Dizziness (lightheadedness)

Dizziness (lightheadedness)

Dizziness (lightheadedness) is a common symptom. It’s not usually a sign of anything serious but it should still be investigated by a doctor.

Dizziness can mean different things to different people. Some people use it to describe feeling lightheaded or off balance. Others use it to describe a feeling that their surroundings are spinning.

Dizziness can be caused by a wide range of things. It may not always be easy to identify the underlying cause.

When to get medical advice

Speak to your GP practice if:

You feel dizzy and:

• you’re worried about your dizziness or vertigo
• it will not go away or it keeps coming back
• you’re finding it harder to hear or speak
• there’s ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus)
• you have double vision, blurred vision or other changes in your eyesight
• your face, arms or legs feel numb or weak
• you have other symptoms like changes to your pulse, fainting or collapsing, headaches, feeling or being sick

What happens at your GP appointment

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and may check if you have vertigo.

They’ll also want to know:

• whether the dizziness started for no reason, or if it followed an illness
• whether you have repeated episodes of dizziness and, if so, when you experience these
• how long the dizziness lasts

If you’re dizzy when you’re lying down, it’s usually caused by a viral ear infection. This can’t be treated with antibiotics.

If you feel dizzy when you’re upright, it’s probably not related to your ears.

Treatments for dizziness

Dizziness usually goes away on its own. But there are things you can do to take care of yourself while you’re feeling dizzy.

Things you can do to help your symptoms

Do

• lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly
• move slowly and carefully
• get plenty of rest
• drink plenty of fluids, especially water
• avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs

Don’t

• do not bend down suddenly
• do not get up suddenly after sitting or lying down
• do not do anything that could be dangerous while you’re dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder or using heavy machinery

Common causes of dizziness

The most common causes of dizziness are:

• an inner ear infection that affects your hearing and balance – labyrinthitis 
• migraine 
• stress or anxiety 
• low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) – which usually happens in people with diabetes
• a sudden fall in blood pressure when you suddenly sit or stand (postural hypotension)
• dehydration or heat exhaustion 
• decreased blood flow in the back of the brain, which may be caused by blocked blood vessels (vertebrobasilar insufficiency)

Less common causes of dizziness

Less common causes of dizziness are:

• having a severe illness or condition that affects the whole body
• using recreational drugs
• drinking too much alcohol (either binge drinking or long-term alcohol misuse)
• certain types of prescription medicine – like antidepressants or blood pressure medication
• having a heart rhythm problem – like atrial fibrillation (a fast, irregular heartbeat)
• carbon monoxide poisoning