Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Dizziness?Is Dizziness a Symptom of Allergies?Treatment and Management of DizzinessWhen to See Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Dizziness?
Is Dizziness a Symptom of Allergies?
Treatment and Management of Dizziness
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
This article will explore whether dizziness could be a symptom of allergies. It also discusses potential causes of dizziness and treatments for allergies and this related symptom.
NickyLloyd / Getty Images
Dizziness causes you to feel off-balance and unsteady on your feet. It is sometimes confused withvertigoor lightheadedness. Unlike dizziness, vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are in motion. These sensations are distinct from lightheadedness, which is a feeling like you might faint.
Dizziness can be a symptom of nasal, or respiratory, allergies (also known asallergic rhinitis or hay fever). You get nasal allergies when your immune system mistakes certain airborne substances (such as pollen or pet hair) for a foreign substance.
In response to the allergens, your body releaseshistamines.Histamines trigger reactions that help your body get rid of harmful substances. In addition to dizziness, they often cause sneezing, increased mucus production, and wheezing.
The two main causes of dizziness due to airborne allergens are:
Allergy medications containing antihistamines, such asZyrtec(cetirizine) or Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may cause dizziness as a side effect. They can also make you feel lightheaded.
If you feel dizzy, the first thing you should do is sit or lie down somewhere safe.
If you are not taking allergy medication or managing your allergies in other ways, you may find relief from allergy symptoms, including dizziness, from some of the following common allergy treatments. See anallergistfor help deciding which one is right for you.
Allergy Medication
If other therapies aren’t working for you, your allergist may want to do tests to find out exactly what you’re allergic to. Allergies to airborne substances like pollen and pet dander can be treated withallergy shots, although they don’t work for everyone.
Allergy shots contain small amounts of the substance you’re sensitive to. This helps desensitize your body to the allergen.
Diet
Research has found an association between diet and nasal allergies. High-fat and low-carbohydrate diets, for example, have been linked to nasal allergies in children.
Studies have also found a relationship between what you eat during pregnancy and your child’s chances of developing allergies. In particular, diets high in vegetables and fish were associated with a lower risk, while diets high in vegetable oils and fast food are associated with higher risk.
Alternative Therapies
You may also want to try alternative remedies for your allergies. Some people findacupuncturehelpful.This is a remedy used in Traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting needles into select points on the body.
Some studies have suggested that herbal supplements such asbutterburcan be helpful for people with allergies.Keep in mind, though, that unpurified butterbur may harm your liver. Always ask your healthcare provider before you start taking supplements of any kind.
If you frequently experience dizziness as a result of allergies, talk to your healthcare providers about possible solutions, such as a change in treatment approach.
Dizziness and Anaphylaxis
More serious symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
The symptoms come on within 20 to 30 minutes of ingestion or exposure to a trigger.An anaphylactic reaction is a life-threatening emergency and requires immediate medical attention. If your dizziness occurs with symptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911 and use an EpiPenif you have one.
Summary
Allergies to airborne substances can sometimes cause dizziness. This symptom usually happens when the auditory tube in your ear becomes swollen and blocked. Dizziness can also be a side effect of allergy medications. In some cases, it can be a symptom of anaphylaxis.
You can treat allergy-related dizziness and your other symptoms with prescription or OTC medication or immunotherapy. What you eat can also make a difference. It is also important to avoid allergens as much as possible.
A Word From Verywell
It can be scary to feel dizzy or off-balance, but it shouldn’t be a cause for panic. If you also have other symptoms of allergies, the dizziness is probably related. If it becomes frequent or severe, see your doctor. There may be another cause for your dizziness, such as migraines orbenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Antihistamines.Anvari S, Miller J, Yeh CY, Davis CM.IgE-mediated food allergy.Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2019;57(2):244-60. doi:10.1007/s12016-018-8710-3World Allergy Organization.IgE in clinical allergy and allergy diagnosis.Kim SY, Sim S, Park B, Kim JH, Choi HG.High-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are associated with allergic rhinitis but not asthma or atopic dermatitis in children.PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0150202. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150202Netting MJ, Middleton PF, Makrides M.Does maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation affect outcomes in offspring? A systematic review of food-based approaches.Nutrition. 2014;30(11-12):1225-41. doi:0.1016/j.nut.2014.02.015Hauswald B, Yarin YM.Acupuncture in allergic rhinitis.Allergo J Int23, 115–119 (2014). doi:10.1007/s40629-014-0015-3Lewis SJ, Keister DM.Is butterbur an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis?Evid Based Pract. 2017;20(11):15. doi:10.1097/01.EBP.0000541879.42327.4fAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Antihistamines.Anvari S, Miller J, Yeh CY, Davis CM.IgE-mediated food allergy.Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2019;57(2):244-60. doi:10.1007/s12016-018-8710-3World Allergy Organization.IgE in clinical allergy and allergy diagnosis.Kim SY, Sim S, Park B, Kim JH, Choi HG.High-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are associated with allergic rhinitis but not asthma or atopic dermatitis in children.PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0150202. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150202Netting MJ, Middleton PF, Makrides M.Does maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation affect outcomes in offspring? A systematic review of food-based approaches.Nutrition. 2014;30(11-12):1225-41. doi:0.1016/j.nut.2014.02.015Hauswald B, Yarin YM.Acupuncture in allergic rhinitis.Allergo J Int23, 115–119 (2014). doi:10.1007/s40629-014-0015-3Lewis SJ, Keister DM.Is butterbur an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis?Evid Based Pract. 2017;20(11):15. doi:10.1097/01.EBP.0000541879.42327.4fAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Antihistamines.Anvari S, Miller J, Yeh CY, Davis CM.IgE-mediated food allergy.Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2019;57(2):244-60. doi:10.1007/s12016-018-8710-3World Allergy Organization.IgE in clinical allergy and allergy diagnosis.Kim SY, Sim S, Park B, Kim JH, Choi HG.High-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are associated with allergic rhinitis but not asthma or atopic dermatitis in children.PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0150202. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150202Netting MJ, Middleton PF, Makrides M.Does maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation affect outcomes in offspring? A systematic review of food-based approaches.Nutrition. 2014;30(11-12):1225-41. doi:0.1016/j.nut.2014.02.015Hauswald B, Yarin YM.Acupuncture in allergic rhinitis.Allergo J Int23, 115–119 (2014). doi:10.1007/s40629-014-0015-3Lewis SJ, Keister DM.Is butterbur an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis?Evid Based Pract. 2017;20(11):15. doi:10.1097/01.EBP.0000541879.42327.4fAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Eustachian tube dysfunction.
American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org.Antihistamines.
Anvari S, Miller J, Yeh CY, Davis CM.IgE-mediated food allergy.Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2019;57(2):244-60. doi:10.1007/s12016-018-8710-3
World Allergy Organization.IgE in clinical allergy and allergy diagnosis.
Kim SY, Sim S, Park B, Kim JH, Choi HG.High-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are associated with allergic rhinitis but not asthma or atopic dermatitis in children.PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0150202. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150202
Netting MJ, Middleton PF, Makrides M.Does maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation affect outcomes in offspring? A systematic review of food-based approaches.Nutrition. 2014;30(11-12):1225-41. doi:0.1016/j.nut.2014.02.015
Hauswald B, Yarin YM.Acupuncture in allergic rhinitis.Allergo J Int23, 115–119 (2014). doi:10.1007/s40629-014-0015-3
Lewis SJ, Keister DM.Is butterbur an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis?Evid Based Pract. 2017;20(11):15. doi:10.1097/01.EBP.0000541879.42327.4f
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
