood pressure. Been able to manage my attacks OK.About 2 weeks ago @ 10:30AM at work after being on the computer I start feeling very dizzy and weak like I'm going to fall out of my chair or need to lean on my desk to hold myself up and like I need to go to sleep.When I force myself to get up to walk,I'm feel like I need to hold on to wall or desk to balance,it lasts for 1 hour
then OK.Had what I think was a rash on upper stomach and chest from changing detergents.I will not go out of my office if strangers are out there for fear of falling and weekness in my left leg, then I'm fine. Happens about 3 times a week at work and 2 at home, only after being o the computer. Please advise.
Thank you,
Donnita1
I too get dizzy when at work on the computer but always try to look up from the screen, but these past few weeks have noticed an increase in the dizziness. I sit at a desk from 8 to 5 working at the computer so I know that doesn't help my eyes. I tried the sunglasses and it helped, but I already have a glare shield and can't change the flourescent lights in the office. Cybertron's post resonated with me because I have noticed that I also lean in to look at the computer, even though I now have a large 24 inch screen and my font is at 150%, so that's not the problem. I think I need to work on my posture and keep remembering to breathe as well, and take more frequent eye breaks. My health comes first. I do think Computer Vision Syndrome is a problem as well.
I have been dizzy for the past 17 years. It mostly happens at work. Once I have been working on computer for a little bit I start to get dizzy like I am falling forward. My eyes feel like they are moving around and sometimes my ears ring. It happens all day it is do irritating that sometimes I will have to leave work because it sometimes scares me to have anxiety. The dr' s have ran blood, urine and heart tests . Everything checked out fine. Now the dr is seeing whether I have a blockage from my throat to ear and treating me with pretizone nose spray and Zyrtec D for 2 weeks. I kind of feel its a waste because I rarely have symptoms at home. Can somebody give me some advise
i suffer from anxiety and panick attacks for the past 6 years i take klonopin and celexa and because of my panic attacks and axiety i have developed vertigo so i take antivert i have noticed lately since i have to bring home work that long periods of time in front of the computer i don't merit my dizziness to my panic attacks or anxiety or even my vertigo in my opinion as mentioned in one of the comments check the glare or your screen and or take breaks as mentioned on one of the comments however sometimes a long period of time to me remeber we all have a different system swtiches off some anxiety thus sometimes producing me a panic attak i also recommend while taking your breaks walk around the block or complex hope this helps
I have had problems with dizziness working in front of my computer for years. I started a job 4 years ago that requires me to stare at an LCD computer screen for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week. My dizziness problems started about a year and a half or so ago - suddenly swaying in my chair, seeing spots before my eyes, slight nausea and headache. I've tried caffeine (never drank coffee until this problem started), adjusting the brightness of my screen, etc.
But I think I have finally found the cause. And I know my theory is going to sound crazy but I feel I should share it because it has helped me tremendously.
Just recently I realized I had begun putting on weight right around the time I started having dizziness issues. As I got heavier, my symptoms got worse. After hyper-monitoring myself like how I was sitting, what I was drinking, etc. for a week or so, I finally realized what was wrong. I was concentrating so hard on my screen work I was leaning forward too much and NOT BREATHING!! My gaining weight exacerbated the problem - I have more bulk around my middle to lean over, which prevents proper movement of the diapragm and proper breathing. Dizziness is a prime symptom of a lack of oxygen!!!
So, now I monitor my sitting position, making corrections as needed, and take breaks away from my computer as frequently as I can. I am also working on losing the extra weight I have gained due to this sedentary job. And so far, I am having less problems with dizziness. They do still happen but with less frequency, and improve as soon as I relax and lean back into a proper position in front of the screen. I never have problems at home in front of the TV or my laptop, by the way
But I think I have finally found the cause. And I know my theory is going to sound crazy but I feel I should share it because it has helped me tremendously.
Just recently I realized I had begun putting on weight right around the time I started having dizziness issues. As I got heavier, my symptoms got worse. After hyper-monitoring myself like how I was sitting, what I was drinking, etc. for a week or so, I finally realized what was wrong. I was concentrating so hard on my screen work I was leaning forward too much and NOT BREATHING!! My gaining weight exacerbated the problem - I have more bulk around my middle to lean over, which prevents proper movement of the diapragm and proper breathing. Dizziness is a prime symptom of a lack of oxygen!!!
