Dizziness

Dizziness may accompany other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder, or condition.

Dizziness may accompany other symptoms including:

• Disequilibrium

• Fainting or change in level of consciousness or lethargy

• Shaking or trembling

Dizziness may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:

• Chest pain or pressure

• Cool or clammy skin

• Difficulty hearing

• Headache

• Nasal congestion

• Nausea with or without vomiting

• Numbness or weakness of the extremities

• Profuse sweating

• Vision problems

In some cases, dizziness may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

• Chest pain or pressure

• Convulsions or seizures

• Difficulty breathing, talking or swallowing

• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Loss of consciousness

• Severe abdominal pain

• Severe headache

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body

• Vomiting

Some common causes of dizziness include hunger, fatigue, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or anxiety. Dizziness can also be caused by neurologic conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.

Vertigo (the perception of moving or your surroundings moving around you) is associated with disturbances in the vestibular system, which governs balance. Because your ears are associated with this system, ear infections and diseases, such as Meniere’s disease, can affect your sense of balance and gait. Benign positional vertigo affects the inner ear and occurs when you change the position of your head. Labyrinthitis usually follows a cold or flu and is often caused by a viral infection of the inner ear.

Serious causes of dizziness can include heart attack, stroke, or shock, all of which are severe, potentially life-threatening conditions that warrant immediate medical care.

Dizziness in the sense of lightheadedness may be caused by the following:

• Alcohol or drug use or intoxication

• Allergic reactions

• Anxiety or panic

• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)

• Decreased levels of breathable oxygen (altitude, carbon monoxide exposure, etc.)

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

• Infections or illnesses, such as the cold or flu

• Medication side effects

• Mild dehydration

Vertigo may be caused by the following:

• Alcohol or drug use or intoxication

• Labyrinthitis (inner ear infection)

• Medication side effects

• Meniere’s disease (inner ear condition affecting balance and hearing)

• Positional vertigo (dizziness that occurs when shifting the position of the head)

Dizziness can also be caused by neurologic conditions including:

• Brain hemorrhage

• Brain or inner ear tumor

• Infection of the ear or brain

• Migraine

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson’s disease

In some cases, dizziness may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These include:

• Brain hemorrhage

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

• Severe bleeding

• Shock

• Stroke

• Transient ischemic attack (temporary stroke-like symptoms that may be a warning sign of an impending stroke)

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner will ask you several questions related to your dizziness including:

• How long have you been experiencing dizziness?

• Is your dizziness caused by changing positions?

• Do you have other symptoms in addition to dizziness?

• Did the dizziness occur with or following an illness?

• Does the dizziness stop in certain situations? Does anything remedy the dizziness?

• Have you recently started, changed, substituted, or discontinued any prescription medications?

• Have you ever fainted or passed out because of your dizziness?

• Are you stressed or anxious?

Common questions people have about the various dizziness causes include:

• Why am I dizzy after eating? There can be several reasons you feel dizzy after eating. This includes postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure after eating) and reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar within four hours of eating). Food sensitivities and alcohol can also cause dizziness after a meal.

• Why am I dizzy after standing up? If you get dizzy after standing up, it’s most likely orthostatic hypotension. Another name for it is postural hypotension. It happens due to your blood pressure dropping when you stand up from a sitting or lying position.

• Why do I get dizzy when lying down? If you get dizzy when lying down, it’s most likely related to your vestibular system. Specifically, it could be BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo).

Only your doctor can tell you for certain what is causing your dizziness. If you have any of these questions, see your doctor for a thorough evaluation.

Because it is a symptom, dizziness treatment depends on the underlying cause. This may include medications or balance exercises. If you are experiencing persistent or recurrent dizziness, it’s vital to see your doctor to get a diagnosis. Self-treating dizziness without seeing your doctor first may delay the diagnosis of a potentially serious medical condition.

Talk with your doctor about lifestyle habits that can help manage your dizziness. Your doctor’s recommendations may include:

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.

• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and avoid overheating.

• Get an adequate number of hours of sleep each night.

• Improve safety at home by removing rugs, applying no-slip strips to floors, keeping cords out of the way, and installing grab bars in bathrooms.

• Sit or lie down if you have an episode of dizziness and avoid standing up or moving suddenly.

• Use a cane or other assistance device to maintain stability while walking or standing.

If your dizziness is associated with motion or nausea, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine. Examples include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Antivert).

Because dizziness can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the specific underlying cause for your dizziness is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your healthcare professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

• Brain damage

• Heart failure

• Loss of hearing

• Loss of vision

• Paralysis

• Spread of cancer

• Spread of infection