Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lightheadedness is a feeling of faintness or wooziness, as if you are suddenly about to pass out. You may feel nauseous, sweaty, and even have trouble hearing or seeing well. The severity of an episode can range from mild to debilitating.
It’s other name, presyncope, means “beforefainting.” However, presyncope can also happen on its own. It also can occur once, in episodes, or be persistent.
Presyncope is often related to conditions that affect the heart or blood circulation. However, other conditions can cause lightheadedness as well.
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of lightheadedness and how the condition is diagnosed and treated.
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4 Uncommon Causes of Chronic Dizziness
By definition, presyncope must involve the sensation of nearly fainting. People with presyncope will typically say that they feel as if they are “about to pass out” or “about to black out.”
The symptoms and signs of presyncope may involve some or all of the following:
Chronic presyncope can significantly impair a person’s well-being and quality of life.
What Is Chronic Subjective Dizziness?
There are many potential causes of lightheadedness. Most causes are typically harmless, while some may be severe and even life-threatening.
Strictly speaking, presyncope can be broadly categorized as either cardiac (related to the heart) or non-cardiac (not related to the heart). Non-cardiac causes are more common and often less severe than cardiac causes.
These are just some of the more common cardiac and non-cardiac causes of presyncope:
Cardiac Presyncope Causes
Non-cardiac Presyncope Causes
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Lightheadedness should never be ignored, particularly if it is severe, recurrent, orchronic.
Your healthcare provider will need to conduct a careful evaluation to figure out which of the many possible causes is to blame for how you feel.
This typically starts with a physical exam to check yourvital signs(e.g.,blood pressureand heart rate) and a review of medical history, including any medications you take and conditions you have/have had.
After a review of your symptoms, testing can be considered.
Symptom Review
Your provider will likely ask you to be very specific when describing your symptoms.
Among the reasons why,lightheadednessis an imprecise term. Some may use it to describe sensations that are similar, but that do not involve a sense of impending fainting.
Among them:
They will want to know:
They will also ask about other symptoms you may be experiencing, such as fatigue. Mention anything you can think of, even if you don’t think it’s related.
This information, plus what they know about your health history, can help your provider narrow down some possibilities for further investigation.
For example:
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Blood Tests
Based on the initial findings, your healthcare provider may order a variety of lab tests to check for or exclude possible causes. These may include:
Imaging and Other Tests
Imaging studies and procedures may also be ordered based on your symptoms and risk factors.
Other tests may be ordered as the possible causes are whittled down.
Diagnosing Different Types of Dizziness
The treatment of lightheadedness depends on the underlying cause. There are many possibilities.
For most people who experience lightheadedness, in which dehydration or vasovagal episodes are common causes, the treatment will consist mainly of learning to avoid situations that can trigger symptoms.
If lightheadedness is related to an undiagnosed cardiovascular condition, you may be referred to acardiologistfor further evaluation and treatment. Other causes may require specialists as far-ranging asallergists,endocrinologists, andneurologists.
Summary
Many often describe presyncope or lightheadedness as a feeling of impending loss of consciousness; in other words, they may feel as if they are about to “pass out.” Symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, blurry vision, and confusion.
Non-cardiac related causes, such as dehydration, are more common and usually less severe than cardiac-related ones.
Treatment depends on what the underlying cause of the condition is. Treating the underlying issue will typically resolve lightheadedness.
6 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.John Hopkins Medicine.Syncope (Fainting).Charlton NP, Pellegrino JL, Kule A, et al.American Heart Association and American Red Cross focused update for first aid: presyncope: an update to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid.Circulation. 2019;140(24):e931-e938. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000730Whitledge JD, Ali N, Basit H, Grossman SA.Presyncope. In:StatPearls [Internet].McLellan AJ, Kalman JM.Approach to palpitations.Aust J Gen Pract. 2019;48(4):204-209. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-17-4436Muncie HL, Sirmans SM, James E.Dizziness: approach to evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(3):154-62.Nemours Children’s Health System.A to Z symptom: dizziness.
6 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.John Hopkins Medicine.Syncope (Fainting).Charlton NP, Pellegrino JL, Kule A, et al.American Heart Association and American Red Cross focused update for first aid: presyncope: an update to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid.Circulation. 2019;140(24):e931-e938. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000730Whitledge JD, Ali N, Basit H, Grossman SA.Presyncope. In:StatPearls [Internet].McLellan AJ, Kalman JM.Approach to palpitations.Aust J Gen Pract. 2019;48(4):204-209. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-17-4436Muncie HL, Sirmans SM, James E.Dizziness: approach to evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(3):154-62.Nemours Children’s Health System.A to Z symptom: dizziness.
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.
John Hopkins Medicine.Syncope (Fainting).Charlton NP, Pellegrino JL, Kule A, et al.American Heart Association and American Red Cross focused update for first aid: presyncope: an update to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid.Circulation. 2019;140(24):e931-e938. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000730Whitledge JD, Ali N, Basit H, Grossman SA.Presyncope. In:StatPearls [Internet].McLellan AJ, Kalman JM.Approach to palpitations.Aust J Gen Pract. 2019;48(4):204-209. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-17-4436Muncie HL, Sirmans SM, James E.Dizziness: approach to evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(3):154-62.Nemours Children’s Health System.A to Z symptom: dizziness.
John Hopkins Medicine.Syncope (Fainting).
Charlton NP, Pellegrino JL, Kule A, et al.American Heart Association and American Red Cross focused update for first aid: presyncope: an update to the American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid.Circulation. 2019;140(24):e931-e938. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000730
Whitledge JD, Ali N, Basit H, Grossman SA.Presyncope. In:StatPearls [Internet].
McLellan AJ, Kalman JM.Approach to palpitations.Aust J Gen Pract. 2019;48(4):204-209. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-17-4436
Muncie HL, Sirmans SM, James E.Dizziness: approach to evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(3):154-62.
Nemours Children’s Health System.A to Z symptom: dizziness.
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