Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsTypesCausesTreatmentDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Types
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Dizziness is a non-specific term used to express a variety of sensations like lightheadedness, imbalance, or like the room is spinning.
Its causes range from standing up too quickly to more serious conditions—likevertigo—that merit medical treatment. Most of the time, dizziness is an acute symptom that resolves quickly and on its own, but sometimes it may signal a more serious problem.
This article discusses the symptoms and potential causes of dizziness and covers the risk factors and when to seek tests or treatment for your symptoms.
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Symptoms of Dizziness
Dizzy is a subjective feeling that differs from person to person. Dizziness is most commonly described as one of the following sensations:
Types of Dizziness
The various types of dizziness are outlined below.
Vertigo
Vertigo is most commonly described as the feeling of the room spinning while you’re still. There are many different subtypes of vertigo, such as:
The cause of your dizziness may differ depending on the subtype, but they all show some level of discord in how the brain interprets visual information about one’s position in space.
Of note, vertigo can be a medical condition in and of itself—oftentimes of unknown origin—or a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as a metabolic disorder likekidney failure,multiple sclerosis, orstroke.
Causes of Dizziness When Lying Down (and When to Worry)
Presyncope
Presyncopeis that faint feeling you feel when you get up too quickly. More commonly known as lightheadedness, presyncope occurs when blood is restricted to the brain.
Disequilibrium
Disequilibrium is the feeling of unsteadiness or imbalance often associated with inner ear dysfunction, ear infections, and neuro-degenerative conditions, such asParkinson’s disease.
Causes of Dizziness
The foremost common causes of dizziness are:
It’s also important to note that sometimes the cause of your dizziness simply cannot be explained.
What Medications Can Cause Dizziness
Any medication that is toxic to the inner ear (ototoxic) or can precipitate an electrolyte imbalance in the body has the potential to cause dizziness.
The following medications (and their drug classes) most commonly trigger medication-induced vertigo-like symptoms:
How to Treat Dizziness
Finding the root cause of your dizziness will determine the best course of action for you.
If your symptoms of dizziness are severe, persistent, recurrent, do not resolve with your normal at-home remedies or medications, or are associated with stroke-like symptoms, seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare provider.
Can Medications Help Treat Dizziness?
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Dizziness?
Finding the root cause of your dizziness always starts with a healthcare provider taking a detailed medical history, including careful questioning about the nature of the dizziness, and a focused physical examination, which may include observing eye movements, balance and walking, positional testing, and a blood pressure check.
To determine what might be causing your dizziness, your healthcare provider may recommend/perform one of these tests:
Consult your healthcare provider if your test results are unclear or if you have any questions. After taking these exams, you should meet with your healthcare provider, who will explain the results and discuss your treatment options.
If your symptoms of dizziness are recurrent, sudden, worsening, not going away with your typical treatments, or worrying you, seek immediate medical attention.
If you or a loved one experiences any of the following associated symptoms, call 911, as it may be a sign of a stroke or some other life-threatening problem:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
If you’re feeling dizzy, make sure you prevent yourself from falling and injuring yourself. If your dizziness goes away, it may not be cause for concern. If your dizziness repeats, consider seeing a healthcare provider to better understand what’s causing your dizziness.
Dizziness is rarely a sign of a brain issue, although it may be associated with low blood flow to the brain, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or hypertensive crisis, all of which affect the brain.
Treating the underlying cause of your dizziness is the best way to resolve your symptoms. Changing positions, doing home exercises, and taking medications (as mentioned above) may be enough to ameliorate your dizziness. However, if your symptoms worsen, do not resolve within a couple of days, or begin affecting your ability to perform daily tasks, contact a healthcare provideras soon as possible.
7 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.
MedlinePlus.Dizziness.
Drug-induced true vertigo and balance disorders.Prescrire Int. 2015;24(156):18.
Patel PR, Quinn JV.Syncope: a review of emergency department management and disposition.Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2015;2(2):67-74. doi:10.15441/ceem.14.049
Rubin DI, Cheshire WP.Evaluation of “dizziness” in the neurology office.Semin Neurol. 2011;31(1):29-41. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1271306
Walker B, Colledge N, Ralston S, et al.Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 22nd edition.Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 2014.
MedlinePlus.Meniere’s disease.
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