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What Causes Dizziness and How to Treat It

Overview

Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced. It affects the sensory organs, specifically the eyes and ears, so it can sometimes cause fainting. Dizziness isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of various disorders.

Vertigo and disequilibrium may cause a feeling of dizziness, but those two terms describe different symptoms. Vertigo is characterized by a spinning sensation, like the room is moving.

It may also feel like motion sickness or as if you’re leaning to one side. Disequilibrium is a loss of balance or equilibrium. True dizziness is the feeling of lightheadedness or nearly fainting.

Dizziness is common and its underlying cause usually isn’t serious. Occasional dizziness is not something to worry about. However, you should call your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing repeated episodes of dizziness for no apparent reason or for a prolonged period.

Causes of dizziness

Common causes of dizziness include a migraine, medications, and alcohol. It can also be caused by a problem in the inner ear, where balance is regulated.

Dizziness is often a result of vertigo as well. The most common cause of vertigo and vertigo-related dizziness is benign positional vertigo (BPV). This causes short-term dizziness when someone changes positions quickly, such as sitting up in bed after lying down.

Dizziness and vertigo can also be triggered by Meniere’s disease. This causes fluid to build up in the ear with associated ear fullness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Another possible cause for dizziness and vertigo is an acoustic neuroma. This is a noncancerous tumor that forms on the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain.

Some other possible causes of dizziness include:

  • sudden drop in blood pressure
  • heart muscle disease
  • decrease in blood volume
  • anxiety disorders
  • anemia (low iron)
  • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • ear infection
  • dehydration
  • heat stroke
  • excessive exercise
  • motion sickness

In rare cases, dizziness could be caused by multiple sclerosis, a stroke, a malignant tumor, or another brain disorder.

Symptoms of dizziness

People experiencing dizziness may feel various sensations, including:

  • lightheadedness or feeling faint
  • a false sense of spinning
  • unsteadiness
  • loss of balance
  • feeling of floating or swimming

Sometimes, dizziness is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fainting. Seek emergency medical help if you have these symptoms for extended periods.

When to call a doctor about dizziness

You should call your doctor if you continue to have repeated bouts of dizziness. You should also notify your doctor immediately if you experience sudden dizziness along with:

  • a head injury
  • a headache
  • a neck ache
  • a high fever
  • blurred vision
  • hearing loss
  • difficulty speaking
  • numbness or tingling
  • droopiness of the eye or mouth
  • loss of consciousness
  • chest pain
  • ongoing vomiting

These symptoms could indicate a serious health problem, so it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, the Healthline FindCare tool can help you find a physician in your area.

What to expect during your appointment

Your doctor can narrow down the cause of dizziness and any other symptoms by performing a physical examination. They’ll ask you questions about your dizziness, including:

  • when it occurs
  • in what situations
  • the severity of symptoms
  • other symptoms that occur with the dizziness

Your doctor may also check your eyes and ears, do a neurological physical exam, observe your posture, and perform tests to check balance. Depending on the suspected cause, an imaging test such as a CT scan or MRI might be recommended.

In some cases, no cause for dizziness is determined.

Treatments for dizziness

Treatment for dizziness focuses on the underlying cause. In most cases, home remedies and medical treatments can control the cause of dizziness. For example:

  • Inner-ear issues may be managed with medications and at-home exercises that can help control balance.
  • BPV can be resolved with maneuvers that can help alleviate symptoms. Surgery is an option for patients whose BPV is not otherwise controlled.
  • Meniere’s disease is treated with a healthful low-salt diet, occasional injections, or ear surgery.
  • Migraines are treated with medications and lifestyle changes, such as learning to identify and avoid migraine triggers.
  • Medication and anxiety-reducing techniques can help with anxiety disorders.
  • Drinking plenty of fluids can help when dizziness is caused by excessive exercise, heat, or dehydration.