So, now I monitor my sitting position, making corrections as needed, and take breaks away from my computer as frequently as I can. I am also working on losing the extra weight I have gained due to this sedentary job. And so far, I am having less problems with dizziness. They do still happen but with less frequency, and improve as soon as I relax and lean back into a proper position in front of the screen. I never have problems at home in front of the TV or my laptop, by the way
I've had CVS for a couple years without any effective relief. I tried computer screens and cheaply made computer glasses. I finally found computer glasses that work. I bought them from a company on eBay. I don't want to sound like a commercial so google: :Computer Glasses with double sided clear AR poly lenses" This is the type of glasses that finally gave me relief.
Check this out - an eye condition called vertical heterophoria may be the cause of your symptoms:
http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1608
Also:
www.VSofB.com
It is a binocular vision condition like Computer Vision Syndrome, but it is treated with glasses that contain prism in the lenses to realign the images, not vision therapy.
http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1608
Also:
www.VSofB.com
It is a binocular vision condition like Computer Vision Syndrome, but it is treated with glasses that contain prism in the lenses to realign the images, not vision therapy.
This happens to me as well. The dizziness, the headaches, the eye strain, that feeling of being in a trance.
Some of you had great ideas about how to help this by reducing the glare, time spent on the computer and giving yourself frequent breaks. All these will definitely help.
What a friend once told me is that our computer screens are constantly "flickering" at an enormous rate of speed and our eyes/minds attempt to keep up with it, which is impossible, and will result in many of these symptoms. His advice was basically what has been written in this thread.
I believe this is somewhat comparable to what happen in Japan a couple of years ago when a new video game came out and some people began to have seizures because the "flicker" rate was so high, it triggered a sort of epeleptic response.
I have absolutely no proof to offer for this theory, but I did ask a friend who works at MicroSoft about the flickering and he confirmed that.
Just a thought, but I now try to limit my time and I do take frequent "eye breaks." I have noticed that I don't have the weird symptoms as often.
Peace
Greenlydia
Some of you had great ideas about how to help this by reducing the glare, time spent on the computer and giving yourself frequent breaks. All these will definitely help.
What a friend once told me is that our computer screens are constantly "flickering" at an enormous rate of speed and our eyes/minds attempt to keep up with it, which is impossible, and will result in many of these symptoms. His advice was basically what has been written in this thread.
I believe this is somewhat comparable to what happen in Japan a couple of years ago when a new video game came out and some people began to have seizures because the "flicker" rate was so high, it triggered a sort of epeleptic response.
I have absolutely no proof to offer for this theory, but I did ask a friend who works at MicroSoft about the flickering and he confirmed that.
Just a thought, but I now try to limit my time and I do take frequent "eye breaks." I have noticed that I don't have the weird symptoms as often.
Peace
Greenlydia
I have a similar problem, and I just found this forum. I would get suddenly dizzy and feel really out of it at work, combined with feelings of anxiety in my chest. It would get better if I spent time outside, but would come back when I went back to my desk. I could see my floaters much more clearly, and I get these specks of white light racing around the edge of my vision.
At first I thought it was diabetes, but my blood results came back normal, then I thought it was a food allergy, as I often eat while at my desk or in front of the computer - still haven't ruled that out. I'm fine on the weekends when i don't spend too much time in front of my laptop at home, it seems. Diet and moderate exercise seem to help, as does wearing sunglasses at my desk - I'm nearsighted so I just got a pair of clip-on ones that I put on whenever it gets to be too much, and that really helps. It looks a bit silly, but it works! We have large overhead flourescent lamps at my work, and there's one right next to me, and I can't ask them to turn it off, or half the office would be dark. I am hoping this will eventually go away once my hormones go back into balance - I was on an IUD and am also going through a high-stress period in my life, which I think are both factors. I'm also changing my antidepressants back to Prozac, which I know my body tolerates well.
At first I thought it was diabetes, but my blood results came back normal, then I thought it was a food allergy, as I often eat while at my desk or in front of the computer - still haven't ruled that out. I'm fine on the weekends when i don't spend too much time in front of my laptop at home, it seems. Diet and moderate exercise seem to help, as does wearing sunglasses at my desk - I'm nearsighted so I just got a pair of clip-on ones that I put on whenever it gets to be too much, and that really helps. It looks a bit silly, but it works! We have large overhead flourescent lamps at my work, and there's one right next to me, and I can't ask them to turn it off, or half the office would be dark. I am hoping this will eventually go away once my hormones go back into balance - I was on an IUD and am also going through a high-stress period in my life, which I think are both factors. I'm also changing my antidepressants back to Prozac, which I know my body tolerates well.
