Dizziness

Find the first group that matches. Each one is a MySymptom care level, from most to least urgent.

1. Call 911 now

   • Sudden dizziness with weakness, numbness, slurred speech, trouble seeing or a severe headache
   • Dizziness with chest pain or shortness of breath
   • Fainting with chest pain or a racing heart

2. Go to the ER now

   • Dizziness after a head injury, with vomiting or confusion

3. Get seen today

   • Fainting or nearly fainting
   • Sudden hearing loss in one ear

4. Call your doctor today

   • New dizziness after starting a medicine

5. Book a visit

   • Dizzy spells that keep coming back over days or weeks
   • Dizziness with ringing in the ears

6. Care for it at home

   • Brief lightheadedness when you stand up quickly that passes in seconds, if you feel well otherwise

Dizziness might feel like the floor tilting, the world spinning, your head being light or empty, your vision graying out, or a sense that you might fall. Some people feel nauseated or sweaty during episodes. The duration matters: seconds, minutes, hours, or constant, each pattern fits different causes.

Dizziness is a vague word people use for several different sensations: feeling faint, feeling off-balance, feeling like the room is spinning, or feeling 'floaty.' Telling these apart matters, because each points to different possible causes. Lightheadedness often relates to blood pressure, hydration, or blood sugar. True spinning (vertigo) usually points to the inner ear. Unsteadiness can come from the nervous system, joints, or vision.

Most dizziness is short-lived and benign, brought on by standing up too quickly, dehydration, motion, or a viral inner-ear infection. Recurring or severe dizziness, especially with neurological symptoms, needs more careful evaluation. As with many symptoms, what you were doing right before the dizziness started, and how long it lasted, are key clues.

• Dehydration and low blood pressure

  Standing up too quickly after sitting or lying down, especially when dehydrated, can drop blood pressure briefly and cause lightheadedness (orthostatic hypotension).

• Inner ear conditions

  Benign positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, and Meniere's disease are common inner-ear causes of true spinning sensations.

• Low blood sugar

  Skipping meals or going too long without eating can cause dizziness, shakiness, sweating, and difficulty concentrating.

• Anxiety and hyperventilation

  Rapid breathing during anxiety changes blood chemistry and frequently causes lightheadedness, tingling, and a floaty feeling.

• Medication side effects

  Blood pressure medications, sedatives, antidepressants, and many others can cause dizziness, especially when first started or doses change.

• Anemia

  Low red blood cell counts mean less oxygen delivery, which can cause dizziness along with fatigue and pale skin.

• Heart rhythm problems

  Irregular or very slow or fast heart rhythms can briefly reduce blood flow to the brain and cause dizziness or fainting.

These steps are for mild symptoms with none of the warning signs above. Ask a pharmacist before taking any medicine.

• Sit or lie down immediately

  When dizziness hits, get to a safe position to avoid falling. Wait for the sensation to pass before standing again.

• Hydrate and snack

  Drink water and eat something with both carbs and protein if you suspect low blood sugar or dehydration.

• Move slowly when changing positions

  Sit on the edge of the bed for a few seconds before standing, especially in the morning.

• Epley maneuver for positional vertigo

  If your dizziness is triggered by head position changes, look up the Epley maneuver, a simple sequence of head movements that often resolves benign positional vertigo.

• Reduce caffeine and alcohol

  Both can worsen inner-ear-related dizziness and dehydration.

• Manage anxiety triggers

  Slow, controlled breathing, in for four, out for six, can interrupt hyperventilation-related dizziness.