What you can do about dizziness

Follow these tips if you have recurrent bouts of dizziness:

  • Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy and rest until the dizziness goes away. This can prevent the possibility of losing your balance, which may lead to falling and serious injury.
  • Use a cane or walker for stability, if necessary.
  • Always use handrails when walking up or down the stairs.
  • Do activities that improve balance, such as yoga and Tai Chi.
  • Avoid moving or switching positions suddenly.
  • Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery if you frequently experience dizziness without warning.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Using these substances may trigger dizziness or make it worse.
  • Drink at least eight glass of water a day, get seven hours or more of sleep, and avoid stressful situations.
  • Eat a healthful diet that consists of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins to help prevent dizziness.
  • If you suspect your dizziness is being caused by a medication, talk to your doctor about lowering the dose or switching to another medication.
  • Take an over-the-counter medication, such as meclizine (Antivert) or an antihistamine, if you experience nausea along with dizziness. These medications may cause drowsiness, so don’t use them when you need to be active or productive.
  • Rest in a cool place and drink water if your dizziness is being caused by overheating or dehydration.

Always talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about the frequency or severity of your dizziness.

Outlook for dizziness

Most cases of dizziness clear up on their own once the underlying cause is treated. In rare cases, dizziness can be a sign of a more serious health problem.

Dizziness may result in complications when it causes fainting or a loss of balance. This can be especially dangerous when a person is driving or operating heavy machinery. Use caution if you feel an episode of dizziness coming on. If you become dizzy, stop driving immediately or find a safe place to steady yourself until it passes.

 4 sourcesexpanded

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

  • Denner, K. (2013, June 21). Neurologist: How to know when dizziness is serious
    vestibular.org/news/06-21-2013/neurologist-how-know-when-dizziness-serious
  • Dizziness? (2015, May 5)
    my.clevelandclinic.org/symptoms/dizziness/hic_what_is_dizziness.aspx
  • Higginson, L. (n.d.). Dizziness of light-headedness when standing up
    merckmanuals.com/home/heart-and-blood-vessel-disorders/symptoms-of-heart-and-blood-vessel-disorders/dizziness-or-light-headedness-when-standing-up
  • Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Dizziness
    mayoclinic.com/health/dizziness/DS00435 

Treatments for Dizziness

  • Quick remedies
  • Medications
  • Other options
  • Prevention
  • Causes

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About dizziness

Dizziness is the disorienting feeling of being unbalanced or lightheaded. You may feel like you’re about to faint or your surroundings are moving or spinning around you.

Both feelings sometimes occur along with nausea or vomiting. Dizziness is not a medical condition on its own. It’s a symptom of an underlying cause.

Some possible causes of dizziness include:

  • benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • hypoglycemia
  • hypotension
  • taking certain medications
  • inner ear problems
  • circulation problems
  • certain conditions, such as anemia, migraines, or anxiety
  • stroke
  • motion sickness
  • head injuries
  • certain illnesses such as the common cold

Treating your dizziness usually involves treating one of these other conditions.

Remedies for dizziness

Certain foods and nutrients may help relieve symptoms of dizziness.

Water

Dehydration is a common cause of dizziness. If you feel tired and thirsty and urinate less often when you’re dizzy, try drinking water and staying hydrated.

Ginger

Ginger may help relieve symptoms of motion sickness and dizziness. It may also help treat nausea in pregnant women.

You can take ginger in many forms. Add fresh or ground ginger to your diet, drink ginger tea, or take ginger supplements.

However, you should always consult your doctor before taking any kind of supplement, even if it’s natural. Supplements can interfere with other medical conditions you have or medications you take.

Shop for ginger tea

Vitamin C

According to the Meniere’s Society, consuming vitamin C can reduce vertigo in if you have Meniere’s disease. Foods rich in vitamin C include:

  • oranges
  • grapefruits
  • strawberries
  • bell peppers

Vitamin E

Vitamin E can help maintain the elasticity of your blood vessels. This can help prevent circulation problems. Vitamin E can be found in:

  • wheat germ
  • seeds
  • nuts
  • kiwis
  • spinach

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has been shown to help you improve after BPPV attacks.

