Headache nausea dizziness symptoms. Headache, Nausea, and Dizziness: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Options
What causes headache, nausea, and dizziness simultaneously. How to manage these symptoms effectively. When should you seek medical attention for these symptoms. What are the potential underlying conditions causing this combination of symptoms. How can lifestyle changes help alleviate headache, nausea, and dizziness.
Understanding the Triad: Headache, Nausea, and Dizziness
The combination of headache, nausea, and dizziness can be a distressing experience, often leaving individuals feeling disoriented and unwell. These symptoms can occur together for various reasons, ranging from minor issues to more serious underlying conditions. Understanding the potential causes and knowing how to manage these symptoms is crucial for maintaining one’s health and well-being.
What exactly is dizziness?
Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, including:
- Feeling lightheaded or faint
- A sense of unsteadiness or loss of balance
- Vertigo – the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning
- A feeling of heaviness in the head or a floating sensation
It’s important to note that dizziness itself is not a disease but rather a symptom that can be associated with various conditions.
Common Causes of Headache, Nausea, and Dizziness
The simultaneous occurrence of headache, nausea, and dizziness can be attributed to several factors. Understanding these potential causes can help in identifying the root of the problem and seeking appropriate treatment.
Migraine: A Primary Culprit
Migraines are often characterized by severe headaches accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Many migraine sufferers also experience dizziness or vertigo as part of their symptoms. This combination is sometimes referred to as vestibular migraine.
Inner Ear Disorders
Problems with the inner ear can lead to a range of symptoms, including:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Caused by displaced crystals in the inner ear
- Meniere’s Disease: Characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss
- Labyrinthitis or Vestibular Neuritis: Inflammation of the inner ear or vestibular nerve
These conditions can cause dizziness, nausea, and sometimes headaches due to the disruption of the body’s balance system.
Cardiovascular Issues
Certain cardiovascular problems can lead to dizziness, headaches, and nausea:
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes)
These conditions can affect blood flow to the brain, resulting in the triad of symptoms.
Identifying Triggers and Risk Factors
Several factors can increase the likelihood of experiencing headache, nausea, and dizziness together. Identifying these triggers can help in managing and preventing episodes.
Dehydration: A Common Culprit
Inadequate fluid intake can lead to dehydration, which may cause:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Ensuring proper hydration is essential for preventing these symptoms, especially in hot weather or during physical activity.
Stress and Anxiety
Psychological factors can play a significant role in triggering these symptoms. Stress and anxiety can lead to:
- Tension headaches
- Dizziness due to hyperventilation
- Nausea as a physical manifestation of stress
Managing stress through relaxation techniques, exercise, and therapy can help alleviate these symptoms.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While occasional bouts of headache, nausea, and dizziness may not be cause for alarm, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention.
Red Flags: When to Visit the Emergency Room
Seek immediate medical care if you experience:
- Sudden, severe headache accompanied by confusion or loss of consciousness
- Dizziness with chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat
- Persistent vomiting and inability to keep fluids down
- Sudden onset of symptoms following a head injury
- Neurological symptoms such as vision changes, slurred speech, or weakness on one side of the body
These symptoms could indicate serious conditions such as stroke, heart attack, or severe dehydration that require prompt medical intervention.
Diagnostic Approaches for Headache, Nausea, and Dizziness
When presenting with the combination of headache, nausea, and dizziness, healthcare providers may employ various diagnostic tools to determine the underlying cause.
Physical Examination and Medical History
A thorough physical examination and detailed medical history are crucial first steps. The doctor may:
- Check vital signs including blood pressure and heart rate
- Perform neurological tests to assess balance, coordination, and reflexes
- Inquire about the nature, duration, and frequency of symptoms
- Ask about any recent illnesses, medications, or lifestyle changes
This information helps in forming an initial diagnosis and determining if further tests are necessary.
Imaging and Laboratory Tests
Depending on the suspected cause, additional tests may be ordered:
- MRI or CT scan of the brain to rule out structural abnormalities
- Blood tests to check for infections, anemia, or electrolyte imbalances
- Vestibular function tests to assess inner ear function
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate heart rhythm
These tests can provide valuable insights into the underlying cause of the symptoms and guide treatment decisions.
Treatment Options and Management Strategies
The treatment for headache, nausea, and dizziness depends on the underlying cause. However, there are general strategies that can help manage these symptoms effectively.
