Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisWhen to Seek Medical CareFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Diagnosis
When to Seek Medical Care
Frequently Asked Questions
If you feel like you or the room you are in is spinning, you are experiencingvertigo.Feeling imbalanced or as if you are leaning to one side is known as disequilibrium.
Getty Images / VioletaStoimenova
Causes of Dizziness and Sweating
There are many different reasons for feeling dizzy or weak and sweating at the same time. The most common causes are listed below.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia(low blood sugar) occurs when glucose levels in the blood drop below healthy ranges.It is common in people withdiabetes. Hypoglycemia is frequently a side effect of certain medications (e.g., insulin), but also occurs if blood glucose levels fall too low due to not eating enough throughout the day.
Hypoglycemia often comes on suddenly. In addition to dizziness and sweating,symptoms of hypoglycemiainclude:
Heart Attack
Aheart attackoccurs when blood flow to the heart is significantly reduced or blocked.The primary symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. Dizziness and breaking out into a cold sweat can also occur. Other heart attack symptoms include:
When to Call 911If you have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911. Seeking immediate medical care may prevent further heart damage.
When to Call 911
If you have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911. Seeking immediate medical care may prevent further heart damage.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashesare sudden, intense bursts of heat felt on the upper body, including the face, neck, and chest.
When estrogen levels decline during menopause(when menstrual cycles have stopped for 12 consecutive months), thehypothalamus(the area of the brain that controls body temperature) becomes more sensitive to changes in temperature that can result in hot flashes.
Hot flashes can last anywhere from less than a minute to an hour, and are associated with the following symptoms:
Hot Flashes—Just a Fact of Life?
Anxiety
Anxietycan often lead to dizziness and sweating, particularly when anxiety levels are high. Many people with anxiety and panic disorders report feeling dizzy and sweaty in the moments leading up to or during a panic attack.
Apanic attackis an intense fear or discomfort that may last several minutes and can cause physical symptoms, including:
When you experience high levels of anxiety, a surge of stress hormones (e.g.,adrenaline,cortisol) floods the body. This can affect thevestibular system(sensory system in the inner ear) and cause dizziness.Studies show that people with anxiety disorders have an increased risk of developing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
How Long Does Vertigo Last?
Fainting (Due to Low Blood Pressure)
Fainting(syncope) occurs when you lose consciousness for a brief period. It occurs when your blood pressure drops suddenly, causing a decrease in blood flow to the brain due to an insufficient supply of oxygen. You may feel dizzy and light-headed or break out into a sweat moments before fainting.
Motion Sickness
Symptoms of motion sickness include:
Motion sickness is temporary and usually goes away when the motion stops.
How to Stop Motion Sickness
Other Possible Causes
Other causes of dizziness with sweating include:
Your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause of your dizziness and sweating. During your appointment, they will take your medical history, ask about your symptoms (e.g., when they began, and how long they last), and perform a physical exam.
To provide an accurate diagnosis, your healthcare provider may perform additional tests, such as:
If you have unexplained dizziness and sweating or experience prolonged or recurring episodes, it is important to see your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Seek medical care immediately if you experience dizziness and sweating with any of the following symptoms:
Summary
Many conditions can cause dizziness and sweating to occur together. Some are temporary and may pass on their own, while others require medical attention. Dizziness may occur along with sweating during episodes of anxiety, fainting, hot flashes, or motion sickness. Alternately, dizziness and sweating may be signs of a serious or life-threatening condition that requires medical attention, such as hypoglycemia or a heart attack.
Testing to identify the cause of dizziness and sweating can include imaging, blood, ECG, ENG, and positional evaluation.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPostprandial hypotension (low blood pressure) causes dizziness and sweating after eating.After you eat, your heart rate goes up and blood vessels constrict to increase blood flow to the stomach and intestines.In people with postprandial hypotension, blood flows normally to the intestine, but the heart rate does not increase enough and blood vessels do not constrict adequately, causing a drop in blood pressure.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Low Blood PressureIn addition to dry mouth, dehydration can cause confusion, light-headedness, and dizziness. As dehydration worsens, you may sweat less.Learn MoreAn Overview of DehydrationHigh levels of stress can set off the body’s stress response, which releases hormones such as cortisol that can affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This causes blood vessels to narrow, an increase in heart rate, and rapid breathing. These symptoms can lead to dizziness and sweating.Learn MoreRecognizing StressBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness when lying down.BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the gravity-sensing area of the inner ear move to motion-sensing parts of the ear. This can result in brief but intense dizzy spells (vertigo) that make you feel like the room is spinning when your head changes position.Learn MoreBenign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure) causes dizziness and sweating after eating.After you eat, your heart rate goes up and blood vessels constrict to increase blood flow to the stomach and intestines.In people with postprandial hypotension, blood flows normally to the intestine, but the heart rate does not increase enough and blood vessels do not constrict adequately, causing a drop in blood pressure.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Low Blood Pressure
Postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure) causes dizziness and sweating after eating.After you eat, your heart rate goes up and blood vessels constrict to increase blood flow to the stomach and intestines.In people with postprandial hypotension, blood flows normally to the intestine, but the heart rate does not increase enough and blood vessels do not constrict adequately, causing a drop in blood pressure.
Postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure) causes dizziness and sweating after eating.After you eat, your heart rate goes up and blood vessels constrict to increase blood flow to the stomach and intestines.
In people with postprandial hypotension, blood flows normally to the intestine, but the heart rate does not increase enough and blood vessels do not constrict adequately, causing a drop in blood pressure.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Low Blood Pressure
In addition to dry mouth, dehydration can cause confusion, light-headedness, and dizziness. As dehydration worsens, you may sweat less.Learn MoreAn Overview of Dehydration
In addition to dry mouth, dehydration can cause confusion, light-headedness, and dizziness. As dehydration worsens, you may sweat less.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Dehydration
High levels of stress can set off the body’s stress response, which releases hormones such as cortisol that can affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This causes blood vessels to narrow, an increase in heart rate, and rapid breathing. These symptoms can lead to dizziness and sweating.Learn MoreRecognizing Stress
High levels of stress can set off the body’s stress response, which releases hormones such as cortisol that can affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This causes blood vessels to narrow, an increase in heart rate, and rapid breathing. These symptoms can lead to dizziness and sweating.
Learn MoreRecognizing Stress
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness when lying down.BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the gravity-sensing area of the inner ear move to motion-sensing parts of the ear. This can result in brief but intense dizzy spells (vertigo) that make you feel like the room is spinning when your head changes position.Learn MoreBenign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness when lying down.BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the gravity-sensing area of the inner ear move to motion-sensing parts of the ear. This can result in brief but intense dizzy spells (vertigo) that make you feel like the room is spinning when your head changes position.
Learn MoreBenign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
23 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.MedlinePlus.Dizziness and Vertigo.Vestibular Disorders Association.Causes of dizziness.American Diabetes Association.Understanding and Managing Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia).National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What Is a Heart Attack?Centers for Disease Control and Preventing.About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery.Cedars-Sinai.Why Hot Flashes Occur and How to Treat Them.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.Dieterich M, Brandt T.Central vestibular networking for sensorimotor control, cognition, and emotion.Curr Opin Neurol. 2024;37(1):74-82. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001233Chen ZJ, Chang CH, Hu LY, et al.Increased risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in patients with anxiety disorders: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:238. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0950-2Brignole M, Moya A, De lange FJ, et al.2018 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope.Eur Heart J. 2018;39(21):1883-1948. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy037MedlinePlus.Fainting.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Motion sickness.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat Illnesses.Riediger C, Schuster T, Barlinn K, Maier S, Weitz J, Siepmann T.Adverse Effects of Antidepressants for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2017;8:307. Published 2017 Jul 14. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00307Chaves YD, Destefani AC.Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of dumping syndrome and its relation to bariatric surgery. 2016;29Suppl1:116-119. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201600S10028Sachdeva A, Choudhary M, Chandra M.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Benzodiazepines and beyond.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):VE01-VE07. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/13407.6538Brain & Spine Foundation.Dizziness and balance problems.American Heart Association.Tilt table test.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood Test.Awosika A, Adabanya U, Millis RM, Omole AE, Moon JH.Postprandial Hypotension: An Underreported Silent Killer in the Aged.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35411. Published 2023 Feb 24. doi:10.7759/cureus.35411Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.Saman Y, Arshad Q, Dutia M, Rea P.Stress and the vestibular system.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:221-236. doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2020.03.013Vestibular Disorders Association.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
23 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 and Vertigo.Vestibular Disorders Association.Causes of dizziness.American Diabetes Association.Understanding and Managing Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia).National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What Is a Heart Attack?Centers for Disease Control and Preventing.About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery.Cedars-Sinai.Why Hot Flashes Occur and How to Treat Them.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.Dieterich M, Brandt T.Central vestibular networking for sensorimotor control, cognition, and emotion.Curr Opin Neurol. 2024;37(1):74-82. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001233Chen ZJ, Chang CH, Hu LY, et al.Increased risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in patients with anxiety disorders: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:238. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0950-2Brignole M, Moya A, De lange FJ, et al.2018 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope.Eur Heart J. 2018;39(21):1883-1948. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy037MedlinePlus.Fainting.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Motion sickness.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat Illnesses.Riediger C, Schuster T, Barlinn K, Maier S, Weitz J, Siepmann T.Adverse Effects of Antidepressants for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2017;8:307. Published 2017 Jul 14. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00307Chaves YD, Destefani AC.Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of dumping syndrome and its relation to bariatric surgery. 2016;29Suppl1:116-119. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201600S10028Sachdeva A, Choudhary M, Chandra M.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Benzodiazepines and beyond.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):VE01-VE07. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/13407.6538Brain & Spine Foundation.Dizziness and balance problems.American Heart Association.Tilt table test.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood Test.Awosika A, Adabanya U, Millis RM, Omole AE, Moon JH.Postprandial Hypotension: An Underreported Silent Killer in the Aged.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35411. Published 2023 Feb 24. doi:10.7759/cureus.35411Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.Saman Y, Arshad Q, Dutia M, Rea P.Stress and the vestibular system.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:221-236. doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2020.03.013Vestibular Disorders Association.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
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 and Vertigo.Vestibular Disorders Association.Causes of dizziness.American Diabetes Association.Understanding and Managing Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia).National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What Is a Heart Attack?Centers for Disease Control and Preventing.About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery.Cedars-Sinai.Why Hot Flashes Occur and How to Treat Them.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.Dieterich M, Brandt T.Central vestibular networking for sensorimotor control, cognition, and emotion.Curr Opin Neurol. 2024;37(1):74-82. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001233Chen ZJ, Chang CH, Hu LY, et al.Increased risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in patients with anxiety disorders: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:238. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0950-2Brignole M, Moya A, De lange FJ, et al.2018 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope.Eur Heart J. 2018;39(21):1883-1948. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy037MedlinePlus.Fainting.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Motion sickness.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat Illnesses.Riediger C, Schuster T, Barlinn K, Maier S, Weitz J, Siepmann T.Adverse Effects of Antidepressants for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2017;8:307. Published 2017 Jul 14. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00307Chaves YD, Destefani AC.Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of dumping syndrome and its relation to bariatric surgery. 2016;29Suppl1:116-119. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201600S10028Sachdeva A, Choudhary M, Chandra M.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Benzodiazepines and beyond.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):VE01-VE07. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/13407.6538Brain & Spine Foundation.Dizziness and balance problems.American Heart Association.Tilt table test.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood Test.Awosika A, Adabanya U, Millis RM, Omole AE, Moon JH.Postprandial Hypotension: An Underreported Silent Killer in the Aged.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35411. Published 2023 Feb 24. doi:10.7759/cureus.35411Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.Saman Y, Arshad Q, Dutia M, Rea P.Stress and the vestibular system.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:221-236. doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2020.03.013Vestibular Disorders Association.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
MedlinePlus.Dizziness and Vertigo.
Vestibular Disorders Association.Causes of dizziness.
American Diabetes Association.Understanding and Managing Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia).
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What Is a Heart Attack?
Centers for Disease Control and Preventing.About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery.
Cedars-Sinai.Why Hot Flashes Occur and How to Treat Them.
National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.
Dieterich M, Brandt T.Central vestibular networking for sensorimotor control, cognition, and emotion.Curr Opin Neurol. 2024;37(1):74-82. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001233
Chen ZJ, Chang CH, Hu LY, et al.Increased risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in patients with anxiety disorders: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:238. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0950-2
Brignole M, Moya A, De lange FJ, et al.2018 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope.Eur Heart J. 2018;39(21):1883-1948. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy037
MedlinePlus.Fainting.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Motion sickness.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat Illnesses.
Riediger C, Schuster T, Barlinn K, Maier S, Weitz J, Siepmann T.Adverse Effects of Antidepressants for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2017;8:307. Published 2017 Jul 14. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00307
Chaves YD, Destefani AC.Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of dumping syndrome and its relation to bariatric surgery. 2016;29Suppl1:116-119. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201600S10028
Sachdeva A, Choudhary M, Chandra M.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Benzodiazepines and beyond.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):VE01-VE07. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/13407.6538
Brain & Spine Foundation.Dizziness and balance problems.
American Heart Association.Tilt table test.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood Test.
Awosika A, Adabanya U, Millis RM, Omole AE, Moon JH.Postprandial Hypotension: An Underreported Silent Killer in the Aged.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35411. Published 2023 Feb 24. doi:10.7759/cureus.35411
Cedars-Sinai.Dehydration.
Saman Y, Arshad Q, Dutia M, Rea P.Stress and the vestibular system.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:221-236. doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2020.03.013
Vestibular Disorders Association.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
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