Iron

If your doctor thinks you have anemia, they may encourage you to get more iron. Iron can be found in foods such as:

  • red meat
  • poultry
  • beans
  • dark leafy greens

Medications to treat dizziness

Medications to treat dizziness often focus on treating the underlying condition.

Preventative migraine medicine, for example, is often prescribed if you have vertigo or dizziness with migraines. Anti-anxiety medications can also be prescribed to reduce the severity of anxiety attacks that cause dizziness.

Other medications that may be used for dizziness include:

  • Water pills or diuretics may be used as treatment for conditions like Meniere’s disease that cause a fluid buildup in the inner ear
  • Antihistamines and anticholinergics are two of the only prescription medications that focus entirely on treating dizziness instead of the underlying condition
  • Over-the-counter antihistamines are another option, though the nondrowsy variations are less effective at treating dizziness.

Exercises and lifestyle practices

When you start to feel dizzy, lying down as soon as possible can often help. If you have a severe case of vertigo, close your eyes while lying down. If you’re overheated, get a cool drink and move to a shaded, air-conditioned area.

Epley maneuver

The Epley maneuver, which you can do at home, is an exercise that can help treat dizziness, especially from BPPV. It’s designed to dislodge crystals from the ear canals and reduce dizziness.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Epley maneuver involves the following steps:

  • Sit on a bed and turn your head halfway to the right.
  • Lie down on your back while keeping your head turned. A pillow should be under your shoulders only, with your head reclining.
  • Hold this position for 30 seconds.
  • Turn your head without raising it so it’s looking halfway to the left. Wait another 30 seconds.
  • Keeping your head turned, turn your body to the left so that you’re lying on your side. Wait 30 seconds.
  • Sit up on your left side.

Self-awareness

If you’re prone to dizziness, let your doctor know. That information can help when you’re undergoing treatment.

If you’re more aware that you may fall or lose your balance, you may be more prepared to prevent an injury. If you can identify what triggers your dizziness, you can avoid the triggers.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may help treat dizziness. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting tiny, thin needles into specific areas of the skin. In a small study Trusted Source, acupuncture seemed to reduce symptoms of dizziness.

Physical Therapy

A special type of physical therapy called vestibular rehabilitation may help. Physical therapy can also improve balance.

Preventing dizziness

Living a healthy lifestyle can help treat and prevent dizziness.

Try to reduce the amount of stress in your life. Drink plenty of water. Get enough sleep.

You should also avoid salt, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. According to the Mayo Clinic, frequent consumption of these substances can increase your symptoms.

Causes of dizziness

There are different causes of dizziness. Some are less serious than others.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It’s caused by specific changes in the positioning of your head. It can cause short episodes of mild to severe dizziness, usually started by head movements.

BPPV is often idiopathic, which means no cause is known. However, it can be caused by a blow to the head. According to the Mayo Clinic, there’s a link between BPPV and migraines.

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is one of the most common causes of dizziness. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, can also cause fatigue and dizziness.

Certain medications can also cause dizziness.

For example, blood pressure medications may lower your blood pressure too much and lead to dizziness. Sedatives and tranquilizers have dizziness as a common side effect. Antiseizure drugs and antidepressants can also cause dizziness.

Talk to your doctor if you think dizziness is caused by any medications that you take.

Other common causes of dizziness can include:

  • inner ear problems, such as infections or fluid buildup, which can affect balance
  • circulation problems, including poor blood circulation that prevents adequate blood flow from reaching the brain or inner ear
  • dehydration
  • heat stroke or becoming overheated
  • head or neck injuries
  • stroke

There are times when dizziness is a medical emergency. If you experience dizziness along with blurred or double vision, weakness or numbness in the body, slurred speech, or severe headaches, call 911 immediately.