Medications
Various medications can be prescribed to alleviate symptoms:
- Antiemetics for nausea
- Pain relievers for headaches
- Antivertigo medications for dizziness
- Preventive medications for conditions like migraines
It’s important to use medications under the guidance of a healthcare provider to avoid potential side effects or interactions.
Lifestyle Modifications
Simple changes in daily habits can significantly improve symptoms:
- Maintaining proper hydration
- Getting adequate sleep
- Managing stress through relaxation techniques or counseling
- Avoiding known triggers such as certain foods or environmental factors
- Regular exercise to improve overall health and balance
These lifestyle adjustments can complement medical treatments and help prevent future episodes.
Coping Strategies for Daily Life
Living with recurrent headaches, nausea, and dizziness can be challenging. Developing coping strategies can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Modifying your living and working spaces can help minimize symptoms:
- Ensure adequate lighting to reduce eye strain
- Use ergonomic furniture to support proper posture
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule
- Create a calm, quiet space for relaxation during symptomatic episodes
These environmental adjustments can provide comfort and reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms.
Developing a Support Network
Having a strong support system is crucial for managing chronic symptoms:
- Communicate openly with family and friends about your condition
- Join support groups or online communities for individuals with similar experiences
- Consider counseling or therapy to address the emotional impact of chronic symptoms
- Work with your employer to make necessary accommodations in the workplace
A supportive network can provide both practical assistance and emotional support, making it easier to cope with challenging symptoms.
Prevention and Long-term Management
While it may not always be possible to prevent headaches, nausea, and dizziness entirely, there are strategies to reduce their frequency and severity.
Identifying and Avoiding Triggers
Keeping a symptom diary can help identify potential triggers:
- Note foods consumed before symptom onset
- Track sleep patterns and stress levels
- Record environmental factors such as weather changes or exposure to certain stimuli
- Monitor medication use and effectiveness
By identifying patterns, you can work with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized prevention plan.
Regular Check-ups and Monitoring
Ongoing medical care is essential for managing chronic conditions:
- Schedule regular appointments with your primary care physician
- Follow up with specialists as recommended
- Report any changes in symptoms or new concerns promptly
- Adhere to prescribed treatment plans and medication regimens
- Discuss the need for any lifestyle modifications or alternative therapies
Consistent medical oversight ensures that your treatment plan remains effective and can be adjusted as needed.
Understanding the complex interplay between headache, nausea, and dizziness is crucial for effective management. By recognizing potential causes, identifying triggers, and working closely with healthcare providers, individuals can develop comprehensive strategies to minimize the impact of these symptoms on their daily lives. Remember that while these symptoms can be distressing, many effective treatment options and coping strategies are available. With proper care and management, it’s possible to significantly improve quality of life and reduce the frequency and severity of symptomatic episodes.
I’m Dizzy. What Should I Do?
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
- Tips for Handling a Dizzy Spell
- When Should I Call a Doctor?
- Causes of Dizziness
- Dizziness and Nausea
- Who Is More Likely To Get Dizzy?
- Complications
- More
Dizziness is a common problem and usually isn’t serious.
During a spell of dizziness, you may feel as though you’re spinning or moving when you’re not (that’s called vertigo). You may also feel:
- Lightheaded or faint
- Unsteady on your feet
- Woozy, as though your head is heavy or floating
Dizzy spells are different from the sudden start of dizziness, which could be a sign of stroke. Go to the ER right away.
If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down at once. This will lower your chance of falling down. If you have vertigo, it may help to lie down in a dark, quiet place with your eyes closed.
Drinking water may also give you fast relief, especially if you’re dizzy because you’re dehydrated.
If you’ve had a series of dizzy spells, there are things you can do to make yourself safer. Here are some of them:
- Remove tripping hazards in your home, such as rugs on the floor, so that you’re less likely to fall.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, which can make symptoms worse.
- Drink enough fluids and get plenty of sleep.
- Be aware of things that trigger your dizziness, such as lights, noise, and fast movement, and try to be around them less or move more slowly.
If you’ve had many bouts of dizziness or spells that last a long time, make an appointment with your doctor.
You should seek help right away if you’re dizzy and also have:
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- A severe headache
- A sudden change in your vision or hearing, or trouble speaking
- Numbness or weakness
- A head injury
- A high fever
- Stiffness in your neck
Keeping you upright and balanced is not an easy job for the brain. It needs input from several systems to do that.
Your doctor may ask you some questions to help narrow down the cause of your problem: What were you doing before your dizziness? What did you feel like during your spell? How long did it last?
Your dizziness might be the result of a circulatory problem. These can include:
- A sudden drop in blood pressure. This can happen after you sit up or stand too quickly. You might hear your doctor or nurse call this “orthostatic hypotension.”
