Symptoms of Dizziness

• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Feeling unsteady with slight loss of balance
• Feeling "woozy" or not thinking clearly
• May also have brief blurring of vision
• Feeling like the room is spinning

Causes of Dizziness

• Main Cause is often due to reduced blood flow to the brain for a short time. It can be triggered by many normal events:
  • Standing too long in one place. Reason: this causes pooling of blood in the legs.
  • Standing up suddenly. Reason: this causes sudden drop in blood pressure.
  • Dehydration. This can be from losing fluids and/or from not drinking enough fluid.
• Low Oxygen (such as when running and out of breath). Reason: lower than normal oxygen levels can't meet body's needs for a short time.
• Too Much Sun or Hot Tub Use. Reason: increased sweating causes fluid loss. The heat causes the blood vessels in your skin to open up to try to help your body cool down. As a result, blood pressure falls and you may feel dizzy or pass out.
• Sweating from Sports or Hard Work. Reason: sweating causes fluid loss.
• Fasting. Skipping a meal causes low blood sugar which can make you feel light-headed.
• Fever
• Motion Sickness. Main symptoms are dizziness and nausea.
• Viral Syndrome. Patients with viral illnesses (e.g., colds, flu) often say they are a bit dizzy. This is never the only symptom. It may relate to weakness from being sick.
• Vertigo (serious). In addition to dizziness, you may feel like the room is spinning. This is often caused by a middle ear problem. You may feel sick and have trouble walking across the room. You may also have some loss of hearing and a ringing sound in your ear(s).
• Medicines. Side effects of some medicines include dizziness. If your dizziness began after starting a new medicine, ask your doctor whether the medicine could be causing it.
• Sudden Stressful Feelings can cause dizziness and fainting. This is called vasovagal syncope. Seeing a badly injured person or pet can trigger fainting. Also, stressful events such as public speaking can cause similar symptoms.
• Sudden Physical Pain, such as getting a shot or a blood test, can cause dizziness and fainting. Getting stitches (or having them taken out) can also trigger fainting. The stress of the event may cause the dizziness rather than the pain itself.
• Feeling Dizzy and Faint in Pregnancy.
  • Due to hormone changes, you may feel faint when you are pregnant. This may happen if you stand up quickly. Take your time getting up to your feet and sit back down again if you feel dizzy.
  • You may also feel faint if you are lying on your back during the later stages of pregnancy. The weight of the baby can press on the main blood vessel that returns blood to your heart from the legs. This may cause you to feel faint. If that happens, or if when you sit back down the faint feeling does not pass, turn over and lie on your side. If it still does not pass quickly, call your doctor or midwife right away.
  • In early pregnancy, if the embryo has implanted in a fallopian tube (the tube the egg passes down from the ovary to the uterus) there could be internal bleeding if the tube ruptures (bursts). This may feel like abdominal pain and/or include vaginal bleeding, but fainting could be the first sign that something is wrong. Seek help right away if you could be pregnant and suddenly feel faint and do not recover within a minute or two.
• Stroke or Mini-stroke (TIA)(serious). Dizziness with symptoms like hearing loss, double or blurred vision, or numbness in the face, arms or legs could be symptoms of a stroke. Call 911 for immediate help.
• Cardiac Syncope (heart causes). Due to a heart problem along with symptoms such as:
  • Chest pain prior to fainting
  • Fast or uneven heartbeat
  • Feeling of thumping heart (palpitations)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fainting during exercise
• Other Serious Causes of Dizziness and/or Fainting:
  • Epilepsy
  • Blood loss: large amount or bleeding inside the body
  • Concussion or head injury
  • Sudden drop in blood sugar. Mainly happens in people with diabetes.
  • Poisoning
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Seizure

Dizziness Scale

• Mild: walks normal
• Moderate: interferes with normal activities such as work, school, activities or sports
• Severe: can't stand, needs support to walk, feels like passing out now

When to Call for Dizziness

Care Advice

Dizziness from Sudden or Prolonged Standing

What You Should Know:

