It’s a not-so-gouda situation.
While some see grocery shopping as a mundane task, others dread the trip, anticipating dizziness, fatigue, nausea and more as they stock up on food for the fridge.
It’s not just the prices at Whole Foods that are setting some people off, but instead a collection of symptoms referred to as “supermarket syndrome.”
When some people walk down a grocery aisle, the tall shelves, bright lights, crowds and the need to bend or turn for items can lead to long-lasting vertigo, nausea, disorientation, unsteadiness and more.
Rather than a medical disorder itself, “supermarket syndrome” refers to the dizziness or imbalance linked to vestibular disorders that affect balance and spatial awareness in busy, crowded environments.
Researchers believe the symptoms are caused by a disconnect between what people see and their vestibular systems, or the brain’s balance systems.
The brain may also rely too heavily on visual information for balance, leading to a rocking or swaying sensation while standing still, similar to motion sickness.
The brain relies on information from several sources for balance, including the semicircular canals and otoliths in the inner ear (the vestibular system), the visual system and the proprioceptive system.
While the vestibular system senses head tilting or turning, the proprioceptive system sends signals about pressure, movement and leg position.
The brain evaluates all the different signals it receives â head position, legs and sight â to correctly assess the situation.
With “supermarket syndrome,” or visually induced dizziness, it relies too much on sight and not enough on the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, so the brain decides you’re moving when you’re not.
“Supermarket syndrome” may also be highlighting underlying conditions such as persistent postural-perceptual dizziness, inner ear dysfunction, binocular vision dysfunction or past head or neck injuries.
People dealing with these symptoms can also develop anxiety around going to crowded places.
There are ways to manage these symptoms, though.
Shopping during quieter, less busy hours and taking breaks if symptoms begin appearing can reduce the visual load.
“If the dizziness persists, keeps returning or has no clear explanation, a medical evaluation is recommended,” Dr. Robert Thompson, a physician and medical contributor for mental health facility Care Point Boston, told Huffington Post.
There’s also vestibular rehabilitation, if taking breaks and avoiding busy aisles isn’t working, to help the brain relearn how to balance.
“For some patients, this may include exercises and gradual exposure to visually busy environments to help improve tolerance over time,” Dr. Hanul Bhandari, a neurologist and senior consultant at the treatment center New Waters Recovery, told Huffington Post.