- Poor blood circulation. This could be the result of an irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. It could also be a brief disruption of the blood flow to your brain; that’s called a “transient ischemic attack,” or stroke.
Issues with your inner ear can also cause dizziness. Among them are:
- Meniere’s syndrome. This usually affects only one ear. Symptoms other than dizziness may include ringing in your ear, muffled hearing, nausea, or vomiting.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is a spinning sensation brought on by moving your head.
- Ear infection. That can cause dizziness. Also, you could have something trapped in your ear canal.
Some other causes of dizziness include:
- Medicines, such as antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, tranquilizers, and sedatives. If you take medication for high blood pressure, it might lower your blood pressure too much, leaving you feeling faint.
- Anxiety disorders. These include panic attacks.
- Low iron levels in your blood. This is also called anemia. Other signs that you are anemic include fatigue, pale skin, and weakness.
- Low blood sugar. This is also called hypoglycemia. This may be a problem if you are diabetic and use insulin. Other symptoms include sweating and anxiety.
If you get nausea along with it, it could be due to problems like vertigo, migraine, or low blood pressure.
Usually, dizziness with nausea isn’t serious. But if you have these symptoms and you don’t know what caused them, or they happen often, tell your doctor.
Vertigo. It’s the feeling that you’re spinning or moving when you’re still. A problem with the part of your inner ear that keeps your body balanced causes this symptom.
If you have vertigo, you might also have trouble keeping your balance and throw up. Vertigo sometimes goes away on its own. If not, your doctor will treat the cause of the problem. Some medicines can ease your dizziness. So can an exercise called the Epley maneuver, which involves moving your head into a different position.
If your dizziness is severe, call your doctor. You should also see them if you:
- Have an intense headache, chest pain, trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, or double vision
- Lose feeling in your arms or legs
- Get confused
- Have trouble walking
- Can’t stop throwing up
- Have seizures
- Have a fever
Alcohol Use. Drinking too much can lead to a bad case of the spins. The reason you feel dizzy is that alcohol thins your blood, which changes the balance of fluid in your inner ear. And the dizziness can make you feel nauseated. The alcohol can also irritate your stomach, which adds to the nausea.
If you’ve had too much to drink, you might also have:
- Slurred speech
- A red face
- Double vision
- Sleepiness
- Slowed reflexes
To avoid these problems, limit how much alcohol you drink. If you want to stop drinking but can’t, get help from your doctor or a program like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Get medical help right away if you (or someone you’re with) have symptoms like these after drinking alcohol:
- Trouble staying awake
- Slow breathing
- Cold, clammy, pale skin
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Throwing up over and over again
Motion Sickness. This is dizziness and nausea when you ride in a car, train, airplane, boat, or amusement park ride. Some people get it just from watching TV or a movie. The feeling happens when there is a conflict between what you see and how your body senses movement.
Motion sickness can cause:
- Throwing up
- Pale skin
- Sweating
- Headache
- Crankiness
To prevent motion sickness, ask your doctor to suggest medicines that you can take before you travel by plane, car, or boat. Don’t eat a big meal before you go, and drink lots of water along the way. Sit next to a window and look out into the distance.
Pregnancy. Morning sickness and dizziness are common early signs of pregnancy. Both symptoms are likely due to hormone changes.
Other signs that you’re pregnant are:
- Missed periods
- Tiredness
- Sore and swollen breasts
- Peeing more often than usual
- Food cravings
- Headaches
Call your doctor if you get these signs of severe nausea (hyperemesis gravidarum):
- Throwing up more than three or four times a day, or you can’t keep any food down
- Having a dry mouth and you don’t pee much
- Losing more than 5 pounds
- Belly or pelvic pain and cramping
- A fever
Throwing up too much can dehydrate you. You may need to get fluids through an IV in a hospital.
Anxiety Attack. This can happen when you’re faced with extreme stress and your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. The cause is emotional, but the symptoms are physical.
Along with dizziness and nausea, a panic attack can cause you to have:
- A fast heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Shaking
- Tightness in your chest
- Feeling hot or cold
- Sweating
Your panic attack should stop on its own. If you get them often, talk therapy and medication may help. An anxiety attack can feel like a heart attack. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.
Call your doctor or 911 if you:
- Suddenly feel anxious for no reason
- Still have symptoms after a few minutes
- Also have chest pain or can’t catch your breath
Low Blood Sugar. Sugar (glucose) is your body’s main source of fuel. When your blood sugar dips too low, you feel shaky, dizzy, and nauseated. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is common in people who take medicine for diabetes.
