Table of ContentsView AllTable of Contents1. BPPV2. Alcohol Misuse3. Motion Sickness4. Pregnancy5. Low Blood Sugar6. Vestibular Migraines7. Anxiety8. Dehydration9. Heart Attack10. Stroke
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
BPPV
Alcohol Misuse
Motion Sickness
Pregnancy
Low Blood Sugar
Vestibular Migraines
Anxiety
Dehydration
Heart Attack
Stroke
Dizziness and nausea are two symptoms that often happen at the same time and aren’t usually serious. The symptoms may be due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, pregnancy, or motion sickness, for example.
Each cause is treated a little differently, so identifying the underlying reason for your symptoms will help you and your healthcare provider find a treatment that’s right for you.
VioletaStoimenova / Getty Images
1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign paroxysmalpositional vertigo (BPPV)is a condition that affects the tiny crystals in your innerear, calledotoconia, that help you maintain your balance as your body changes positions. Sometimes, these crystals come loose and begin to float around in the inner ear.
When otoconia move out of place, BPPV can occur. This condition causes vertigo—a spinning sensation that results in feeling nauseous and dizzy.
Treatment
BPPV can sometimes go away on its own without treatment. However, this condition is often treated with physical therapy using a technique called theEpley maneuver. During this treatment, the therapist will take you through a series of movements to move the otoconia out of your inner ear. Once they are out, your body can reabsorb them and your symptoms should resolve.
There aren’t any medications used specifically to treat BPPV, but if your nausea is severe, your healthcare provider might prescribe anti-nausea medications to treat your symptoms. Medications can treat acute vertigo that lasts a few hours to several days.
Excessive alcohol consumptioncan cause dizziness and nausea to occur together. Alcohol affects structures in your inner ear that help maintain your balance.
Under normal circumstances, fluid in your inner ear moves as your body moves. This fluid movement puts pressure on a structure in the ear that contains nonmotile (nonmoving) cells calledstereocilia. Stereocilia send electrical signals to your brain about your movement and the position of your body.
Drinking alcohol affects the thickness of the fluid in your inner ear, which can cause the stereocilia to send wrong information to your brain, making you feel like the ground is moving or you are spinning.
At the same time, consuming alcohol can cause nausea. Alcohol increases stomach acid production and thebuildup of fat in your liver—both of which can cause nausea.
The best way to treat dizziness and nausea from alcohol overuse is to cut back on the amount you are drinking, or eliminate it completely. If you do drink, eat a full meal first to help slow the absorption of the alcohol to reduce your risk of feeling ill.
Motion sicknesstypically resolves on its own after you stop moving. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting sick, including:
Dizziness and nausea are commonsymptoms of pregnancy. Nausea is most common in the first couple of months. It can happen at any time of day, but is often referred to asmorning sickness.Dizziness also occurs in pregnancy due to hormonal changes that lower your blood pressure.
While you might not be able to preventpregnancy-related symptoms, there are steps you can take to reduce dizziness and nausea. These include:
If nausea and dizziness persist, talk to your healthcare provider about medications that may help and are safe to take during pregnancy.
Low blood sugar, also called low blood glucose orhypoglycemia, occurs when the level of glucose in your blood drops to an unhealthy level. Hypoglycemia is common in people with type 1 diabetes and in those with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or other diabetes medications.
In addition to nausea and dizziness, low blood sugar can cause shakiness, confusion, sweating and chills, a fast heartbeat, andpale skin.
A blood glucose reading of lower than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered low for many people with diabetes. However, the number that indicates a low level can vary from person to person.
The first-line treatment for hypoglycemia is called the 15-15 rule. Eat at least 15 grams of carbohydrates (in the form of glucose tablets, fruit juice, honey, or raisins), wait 15 minutes, and check your blood sugar again.If your blood sugar remains below 70 mg/dL, repeat the steps until your blood sugar is above that level.
If necessary, your healthcare provider may want to adjust your medication regimen to avoid future episodes of low blood pressure.
As with other types of migraines, symptoms of vestibular migraines include light and sound sensitivity. However, unlike other types of migraines, they don’t cause headaches.
Vestibular migraines are treated the same way as other types of migraines. Know what your triggers are so you can avoid or prepare for them. Commonmigraine triggersinclude weather changes, certain foods, skipping meals, flashing lights, and lack of sleep.
In addition to lifestyle strategies, migraines are often treated withmedicationsandneuromodulation devices.
Anxiety triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, which increases your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. This can lead to dizziness or light-headedness. The body’s response to anxiety also shifts blood away from your stomach, which can lead to nausea.
Anxiety can often be treated with lifestyle interventions. These can include:
Anxiety that interferes with your ability to perform daily tasks can be a sign of an anxiety disorder or other mental health condition.Mental health conditions often require professional interventions, such as mental health counseling or medications.
Dizziness and nausea can also be signs of dehydration. Nausea is an especially worrisome symptom of dehydration because vomiting can exasperate the root of the problem.
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, adults should intake the following amount of fluids to avoid dehydration:
Othersigns of a heart attackinclude:
Urgent medical attention is needed for those experiencing a heart attack. In the case of a blocked artery, it must be opened within 90 minutes for the best results.Depending on the type of heart attack, medical professionals may prescribe medications or additional procedures.