Hi
just read your comments and I too have dizziness which started on a friday late afternoon after a week of computer use at work. the dizziness stayed for days. same symptoms like i'd been on a wonderwaltzer and just got off. today same again and its friday again. I have been to see the doctor, who syringed my ears and put me on b12 and took bloods. But I do think that there seems to be a link with the computer use. So im going to log off soon and give my eyes a rest.
oh before I go, i saw my optomatrist and he stated that i have dry eye syndrome which is from computer use and can cause blurred vision. so I need moisturising eye drops about 6 times a day, maybe this will help, have you tried eye drops?
hope we all get better soon x
just read your comments and I too have dizziness which started on a friday late afternoon after a week of computer use at work. the dizziness stayed for days. same symptoms like i'd been on a wonderwaltzer and just got off. today same again and its friday again. I have been to see the doctor, who syringed my ears and put me on b12 and took bloods. But I do think that there seems to be a link with the computer use. So im going to log off soon and give my eyes a rest.
oh before I go, i saw my optomatrist and he stated that i have dry eye syndrome which is from computer use and can cause blurred vision. so I need moisturising eye drops about 6 times a day, maybe this will help, have you tried eye drops?
hope we all get better soon x
Hi, me too suffering from dizzyness after working long hours on computer. am a diabetic with blood pressure on borderline. since i was not taking any medicine for blood pressure doctor concluded that its because of blood pressure however after taking BP medicines dizzyness has not subsized. dizzyness doesnt goes after after 1 hour and continue till i reach home from office.
however when am at home on weekends i dont come across this issue at all, so i believe it to be because of computer screen only , dizziness increases when i get up to urinate and after urination.
Well thanks for sharing your views and information
Regards/Sandeep
however when am at home on weekends i dont come across this issue at all, so i believe it to be because of computer screen only , dizziness increases when i get up to urinate and after urination.
Well thanks for sharing your views and information
Regards/Sandeep
I started suffering the sames symptoms about 4 months ago. At first it was triggering panic attacks and I thought I was loosing my mind. I was getting the floaters, the off balance feelings, and anxiety. I got tested for just about everything to no avail and finally my eye doctor diagnosed CVS. I have been getting better by the week. What helped me was.
- Eye Exercises, pencil push ups and short and log distance focusing.
- Nutrition, multivitamins, from Omega 3 to Vitamin B12.
- Since my brain now associates dizziness with anxiety I have had to teach myself how to relax without medication and I have found this through meditation and walking. I found Thom Hartman's walking your blues away book, incredibly helpful.
I have found that the symptoms coexists together and that they are cause not by one thing but a chain of events that lead to my current situation, From bad ergonomics, bad nutrition, stress, too many working hours, etc.
I would recommend you try a multi faceted approach to releaving these symptoms and I hope my suggestions help you.
I would love to be in touch with other people who are experiencing this situation so please e-mail me to ***@****. Because thingkin you are alone in this is a horrible feeling.
- Eye Exercises, pencil push ups and short and log distance focusing.
- Nutrition, multivitamins, from Omega 3 to Vitamin B12.
- Since my brain now associates dizziness with anxiety I have had to teach myself how to relax without medication and I have found this through meditation and walking. I found Thom Hartman's walking your blues away book, incredibly helpful.
I have found that the symptoms coexists together and that they are cause not by one thing but a chain of events that lead to my current situation, From bad ergonomics, bad nutrition, stress, too many working hours, etc.
I would recommend you try a multi faceted approach to releaving these symptoms and I hope my suggestions help you.
I would love to be in touch with other people who are experiencing this situation so please e-mail me to ***@****. Because thingkin you are alone in this is a horrible feeling.
Hello! I'm 42 and also suffer from dizzy spells after being on my computer. Here are the things that help me:
1. Increase your font size so that you are not straining to read.
2. Look down at your keyboard on and off.
3. If you have to read a lot on the monitor, try to print it and read offline.
4. My chiropractor adjusts my upper neck to restore critical blood flow to the head.
5. be award of how you are sitting at the computer - are your shoulder's raised? Are you doing the "turtle" neck - I find these 2 things can cause blood flow to become restricted especially for long periods of time!
Hope this helps!
~ Meredith
1. Increase your font size so that you are not straining to read.
2. Look down at your keyboard on and off.
3. If you have to read a lot on the monitor, try to print it and read offline.
4. My chiropractor adjusts my upper neck to restore critical blood flow to the head.
5. be award of how you are sitting at the computer - are your shoulder's raised? Are you doing the "turtle" neck - I find these 2 things can cause blood flow to become restricted especially for long periods of time!
Hope this helps!
~ Meredith
Thanks for this thread. I have had this happen too, sometimes it triggers an anxiety attack or symptoms.
