Causes

Lightheadedness occurs when your brain does not get enough blood. This may occur if:

  • You have a sudden drop in blood pressure.
  • Your body does not have enough water (is dehydrated) because of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or other conditions.
  • You get up too quickly after sitting or lying down (this is more common in older people).

Lightheadedness may also occur if you have the flu, low blood sugar, a cold, allergies, or take medicines that may lower your blood pressure.

More serious conditions that can lead to lightheadedness include:

  • Heart problems, such as a heart attack or abnormal heart beat
  • Stroke
  • Bleeding inside the body
  • Shock (extreme drop in blood pressure)

If any of these serious disorders are present, you will usually also have symptoms like chest pain, a feeling of a racing heart, loss of speech, change in vision, or other symptoms.

Vertigo may be due to:

Other causes of lightheadedness or vertigo may include:

  • Use of certain medicines
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Seizures
  • Brain tumor
  • Bleeding in the brain

Considerations

Most causes of dizziness are not serious, and they either quickly get better on their own or are easy to treat.

Definition

Dizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo.

Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might faint.

Vertigo is a feeling that you are spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around you. Vertigo-associated disorders is a related topic.

References

Baloh RW, Jen JC. Hearing and equilibrium. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 428.

Chang AK. Dizziness and vertigo. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 15.

Muncie HL, Sirmans SM, James E. Dizziness: approach to evaluation and management. Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(3):154-162. PMID: 28145669 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28145669/.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:

  • When did your dizziness begin?
  • Does your dizziness occur or get worse when you move?
  • What other symptoms occur when you feel dizzy?
  • Are you always dizzy or does the dizziness come and go?
  • How long does the dizziness last?
  • Were you sick with a cold, flu, or other illness before the dizziness began?
  • Do you have a lot of stress or anxiety?

Tests that may be done include:

  • Blood pressure reading
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Hearing tests
  • Balance testing (ENG)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Your provider may prescribe medicines to help you feel better, including:

  • Antihistamines
  • Sedatives
  • Anti-nausea medicine

Surgery may be needed if you have Meniere disease.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your local emergency number (such as 911) or go to an emergency room if you are dizzy and have:

  • A head injury
  • Fever over 101°F (38.3°C), headache, or very stiff neck
  • Seizures
  • Trouble keeping fluids down
  • Chest pain
  • Irregular heart rate (heart is skipping beats)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Inability to move an arm or leg
  • Change in vision or speech
  • Fainting and loss of alertness for more than a few minutes

Contact your health care provider for an appointment if you have:

  • Dizziness for the first time
  • New or worsening symptoms
  • Dizziness after taking medicine
  • Hearing loss

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