• Standing up quickly is the most common cause of dizziness. This type of dizziness only lasts a short time. It may happen when getting out of bed or getting up from a chair.
• Prolonged standing in one place is another common cause.
• Not drinking enough fluids or not eating enough salt always makes it worse.
• Don't do anything that could be dangerous while you are dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder, using heavy machinery or even going up or down stairs.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Standing - Pump Legs:

• In the mornings, sit up for a few minutes before you stand up.
• This will help your blood flow stay steady and adjust before you stand up.
• With prolonged standing, contract and relax your leg muscles. Reason: this helps pump the blood back to the heart.
• If you feel dizzy, sit down or lie down until it passes.
• Move slowly and carefully.

Increase Your Salt:

• Most people with this type of dizziness (due to standing) don't get enough salt.
• Try to eat some salty foods (potato chips or pretzels) every day.

Drink More Fluids:

• Drink several glasses of water, fruit juice or other clear fluids.
• This will help with hydration and blood sugar.
• If the weather is hot, make sure the fluids are cold.

Lie Down:

• Lie down with feet up for 1 hour.
• Reason: this will increase blood flow to the brain.
• Don't do anything that could be dangerous while you are dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder, using heavy machinery or even going up or down stairs.

Prevention:

• Extra water and salty foods during sports or hot weather
• Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
• Regular mealtimes and snacks
• Get enough sleep and rest
• Don't bend down or stand up quickly

What to Expect:

• With treatment, the dizziness usually goes away in 1 to 2 hours.

Call Your Doctor If:

• After 2 hours of rest and fluids, you still feel dizzy
• You pass out (faint)
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Dizziness from Not Drinking Enough Fluids

What You Should Know:

• Not drinking enough fluids and being a little dehydrated can cause dizziness.
• It should go away with drinking fluids and resting in a cool place.
• This is always made worse during hot weather or if you have a fever. Too much sun exposure can also increase the body's need for fluid.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Drink More Fluids:

• Drink several glasses of water, fruit juice or other clear fluids.
• This will help with hydration and blood sugar.
• If the weather is hot, make sure the fluids are cold.

Cool Off:

• If the weather is hot, use a cold pack or washcloth to the forehead.
• Taking a cool shower or bath will help even more.

Lie Down:

• Lie down with feet up for 1 hour.
• Reason: this will increase blood flow to the brain.
• Don't do anything that could be dangerous while you are dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder, using heavy machinery or even going up or down stairs.

Prevention:

• Extra water and salty foods during sports or hot weather
• Regular mealtimes and snacks
• Enough sleep and rest

What to Expect:

• With treatment, the dizziness usually goes away in 1 to 2 hours.

Call Your Doctor If:

• After 2 hours of rest and fluids, you still feel dizzy
• You pass out (faint)
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Dizziness from Unknown Cause

What You Should Know:

• Dizziness that goes away is a harmless symptom.
• It's usually due to not drinking enough water during sports or hot weather.
• It can also be caused by skipping a meal or too much sun.
• Sometimes, it's part of a viral illness.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Lie Down:

• Lie down with feet up for 1 hour.
• Reason: this will increase blood flow to the brain.
• Don't do anything that could be dangerous while you are dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder, using heavy machinery or even going up or down stairs.

Drink More Fluids:

• Drink several glasses of water, fruit juice or other clear fluids.
• This will help with hydration and blood sugar.
• If the weather is hot, make sure the fluids are cold.

Cool Off:

• If the weather is hot, use a cold pack or washcloth to the forehead.
• Taking a cool shower or bath will help even more.

Prevention:

• Extra water and salty foods during sports or hot weather
• Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
• Regular mealtimes and snacks
• Get enough sleep and rest
• Don't bend down or stand up suddenly

What to Expect:

• With treatment, the dizziness usually goes away in 1 to 2 hours.
• Mild dizziness with a viral illness may last 1 or 2 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

• After 2 hours of rest and fluids, still feeling dizzy
• Mild dizziness lasts over 3 days
• You pass out (faint)
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




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