Other symptoms of low blood sugar are:
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Pale skin
- A headache
- Crankiness or confusion
Eat fast-acting carbs like these to raise your blood sugar:
- Fruit juice
- Soda
- Honey
- Hard candy, such as suckers or jelly beans
Once your blood sugar comes back up, eat a snack or a meal to keep it stable.
Call your doctor or 911 if your blood sugar doesn’t go up after you eat something sweet.
Migraine. This type of headache causes severe and throbbing pain, often on one side of your head. You may feel dizzy or nauseated when you get one of these headaches.
Other symptoms you might have with a migraine are:
- Spots or flashes of light called aura
- Feeling sensitive to light, sound, and smells
- Blurred vision
Your doctor can suggest medicines to prevent and treat migraine headaches.
Get medical help right away if:
- Your pain is intense, or it feels like the worst headache of your life
- You have a stiff neck, fever, seizures, double vision, weakness, or trouble speaking
- The headache started after a head injury, or when you coughed, sneezed, or strained
Heart Attack. This can happen when a clot blocks blood flow to your heart. The lack of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood can damage your heart muscle. Dizziness and nausea can be symptoms.
This is a medical emergency that needs fast treatment. Call 911 or go to an emergency room right away if you have symptoms like:
- Pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest that may spread to your neck, jaw, or arms
- Shortness of breath
- A cold sweat
- Fatigue
Doctors treat a heart attack with medicines that break up blood clots and stop new ones from forming. Surgery may be needed to clear or bypass the blockage.
Brain Tumor. It’s rare, but dizziness and nausea may be signs of a brain tumor. Other symptoms are:
- Severe headaches
- Seizures
- Changes in your vision, hearing, or sense of smell
- Personality changes
- Loss of balance
Treatment depends on the size and type of your tumor. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are all possible treatments.
The older you are, the greater your chance for problems with dizziness. As you age, you’re also more likely to take medications that have it as a possible side effect.
If you’ve had a dizzy spell in the past, your odds of having a problem again are increased.
The most serious complication with dizziness is falling. It may also be unsafe for you to drive or do other tasks. If your dizziness is caused by another health problem, you may face other problems if that condition goes untreated.
Top Picks
I’m Dizzy.
What Should I Do?
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
- Tips for Handling a Dizzy Spell
- When Should I Call a Doctor?
- Causes of Dizziness
- Dizziness and Nausea
- Who Is More Likely To Get Dizzy?
- Complications
- More
Dizziness is a common problem and usually isn’t serious.
During a spell of dizziness, you may feel as though you’re spinning or moving when you’re not (that’s called vertigo). You may also feel:
- Lightheaded or faint
- Unsteady on your feet
- Woozy, as though your head is heavy or floating
Dizzy spells are different from the sudden start of dizziness, which could be a sign of stroke. Go to the ER right away.
If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down at once. This will lower your chance of falling down. If you have vertigo, it may help to lie down in a dark, quiet place with your eyes closed.
Drinking water may also give you fast relief, especially if you’re dizzy because you’re dehydrated.
If you’ve had a series of dizzy spells, there are things you can do to make yourself safer. Here are some of them:
- Remove tripping hazards in your home, such as rugs on the floor, so that you’re less likely to fall.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, which can make symptoms worse.
- Drink enough fluids and get plenty of sleep.
- Be aware of things that trigger your dizziness, such as lights, noise, and fast movement, and try to be around them less or move more slowly.
If you’ve had many bouts of dizziness or spells that last a long time, make an appointment with your doctor.
You should seek help right away if you’re dizzy and also have:
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- A severe headache
- A sudden change in your vision or hearing, or trouble speaking
- Numbness or weakness
- A head injury
- A high fever
- Stiffness in your neck
Keeping you upright and balanced is not an easy job for the brain. It needs input from several systems to do that.
Your doctor may ask you some questions to help narrow down the cause of your problem: What were you doing before your dizziness? What did you feel like during your spell? How long did it last?
Your dizziness might be the result of a circulatory problem. These can include:
- A sudden drop in blood pressure. This can happen after you sit up or stand too quickly. You might hear your doctor or nurse call this “orthostatic hypotension.”
- Poor blood circulation. This could be the result of an irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. It could also be a brief disruption of the blood flow to your brain; that’s called a “transient ischemic attack,” or stroke.