Conditions associated with dizziness

Some conditions are associated with dizziness. These include:

  • anemia, or low iron levels
  • anxiety disorders, which can cause dizziness during attacks
  • neurologic disorders, like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s, which cause a loss of balance
  • chronic migraines

8 sources expanded

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

 

What Causes Dizziness and Fatigue? 9 Possible Causes

  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypotension
  • Anemia
  • Migraines
  • Medications
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Vestibular neuronitis
  • Dehydration
  • Seeking help
  • Outlook
  • Prevention

Overview

Dizziness is a word that describes the sensation of spinning while being off-balance. To explain to your doctor exactly how you feel, you can use these more specific terms:

  • disequilibrium is when you feel unsteady
  • lightheaded means you feel faint or woozy
  • vertigo is a spinning sensation when you aren’t moving

Many different conditions can make you feel both dizzy and tired. Sometimes these symptoms are temporary, or they might come and go. If you often feel dizzy and tired, see your doctor for a diagnosis. Untreated dizziness and fatigue can cause a fall. It can also increase your risk of getting into an accident while driving.

1. Low blood sugar

Your body needs sugar, also known as glucose, for energy. When your blood sugar level drops, you can become dizzy, shaky, and tired.

Low blood sugar is often a side effect of insulin and other drugs used to treat diabetes. These drugs lower blood sugar, but if the dose isn’t right your blood sugar can drop too much.

You can also get hypoglycemia if you don’t have diabetes. It can occur if you haven’t eaten in a while or if you drink alcohol without eating.

Other symptoms of low blood sugar are:

  • fast heartbeat
  • sweating
  • shaking
  • hunger
  • irritability
  • confusion

A fast-acting source of carbohydrates can relieve low blood sugar. Drink a glass of fruit juice or suck on a hard candy. Follow that up with a more nourishing meal to raise your blood sugar levels. If you often get hypoglycemia, you might need to adjust your diabetes medicine. Or you could eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. This will help keep your blood sugar level steady.

2. Low blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against blood vessel walls as it circulates through your body. When your blood pressure drops you can have symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness, and fatigue. Other symptoms include:

  • nausea
  • thirst
  • blurred vision
  • fast and shallow breathing
  • pale, clammy skin
  • trouble concentrating

The following conditions can cause your blood pressure to drop:

  • heart problems
  • medications
  • serious injury
  • dehydration
  • vitamin deficiencies

Treating these issues can bring your blood pressure back up to normal. Other ways to increase low blood pressure are:

  • adding more salt to your diet
  • drinking more water to increase your blood volume
  • wearing support stockings

3. Anemia

Red blood cells carry oxygen to all your organs and tissues. When you have anemia, your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells, or these cells don’t work well enough. A lack of oxygen can make you feel dizzy or tired.

Other signs of anemia are:

  • shortness of breath
  • weakness
  • fast or uneven heartbeat
  • headache
  • cold hands or feet
  • pale skin
  • chest pain

Bleeding, nutrient deficiencies, and bone marrow failure are all possible causes of anemia.

4. Migraine headaches

Migraines are intense, throbbing headaches that last from a few hours to a few days. Along with the headache, you may experience symptoms that include:

  • vision changes, such as seeing flashing lights and colors
  • nausea and vomiting
  • sensitivity to light and sound
  • lightheadedness
  • fatigue

People who get migraines can experience dizziness and vertigo, even when they don’t have a headache. The vertigo can last for a few minutes to a few hours.

Avoiding migraine triggers like alcohol, caffeine, and dairy foods is one way to prevent these headaches. You can also take migraine medicines, which come in two forms:

  • Preventive medicines like antidepressants and antiseizure drugs prevent a migraine before it starts.
  • Abortive medicines like NSAID pain relievers and triptans relieve migraines once they start.