These common symptoms can also signal a stroke. Othersigns of strokeinclude:
If you suspect you are experiencing a stroke, seek medical attention immediately. Initialstroke treatmentsmay involve the use of blood thinners, targeted intra-arterial clot removal, and careful regulation of blood pressure, heart function, fluid balance, electrolytes, and oxygen levels.Depending on the cause of the stroke, in rare cases, surgery may also be necessary.
Summary
Dizziness and nausea can occur together for a variety of reasons. These symptoms can be related to conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), low blood sugar, pregnancy, anxiety, motion sickness, vestibular migraines, or drinking alcohol.
Treatment for dizziness and nausea depends on the underlying cause. Less commonly, these symptoms can be a sign of something more serious, such as a stroke or heart attack.
When you’re trying to determine the cause of your dizziness and nausea, take note of when your symptoms occur.
In some cases, it can be easy to connect the dots—particularly if you have motion sickness and have been riding in a car or if you drank too much alcohol. Many times, simple changes to your lifestyle can bring significant relief.
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25 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).MedlinePlus.Epley maneuver.Swartz R, Longwell P.Treatment of vertigo.AFP. 2005;71(6):1115-1122.McGrath J, Roy P, Perrin BJ.Stereocilia morphogenesis and maintenance through regulation of actin stability.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017;65:88-95. doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.08.017American Addiction Centers.The spins: Why drinking alcohol can make you dizzy.Columbia University.Why is drinking alcohol suddenly making me sick?American Academy of Family Physicians.Motion sickness.National Institutes of Health.What are some common signs of pregnancy?American Heart Association.Dizziness during pregnancy: When is it a concern?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).American Diabetes Association.Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).Sohn JH.Recent advances in the understanding of vestibular migraine.Behav Neurol. 2016;2016:1801845. doi:10.1155/2016/1801845American Migraine Foundation.What to know about vestibular migraine.Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Anxiety.org.Anxiety treatments: Know your options.Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 signs that you are dehydrated.National Institutes of Health.Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (2002/2005) and Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate (2005).Johns Hopkins.Dehydration.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Park J, Choi KH, Lee JM, et al.Prognostic implications of door‐to‐balloon time and onset‐to‐door time on mortality in patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.JAHA. 2019;8(9):e012188. doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.012188National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a heart attack?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke signs and symptoms.Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke.2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375Pundi K, Baykaner T, True Hills M, et al.Blood thinners for atrial fibrillation stroke prevention.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol.2021;14(6):e009389. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.120.009389
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).MedlinePlus.Epley maneuver.Swartz R, Longwell P.Treatment of vertigo.AFP. 2005;71(6):1115-1122.McGrath J, Roy P, Perrin BJ.Stereocilia morphogenesis and maintenance through regulation of actin stability.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017;65:88-95. doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.08.017American Addiction Centers.The spins: Why drinking alcohol can make you dizzy.Columbia University.Why is drinking alcohol suddenly making me sick?American Academy of Family Physicians.Motion sickness.National Institutes of Health.What are some common signs of pregnancy?American Heart Association.Dizziness during pregnancy: When is it a concern?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).American Diabetes Association.Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).Sohn JH.Recent advances in the understanding of vestibular migraine.Behav Neurol. 2016;2016:1801845. doi:10.1155/2016/1801845American Migraine Foundation.What to know about vestibular migraine.Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Anxiety.org.Anxiety treatments: Know your options.Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 signs that you are dehydrated.National Institutes of Health.Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (2002/2005) and Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate (2005).Johns Hopkins.Dehydration.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Park J, Choi KH, Lee JM, et al.Prognostic implications of door‐to‐balloon time and onset‐to‐door time on mortality in patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.JAHA. 2019;8(9):e012188. doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.012188National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a heart attack?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke signs and symptoms.Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke.2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375Pundi K, Baykaner T, True Hills M, et al.Blood thinners for atrial fibrillation stroke prevention.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol.2021;14(6):e009389. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.120.009389
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
MedlinePlus.Epley maneuver.
Swartz R, Longwell P.Treatment of vertigo.AFP. 2005;71(6):1115-1122.
McGrath J, Roy P, Perrin BJ.Stereocilia morphogenesis and maintenance through regulation of actin stability.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017;65:88-95. doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.08.017
American Addiction Centers.The spins: Why drinking alcohol can make you dizzy.
Columbia University.Why is drinking alcohol suddenly making me sick?
American Academy of Family Physicians.Motion sickness.
National Institutes of Health.What are some common signs of pregnancy?
American Heart Association.Dizziness during pregnancy: When is it a concern?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
American Diabetes Association.Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Sohn JH.Recent advances in the understanding of vestibular migraine.Behav Neurol. 2016;2016:1801845. doi:10.1155/2016/1801845
American Migraine Foundation.What to know about vestibular migraine.
Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.
American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety.org.Anxiety treatments: Know your options.
Slidell Memorial Hospital.8 signs that you are dehydrated.
National Institutes of Health.Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (2002/2005) and Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate (2005).
Johns Hopkins.Dehydration.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
Park J, Choi KH, Lee JM, et al.Prognostic implications of door‐to‐balloon time and onset‐to‐door time on mortality in patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.JAHA. 2019;8(9):e012188. doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.012188
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is a heart attack?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke signs and symptoms.
Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al.2021 guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Stroke.2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375
Pundi K, Baykaner T, True Hills M, et al.Blood thinners for atrial fibrillation stroke prevention.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol.2021;14(6):e009389. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.120.009389
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