What Causes Dizziness?

Everyone has experienced a dizzy spell at one time or another. Maybe you overdid it at the gym and got lightheaded. Or you jumped out of bed too quickly, and the room started spinning. Dizziness is not always a serious medical concern, but sometimes feeling woozy can require medical care. Knowing the many causes of dizziness can help you determine if you need to see a healthcare professional.

While people use the terms dizziness and vertigo interchangeably, they describe different sensations or feelings.

“Dizziness is a false sensation of movement — even when still — and is a broader term, whereas most would use vertigo to more specifically describe a person who felt a spinning sensation of self or the world around them when still,” says Joey R. Gee, DO, FAHS, a board-certified physician specializing in neurology and the chief of neurology and director of stroke services at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California.

Here are some potential causes of dizziness, from the most common explanations to some less-expected culprits.

1. Inner Ear Infections and Disorders

2. Circulatory Issues

3. Neurological Conditions

Certain neurological conditions — medical disorders that affect the nervous system, including your brain, nerves, and spinal cord — may cause sudden dizziness, including:

• Migraine: A vestibular migraine, also known as migrainous vertigo or migraine-related dizziness, is a type of migraine in which you can experience dizziness or balance problems alongside other migraine symptoms.

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   Vestibular migraines are pretty common, with the Cleveland Clinic reporting that 2.7 percent of people in the United States have the neurological condition.

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• Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disorder that attacks the myelin cells that protect your brain and spinal cord. It is a common neurological condition affecting almost 1 million adults in the United States. Dizziness — particularly vertigo — is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis, which can develop due to the damage to nerves responsible for balance.

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• Parkinson’s Disease: This common neurological disorder causes unintentional or uncontrollable movements, such as stiffness, shaking, and trouble with balance and coordination.

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  A common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is orthostatic hypotension, which is a condition where your blood pressure drops when you stand up or sit down — leading to dizziness or lightheadedness.

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4. Medication and Substance Abuse

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Antihypertensives
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Antifungals
• Antimalarials
• Antipsychotics
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Diuretics
• Heavy metals
• Mucolytics
• Drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease

5. Anxiety and Stress

6. Anemia

7. Dehydration

You can be dehydrated for several reasons, including:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Excessive urinating, which can occur from certain medications and illnesses
• Fever
• Not drinking enough water or other liquids

8. Hormonal Changes

9. Other Medical Conditions

10. Stroke

Knowing when to seek medical attention for dizziness is important because it can be a symptom of mild to serious underlying medical conditions.

“If a person develops symptoms of dizziness, and it is a new experience for them, they should contact a medical professional,” Dr. Gee says.

It’s particularly important to seek medical attention right away if you suspect you’ve had a stroke. Igor Rybinnik, MD, associate professor in the division of stroke and neurocritical care at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and an attending neurologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, recommends using the BEFAST method to determine when to visit the nearest emergency room if you believe the dizziness is associated with a stroke.

Here’s a breakdown of BEFAST for stroke, according to Dr. Rybinnik:

• B for Balance: Is there a sudden loss of balance?
• E for Eyes: Are there any changes in vision?
• F for Face: Is there a slight droop in the face?
• A for Arms: Is there weakness in one arm?
• S for Speech: Is the speech slurred?
• T for Time: Call 911 immediately.

“Come to the doctor or emergency department if you have sudden difficulties finding words or understanding language or if you are slurring your words,” he says.

• Dizziness is a term that refers to feelings of lightheadedness and unsteadiness.
• While dizziness and vertigo are often used interchangeably, vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that causes a spinning sensation.
• There are several causes of dizziness, ranging from inner ear disorders to stroke. Brain tumors don’t typically cause dizziness.
• If you experience dizziness alongside other symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, chest pain, or a sudden loss of balance, seek medical attention right away.