Learn more: The differences between migraines and headaches »

5. Medications

Certain medicines can cause dizziness and fatigue as side effects. These include:

  • antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) and trazodone (Desyrel)
  • antiseizure drugs such as divalproex (Depakote), gabapentin (Neurontin, Active-PAC with Gabapentin), and pregabalin (Lyrica)
  • blood pressure lowering drugs, such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics
  • muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Fexmid, Flexeril) and metaxalone (Skelaxin)
  • sleeping pills such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Unisom, Sominex), temazepam (Restoril), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zolpidem (Ambien)

If you’re on one of these medicines and it’s making you dizzy or tired, ask your doctor if you can lower the dose or switch to another drug.

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6. Abnormal heart rhythms

Normally, your heart beats in a familiar “lub-dub” rhythm. When you have an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, your heart beats too slow or too fast. It might also skip beats.

Besides dizziness and fatigue, other symptoms of an arrhythmia include:

  • fainting
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain

Your doctor can treat heart rhythm problems with drugs like blood thinners or blood pressure medicines. Avoid substances like caffeine, alcohol, and cold medicines. These things can make your heart go out of rhythm.

7. Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that causes overwhelming tiredness, even after you’ve slept well. Symptoms of CFS include dizziness and trouble keeping your balance.

You might also have symptoms that include:

  • sleep problems
  • trouble remembering and concentrating
  • muscle or joint pain
  • headache
  • allergies and sensitivities to foods, medicines, or other substances

CFS can be hard to treat because it’s different for everyone. Your doctor will treat your individual symptoms with therapies like medicine and counseling.

8. Vestibular neuronitis

An infection like a cold or the flu can inflame the vestibular nerve in your inner ear. This nerve sends sensory messages to your brain to keep you upright and balanced. Swelling of the vestibular nerve can cause dizziness and vertigo. You might also feel fatigued.

Other symptoms of vestibular neuronitis include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • trouble concentrating
  • blurred vision

A virus usually causes vestibular neuritis. Antibiotics won’t help, but the dizziness and other symptoms should improve within a few days.

9. Dehydration

Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough fluid. You can become dehydrated if you don’t drink enough water. This is especially true while you’re outside in hot weather or exercising.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

  • dizziness
  • fatigue
  • little to no urine
  • confusion

To treat dehydration, drink fluids like water or an electrolyte solution like Gatorade. If you’re severely dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids.

Seeking help

If you’ve had repeated episodes of dizziness and fatigue, see your doctor to find out what’s causing these symptoms. Call your doctor or go to an emergency room right away if you have more serious symptoms, such as:

  • fainting or loss of consciousness
  • seizures
  • blurred vision or vision loss
  • severe vomiting
  • heart palpitations
  • chest pain
  • confusion
  • high fever
  • trouble speaking

Outlook

Your outlook depends on what condition is causing your dizziness and fatigue. If you have an infection, it should get better in a few days. Migraines and CFS are chronic. But you can manage them with medicines and other treatments.

Prevention

In general, here are a few things you can do to prevent dizziness and fatigue:

What to do

  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day so you don’t get dehydrated.
  • Avoid or limit drinking alcohol.
  • When you move from a lying or seated position to standing, get up slowly.

To prevent a fall or accident when you’re feeling dizzy, don’t drive or operate heavy machinery. Stay seated or in bed until the dizziness passes.

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Healthline has strict sourcing gcy.uidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. 

DIZZINESS AND WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo.

Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following:

  • Sudden, severe headache
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Numbness or paralysis of arms or legs
  • Fainting
  • Double vision
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Confusion or slurred speech
  • Stumbling or difficulty walking
  • Ongoing vomiting
  • Seizures
  • A sudden change in hearing
  • Facial numbness or weakness

In the meantime, these self-care tips may help:

  • Move slowly.When you stand up from lying down, move slowly. Many people experience dizziness if they stand up too quickly.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.Staying well-hydrated can help prevent or relieve several types of dizziness.
  • Avoid caffeine and tobacco.By restricting blood flow, these substances can make symptoms worse.