Dizziness

Definition

Dizziness is lightheadedness, feeling like you might faint, being unsteady, loss of balance, or vertigo (a feeling that you or the room is spinning or moving).

Most causes of dizziness are not serious and either quickly resolve on their own or are easily treated.

Common Causes

Lightheadedness happens when there is not enough blood getting to the brain. This can happen if there is a sudden drop in your blood pressure or you are dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or other causes. Many people, especially as they get older, experience lightheadedness if they get up too quickly from a lying or seated position. Lightheadedness often accompanies the flu, common cold, or allergies.

More serious conditions that can lead to lightheadedness include heart problems (such as abnormal heart rhythm or heart attack), stroke, and severe drop in blood pressure (shock). If any of these serious disorders is present, you will usually have additional symptoms like chest pain, a feeling of a racing heart, loss of speech, change in vision, or other symptoms.

The most common causes of vertigo are benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis. Benign positional vertigo is vertigo that happens when you change the position of your head. Labyrinthitis usually follows a cold or flu and is caused by a viral infection of the inner ear. Meniere's disease is another common inner ear problem. It causes vertigo, loss of balance, and ringing in the ears.

Much less commonly, vertigo or feeling unsteady is a sign of stroke, multiple sclerosis, seizures, a brain tumor, or a bleed in your brain. In such conditions, other symptoms usually accompany the vertigo or imbalance.

Home Care

If you tend to get lightheaded when you stand up, avoid sudden changes in posture.

If you are thirsty or lightheaded, drink fluids. If you are unable to keep fluids down from nausea or vomiting, you may need intravenous fluids. These are delivered to you at the hospital.

Most times, benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis go away on their own within a few weeks. During attacks of vertigo from any cause, try to rest and lie still. Avoid sudden changes in your position as well as bright lights. Be cautious about driving or using machinery.

Some vertigo can be reduced by working with a physical therapist. Medications from your doctor may help you feel better.

Such medications include antihistamines, sedatives, or pills for nausea. For Meniere's disease, surgery may be necessary.

Call your health care provider if

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if someone with dizziness also has:

• A head injury
• Fever over 101°F, headache, or very stiff neck
• Convulsions or ongoing vomiting
• Chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness, inability to move an arm or leg, or change in vision or speech
• Fainting and losing consciousness for more than a few minutes

Call your doctor if:

• You have never had dizziness before.
• Symptoms you have had in the past are different (for example, last longer than usual, are worse than before, or are interfering with your daily activities).
• Medication is the suspected cause. Talk to your health care provider before making any changes to your medication.
• You have any hearing loss.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will perform a physical exam, focusing on your heart, head, ears, and nervous system, and ask question such as:

• Does your dizziness feel like lightheadedness, vertigo, or imbalance?
• Does your dizziness occur with a change in body position?
• What other symptoms occur when you feel dizzy?
• When did your dizziness begin?
• Are you always dizzy or does the dizziness come and go?
• How long does the dizziness last (minutes, hours)?
• Did another illness develop before or after the dizziness began? How much later?
• Have you had any nausea and vomiting?
• Do you have a significant amount of stress or anxiety?

• Blood pressure measurements and tests
• ECG
• Hearing tests
• Neurological tests
• Balance testing (ENG) may be required.
• MRI

Prevention

Promptly treat ear infections, colds, flus, sinus congestion, and other respiratory infections. This may help prevent labyrinthitis and Meniere's disease.

If you have a cold, the flu, or other viral illness, drink plenty of fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.

References

da Costa SS. Meniere's disease: overview, epidemiology, and natural history. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2002; 35(3): 455-495.

Tusa RJ. Dizziness. Med Clin North Am. 2003; 87(3): 609-641, vii.

Swartz R. Treatment of vertigo. Am Fam Physician. 2005; 71(6): 1115-1122.

Illustrations

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the left artery

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the right artery

Vertigo

Balance receptors

Page Content:

Lightheadedness - dizzy; Loss of balance; Vertigo ; lightheadedness and dizzy; loss of balance; balance loss manhattan treat; balance loss new york; dizziness loss of balance; sudden loss of balance; profit and loss balance sheet; loss of balance symptom; vertigo; u2 vertigo; cause of vertigo; vertigo symptom; benign positional vertigo; vertigo treatment; benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; david blaine vertigo; vertigo music; positional vertigo; vertigo lyric; u2 vertigo lyric; vertigo dizziness; vertigo comic; vertigo cure; vertigo poster; vertigo exercise; u2 vertigo tour; jeans vertigo; vertigo blue; benign vertigo; vertigo clothing; cervical vertigo; vertigo medication; vertigo movie; portal vertigo; club vertigo; vertigo disease; vertigo hitchcock; vertigo definition; inner ear vertigo; revista vertigo; vertigo tour; vertigo theater; medical vertigo; remedy for vertigo; american hi fi vertigo; u2 vertigo mp3; benign paroxysmal vertigo; nyack vertigo; jeans paris vertigo; benign positional vertigo exercise; postural vertigo; bar vertigo; condition more symptom vertigo; vertigo medicine; american vertigo; migraine vertigo; gillette vertigo; vertigo by u2; define vertigo; vertigo illness; vertigo record; vertigo alfred hitchcock; vertigo pregnancy; benign postural vertigo; dj vertigo; vertigo paris clothing; u2 vertigo dvd; vertigo clothes; vertigo night club; vertigo and tinnitus; vertigo natural cure; vertigo ear; u2 vertigo video; vertigo film; vertigo band; natural remedy for vertigo; david blaine vertigo video; information on vertigo; vertigo virus; bungee corporation name vertigo; vertigo paris; vertigo skate park; cause of vertigo inner ear; fernandes vertigo; sidi vertigo; dc vertigo; vertigo de menier; vertigo theater calgary; peripheral vertigo; migraine associated vertigo; sidi vertigo boot; vertigo software; viral vertigo; allergy vertigo; anxiety and vertigo; vertigo and dizziness are symptom of; nausea vertigo; vertigo doctor; gt vertigo; vertigo home remedy; vertigo cause symptom; vertigo and headache; chronic vertigo; vertigo health; condition more treatment vertigo; vertigo condition; how to treat vertigo; acute vertigo