How dizzy can you get

Light-headedness has many causes, including:. A more serious cause of light-headedness is bleeding. Most of the time, the location of the bleeding and the need to seek medical care are obvious. But sometimes bleeding is not obvious occult bleeding. You may have small amounts of bleeding in your digestive tract over days or weeks without noticing the bleeding. When this happens, light-headedness and fatigue may be the first noticeable symptoms that you are losing blood. Heavy menstrual bleeding also can cause this type of light-headedness.

Sometimes the cause of light-headedness is an abnormal heart rhythm arrhythmia , which can cause fainting spells syncope. Unexplained fainting spells need to be evaluated by a doctor.

You can check your heart rate by taking your pulse. Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause light-headedness or vertigo. The degree of light-headedness or vertigo that a medicine causes will vary. Vertigo occurs when there is conflict between the signals sent to the brain by various balance- and position-sensing systems of the body. Your brain uses input from four sensory systems to maintain your sense of balance and orientation to your surroundings.

Less common causes of vertigo include:. Immediate medical attention is needed if vertigo occurs suddenly with a change in speech or vision or other loss of function. Vertigo that occurs with loss of function in one area of the body can mean a problem in the brain, such as a stroke or transient ischemic attack TIA.

Alcohol and many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause light-headedness or vertigo. These problems may develop from:. Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor. Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:. You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home. Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement.

It may feel like spinning, whirling, or tilting. Vertigo may make you sick to your stomach, and you may have trouble standing, walking, or keeping your balance. Symptoms of a heart attack may include:. For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms, like shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

Symptoms of serious illness may include:. Heartbeat changes can include:. Neurological symptoms —which may be signs of a problem with the nervous system—can affect many body functions. Symptoms may include:. Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can make you feel light-headed or affect your balance. A few examples are:. Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury. Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. Based on your answers, you may need care right away.

The problem is likely to get worse without medical care. Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Call or other emergency services now. After you call , the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength mg or 2 to 4 low-dose 81 mg aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself. Sometimes people don't want to call They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them.

But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital. Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Light-headedness usually is not a cause for concern unless it is severe, does not go away, or occurs with other symptoms such as an irregular heartbeat or fainting. Light-headedness can lead to falls and other injuries.

Protect yourself from injury if you feel light-headed:. Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. You may be able to prevent light-headedness caused by orthostatic hypotension by taking your time. When you are dizzy, your risk of falling increases. You can make changes in your home to reduce your risk of falls. For more information about falls, see the topic Preventing Falls. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:. Before seeing your doctor, it may be helpful to keep track of your symptoms. Use the questions above as a guide for what to include in your diary of symptoms. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

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It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Overview Dizziness is a word that is often used to describe two different feelings.

Light-headedness is a feeling that you are about to faint or "pass out. Light-headedness often goes away or improves when you lie down. If light-headedness gets worse, it can lead to a feeling of almost fainting or a fainting spell syncope. You may sometimes feel nauseated or vomit when you are light-headed.

Vertigo is a feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. You may feel as though you are off balance, spinning, whirling, falling, or tilting. When you have severe vertigo , you may feel very nauseated or vomit. You may have trouble walking or standing, and you may lose your balance and fall. Light-headedness It is common to feel light-headed from time to time.

Light-headedness has many causes, including: Allergies. Illnesses such as the influenza flu or colds. Dizziness often goes away after you're treated for something else. For example: an ear infection migraine dehydration or heat exhaustion stress or anxiety low blood sugar level hypoglycaemia because of diabetes iron deficiency anaemia motion sickness.

Possible causes of dizziness Dizziness symptoms Possible causes When standing or sitting up suddenly sudden drop in blood pressure postural hypotension Feeling off-balance, losing some hearing, ringing or other sounds in your ears tinnitus inner-ear problems Feeling off-balance or like things are spinning, feeling or being sick, sometimes after a cold or flu labyrinthitis After starting new prescription medicine side effect of medicine With symptoms like hearing loss, double vision, blurred vision, numb face, arms or legs decreased blood flow to the brain, possibly from clogged arteries atherosclerosis.

Feeling off-balance, losing some hearing, ringing or other sounds in your ears tinnitus. Feeling off-balance or like things are spinning, feeling or being sick, sometimes after a cold or flu.

Dizziness is a nonspecific symptom that can indicate an underlying medical condition, such as anxiety, stress, or low blood sugar. People should speak with their healthcare provider if they experience severe or recurring dizziness. Dizziness while lying down, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, has many causes, including head injuries, diabetes, and migraines. Vomiting and dizziness are not pleasant but often go away on their own. However, it is vital to be aware of causes that warrant medical attention….

Some medications can also contribute…. Several conditions can cause both fatigue and dizziness. We take a look at five, and discuss other symptoms and treatments for each condition. What causes dizziness? Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M. Vertigo Motion sickness Migraine Low blood pressure Cardiovascular disease Low iron Hypoglycemia Autoimmune inner ear disease Stress Anxiety When to see a doctor Takeaway Dizziness refers to a range of sensations, such as feeling as though the room is spinning, lightheadedness, and feeling physically unsteady.

Share on Pinterest Vertigo or a migraine can cause dizziness. Motion sickness. Low blood pressure. Cardiovascular disease. Low iron. Share on Pinterest Eating a diet rich in iron can reduce the symptoms of anemia.

Hypoglycemia low blood sugar. Autoimmune inner ear disease. Share on Pinterest Stress and anxiety are common symptoms of dizziness.

When to see a doctor. Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What causes dizziness when lying down? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. What causes dizziness and vomiting? Medically reviewed by Sachin S.