It seems to happen with flat screens, too, but I do spend a lot oftime staring at computer screens, and not taking a break from that. I will try the break thing too. I usually resist turning on my flourescent lights at work. Interesting...that rash you mentioned caught my eye too, because i get a rash in the same area, usually after a chest/lung infection, but a couple times it's been for no reason that I can detect.
Again, thanks for the info. Off to look up CVS. :-)
It seems to happen with flat screens, too, but I do spend a lot oftime staring at computer screens, and not taking a break from that. I will try the break thing too. I usually resist turning on my flourescent lights at work. Interesting...that rash you mentioned caught my eye too, because i get a rash in the same area, usually after a chest/lung infection, but a couple times it's been for no reason that I can detect.
Again, thanks for the info. Off to look up CVS. :-)
tHANK YOU COFFYCUP, CHCNME AND ASYMPTOMADDICT.
Today I was okay, I kept turning the monitor off and walking away from the screen every 10 - 15 minutes. Haven't had a chance to check out that computer syndrome site that coffycup mentioned.This is an awful thing, to feel you have no control, kinda reminds me of the days of conditioning myself to get to checkout at the grocery 15 years ago, spent way to much extra money on things I didn't need, just waiting for the crowd to die down to get to checkout without an attack. Oh well, I'm working on it.
Thank you very much!
Donnita1
Today I was okay, I kept turning the monitor off and walking away from the screen every 10 - 15 minutes. Haven't had a chance to check out that computer syndrome site that coffycup mentioned.This is an awful thing, to feel you have no control, kinda reminds me of the days of conditioning myself to get to checkout at the grocery 15 years ago, spent way to much extra money on things I didn't need, just waiting for the crowd to die down to get to checkout without an attack. Oh well, I'm working on it.
Thank you very much!
Donnita1
If changing the glare and colors doesn't help, you may want to think about either changing the refresh rate of the monitor or switching to an LCD screen (assuming your company will afford you one) - both put much less eye strain on the user. I switched to LCD screens a while back and have had significantly fewer problems with my vision since.
I got that kind of dizziness a few times after sitting at the computer at work and also felt like I needed to hold onto the wall to get down the hall. I had been on the computer for about 5 hours without taking my eyes off of it (and had been doing this for a few days straight). This kind of dizziness was not a symptom of "anxiety", either. The dizziness struck so quick and violently, I thought my chair had tipped over. I literally thought I was falling off the chair for a few seconds when it hit. Had to put my head on the desk and felt like I needed to hold on to the desk. It was scary! Lasted probably 5 minutes. I was eventually OK, but it was an awful feeling. I've heard that flourescent lights can sometimes cause dizziness, and I've also heard the flourscent lights (might be the older kind) have been associated with some seizures. My opthalmologist said the theory on computers causing eye problems is bogus (but I don't know if I believe him :)
There is a medical condition called Meniere's disease (severe dizziness), but nausea and vomiting usually accompany it. Best of luck.
There is a medical condition called Meniere's disease (severe dizziness), but nausea and vomiting usually accompany it. Best of luck.
I had the 'floaters', but they went away when we removed the strobing paddle fan.
In my last comments post,I meant to say trance not trace, sorry.
And I know it's not in my head, it's a real thing and not fun, as you already know. I'm going to check out the computer vision syndrome, never heard of that one.
Thank you!
In my last comments post,I meant to say trance not trace, sorry.
And I know it's not in my head, it's a real thing and not fun, as you already know. I'm going to check out the computer vision syndrome, never heard of that one.
Thank you!
I get dizzy, and my floaters get even worse...it's horrible, isn't it? I've read about Computer Vision Syndrome, some opthalmologists say it's bogus, but some say it's a real problem, and there are many things written online about it. I tend to believe it's real. Perhaps you've heard about it?
Thank you, Coffycup
Yes, we did all that,we now even have my screen on dark colors. They did change the overhead lighting on the other side of my office with these new high output 'T5' fluorscent lamps that are so bright, I said no, when they wanted to install them over my desk.We have removed a paddle fan that caused strobing with the overhead light fixtures that made me dizzy, but, that was years ago.
Whem I have these feelings, it feels like I am in a trace that I cannot fight...???
Very frustrating and my co-workers are becoming concerned, as like....is she crazy?
Yes, we did all that,we now even have my screen on dark colors. They did change the overhead lighting on the other side of my office with these new high output 'T5' fluorscent lamps that are so bright, I said no, when they wanted to install them over my desk.We have removed a paddle fan that caused strobing with the overhead light fixtures that made me dizzy, but, that was years ago.
Whem I have these feelings, it feels like I am in a trace that I cannot fight...???
Very frustrating and my co-workers are becoming concerned, as like....is she crazy?
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