Dizziness and Vertigo
Dizziness can mean feeling faint, off-balance or as if you or the room is spinning. Learn how to describe the pattern, stay safe, and know when to seek urgent help.
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Independent clinical validation is pending.
Quick Reference Facts
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In simple words
Dizziness is a broad word people use for different sensations. You may feel light-headed or close to fainting, unsteady on your feet, or as though you or the room is spinning. The spinning feeling is called vertigo. Describing exactly what happens, how long it lasts and what brings it on helps identify the cause.
Many causes of dizziness are not serious, but dizziness can occasionally signal a problem that needs urgent care. It may relate to dehydration, a sudden blood-pressure drop, medicines, an inner-ear balance problem, migraine, low blood sugar, a heart rhythm problem or a neurological condition. New, severe or persistent symptoms deserve medical advice rather than self-diagnosis.
Common Causes
- Dehydration, fever, not eating enough, getting up quickly, or a sudden drop in blood pressure
- Medicines, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or other substances that can affect alertness or blood pressure
- Inner-ear balance conditions, including positional vertigo, labyrinthitis or Ménière's disease
- Migraine, low blood sugar, anaemia, anxiety, a heart rhythm problem or another physical health condition
Clinical Red Flags
Seek urgent medical attention at an emergency department or primary care clinic if you present with any of the following symptoms:
- Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department for sudden or severe dizziness with weakness or numbness on one side, facial drooping, trouble speaking, trouble swallowing, loss of vision, double vision, new confusion, or a severe new headache.
- Seek emergency help for dizziness with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, a new irregular or racing heartbeat, seizure, or a head injury.
- Seek urgent medical advice if you cannot keep fluids down, cannot stand or walk safely, have sudden hearing loss, or have fever with a severe headache or a stiff neck.
- Arrange a clinical review if dizziness is new, keeps returning, is getting worse, follows a medicine change, or is affecting driving, work or daily life.
Lifestyle & Diet Support
When dizzy, sit or lie down promptly and get up slowly. Move carefully, use support if you are unsteady, drink fluids if you can, and avoid driving, ladders, swimming alone or operating machinery until you feel safe again. Keep a brief note of timing, triggers, food and fluids, medicines and other symptoms. Do not try a manoeuvre or exercise for vertigo unless a clinician has identified the likely cause and shown you how to do it safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Differential Diagnosis Matrix
A clinician may ask whether the feeling is spinning, faintness or imbalance; when it started; whether head movement, standing, food, illness, medicines or stress affect it; and whether there is hearing loss, ringing in the ears, headache, palpitations, chest pain or neurological symptoms. They may check blood pressure, heart rhythm, walking, balance, hearing or blood tests depending on the pattern.
Reference Citations & Evidence Sources
Clinical Reviews & Textbooks
- CIT-0143Clinical Review pending verification
- CIT-0144Clinical Review pending verification
Clinical Connections
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