Dizziness

Alternative names:

lightheadedness - dizzy; loss of balance; vertigo

Definition:

A feeling of faintness or an inability to keep normal balance in a standing or sitting position. Also see fainting.

Considerations:

Most causes of dizziness are minor. Vertigo (a spinning sensation or the feeling that the room around you is moving) often indicates an inner ear problem.

Serious disorders rarely cause dizziness, but it can occur. Dizziness can result from insufficient blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain and spinal cord, such as can be caused by a rapid drop in blood pressure. Serious disorders that can cause dizziness (note: they usually also cause other symptoms) include heart problems such as a valve disorder or heart attack, stroke, and severe hypotension or shock.

Dizziness can also be caused by a poorly functioning balance mechanism of the inner ear. The balance mechanism also helps control eye movements, so often the environment seems to be spinning around (vertigo). Most dizziness and vertigo has no definite cause and is commonly attributed to a viral infection of the inner ear.

Lightheadedness is a fainting feeling that often accompanies the flu or a common cold. Lightheadedness without other symptoms is usually not serious.

Most fainting spells are not dangerous, but if there is any question call for medical help. Sudden loss of consciousness (vasovagal faint) happens more easily when a person is upright. A simple faint is rarely preceded by symptoms such a pain, pressure, constriction in the chest or shortness of breath--just by weakness, giddiness and nausea.

Dizziness should not be confused with seizures; however, the onset of seizures can cause dizziness.

Common causes:

• severe pain
• hyperventilation
• headache
• injury
• fright
• low blood pressure
• getting blood drawn
• strenuous coughing
• straining during a bowel movement or bladder emptying
• standing up too quickly after lying down or sitting especially in older people (see hypotension)
• viral infection of the inner ear
• alcohol intoxication
• pressure on the carotid sinus in the neck (a shirt collar may be too tight)
• medications, especially tranquilizers, many heart drugs, anticonvulsants, aspirin, Dilantin, Gentamycin, narcotics, sedatives, Streptomycin and almost every preparation that is used to treat high blood pressure - (antihypertensives, including nitroglycerin) in cardiac patients
• heart beating too slow (below 30 times a minute) or too fast (around 200 times a minute)
• hyperventilation
• classical migraine or common migraine
• drug abuse and dependence
• drug allergies
• middle ear surgery or trauma
• tympanic membrane perforation
• ear diseases (otitis media, labyrinthitis, mastoiditis, cholesteatoma, vestibular neuronitis)
• visual impairment

Note: There may be other causes of dizziness. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for dizziness, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.