About this symptom
Dizziness is a word people use for several feelings. Some feel light-headed, as if they might faint. Others feel unsteady or off balance. Some feel that they or the room are spinning, which doctors call vertigo.
Dizziness is common and is usually caused by something minor, such as standing up too quickly or not drinking enough. It often settles on its own or once the cause is treated. Less often it points to a problem with the heart, the inner ear or the brain, so the other signs you have matter.
Possible causes
This is not a diagnosis. These are the causes doctors think about, with the ones that are most urgent to rule out first.
- StrokeSudden dizziness or loss of balance with weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg, slurred speech or trouble seeing. It needs an ambulance.Read about it
- Heart rhythm problemsA pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat with dizziness or fainting. Chest pain or breathlessness with dizziness is an emergency.
- DehydrationLight-headedness when you have not had enough to drink or have been too hot. It eases with rest and fluids.Read about it
- Low blood pressure on standingLight-headedness when you stand or sit up suddenly (postural hypotension). It can also follow some medicines.
- VertigoA spinning feeling, often with nausea, that can be worse with head movement. The most common cause is an inner-ear problem called BPPV.Read about it
- Low blood sugarIn people with diabetes, dizziness can be a sign of low blood sugar.
- Side effect of a medicineDizziness that began after starting or changing a medicine. Do not stop it on your own; ask the doctor.
- AnxietyStress or anxiety can cause dizziness, but this is decided only after other causes have been checked.Read about it
When to get help
See a doctor soon if you have:
- Dizziness for the first time, or with no obvious cause
- Dizziness that keeps coming back or will not go away
- Dizziness that began after you started a new medicine
- Hearing loss, or ringing or other sounds in your ears
- Fainting, even if you recovered quickly
- Dizziness with headaches, or with nausea and vomiting
A brief spell after standing up quickly, in the heat or without enough to drink, with no other signs and no return, can wait. Mention it at your next visit if it happens again.
What you can do at home
If any emergency sign is present, do not wait at home: call for an ambulance.
Do
- Sit or lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly
- Drink plenty of water and rest
- Move slowly, and hold on to something when you stand up
- Note when it happens, how long it lasts and what you were doing, to tell the doctor
Do not
- Do not drive, climb a ladder or use machinery while you are dizzy
- Avoid alcohol, coffee and tobacco
- Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own because you think it is the cause
What the doctor will do
The doctor will ask when the dizziness began, whether it feels like spinning or faintness, what sets it off, how long it lasts and what else comes with it, such as hearing changes, headaches or sickness. They will ask about recent illness, stress and your medicines, and examine you.
Tests depend on the likely cause. They may include:
- , measured lying down and standing
- An , a recording of the heart's rhythm
- Blood tests, if low blood sugar or anaemia is suspected
- Hearing and balance tests
- An of the head, if a problem in the brain is suspected
Myths and facts
Things people often say about this. Open each one to see what is true.
Myth“Dizziness always means weakness or low blood pressure, so a tonic or a glucose drink will fix it.”What is true?
Fact
Low blood pressure is only one cause. Dehydration, low blood sugar, inner-ear problems, migraine and some medicines can also cause dizziness, and the NHS advises against guessing. If it keeps coming back, have it checked rather than treating it yourself.
Myth“Dizziness is just a part of getting old.”What is true?
Fact
Dizziness becomes more common with age, partly because older people have more health conditions and take more medicines. But it has a cause, and the cause can often be found and treated, so it is worth seeing a doctor.
Myth“A spinning feeling means something is wrong with the brain.”What is true?
Fact
The most common cause of vertigo is BPPV, an inner-ear problem that can be treated. Vertigo with weakness, vision changes or slurred speech is different and needs emergency help.
Questions to ask your doctor
Tick the ones you want answered and take them with you.
Common questions
Why do I feel dizzy when I stand up?
When you stand or sit up suddenly, blood pressure can drop for a moment (postural hypotension), and some medicines and dehydration make this more likely. Getting up slowly and drinking enough water help. See a doctor if it keeps happening or you faint.
What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?
Dizziness can feel like light-headedness, wooziness or unsteadiness. Vertigo is the sense that you or the room is spinning when nothing is moving. Vertigo is often an inner-ear problem. Telling the doctor which one you feel helps find the cause.
When is dizziness a sign of a stroke?
Sudden dizziness with weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, trouble seeing or trouble walking can be a stroke. Call for an ambulance at once and note the time the signs began.
Can I drive if I feel dizzy?
No. Do not drive, climb ladders or use machinery while you are dizzy. Ask your doctor when it is safe to start again, especially if the dizziness keeps coming back.