Issues with your inner ear can also cause dizziness. Among them are:
- Meniere’s syndrome. This usually affects only one ear. Symptoms other than dizziness may include ringing in your ear, muffled hearing, nausea, or vomiting.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is a spinning sensation brought on by moving your head.
- Ear infection. That can cause dizziness. Also, you could have something trapped in your ear canal.
Some other causes of dizziness include:
- Medicines, such as antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, tranquilizers, and sedatives. If you take medication for high blood pressure, it might lower your blood pressure too much, leaving you feeling faint.
- Anxiety disorders. These include panic attacks.
- Low iron levels in your blood. This is also called anemia. Other signs that you are anemic include fatigue, pale skin, and weakness.
- Low blood sugar. This is also called hypoglycemia. This may be a problem if you are diabetic and use insulin. Other symptoms include sweating and anxiety.
If you get nausea along with it, it could be due to problems like vertigo, migraine, or low blood pressure.
Usually, dizziness with nausea isn’t serious. But if you have these symptoms and you don’t know what caused them, or they happen often, tell your doctor.
Vertigo. It’s the feeling that you’re spinning or moving when you’re still. A problem with the part of your inner ear that keeps your body balanced causes this symptom.
If you have vertigo, you might also have trouble keeping your balance and throw up. Vertigo sometimes goes away on its own. If not, your doctor will treat the cause of the problem. Some medicines can ease your dizziness. So can an exercise called the Epley maneuver, which involves moving your head into a different position.
If your dizziness is severe, call your doctor. You should also see them if you:
- Have an intense headache, chest pain, trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, or double vision
- Lose feeling in your arms or legs
- Get confused
- Have trouble walking
- Can’t stop throwing up
- Have seizures
- Have a fever
Alcohol Use. Drinking too much can lead to a bad case of the spins. The reason you feel dizzy is that alcohol thins your blood, which changes the balance of fluid in your inner ear. And the dizziness can make you feel nauseated. The alcohol can also irritate your stomach, which adds to the nausea.
If you’ve had too much to drink, you might also have:
- Slurred speech
- A red face
- Double vision
- Sleepiness
- Slowed reflexes
To avoid these problems, limit how much alcohol you drink. If you want to stop drinking but can’t, get help from your doctor or a program like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Get medical help right away if you (or someone you’re with) have symptoms like these after drinking alcohol:
- Trouble staying awake
- Slow breathing
- Cold, clammy, pale skin
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Throwing up over and over again
Motion Sickness. This is dizziness and nausea when you ride in a car, train, airplane, boat, or amusement park ride. Some people get it just from watching TV or a movie. The feeling happens when there is a conflict between what you see and how your body senses movement.
Motion sickness can cause:
- Throwing up
- Pale skin
- Sweating
- Headache
- Crankiness
To prevent motion sickness, ask your doctor to suggest medicines that you can take before you travel by plane, car, or boat. Don’t eat a big meal before you go, and drink lots of water along the way. Sit next to a window and look out into the distance.
Pregnancy. Morning sickness and dizziness are common early signs of pregnancy. Both symptoms are likely due to hormone changes.
Other signs that you’re pregnant are:
- Missed periods
- Tiredness
- Sore and swollen breasts
- Peeing more often than usual
- Food cravings
- Headaches
Call your doctor if you get these signs of severe nausea (hyperemesis gravidarum):
- Throwing up more than three or four times a day, or you can’t keep any food down
- Having a dry mouth and you don’t pee much
- Losing more than 5 pounds
- Belly or pelvic pain and cramping
- A fever
Throwing up too much can dehydrate you. You may need to get fluids through an IV in a hospital.
Anxiety Attack. This can happen when you’re faced with extreme stress and your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. The cause is emotional, but the symptoms are physical.
Along with dizziness and nausea, a panic attack can cause you to have:
- A fast heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Shaking
- Tightness in your chest
- Feeling hot or cold
- Sweating
Your panic attack should stop on its own. If you get them often, talk therapy and medication may help. An anxiety attack can feel like a heart attack. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.
Call your doctor or 911 if you:
- Suddenly feel anxious for no reason
- Still have symptoms after a few minutes
- Also have chest pain or can’t catch your breath
Low Blood Sugar. Sugar (glucose) is your body’s main source of fuel. When your blood sugar dips too low, you feel shaky, dizzy, and nauseated. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is common in people who take medicine for diabetes.
Other symptoms of low blood sugar are:
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Pale skin
- A headache
- Crankiness or confusion
Eat fast-acting carbs like these to raise your blood sugar:
- Fruit juice
- Soda
- Honey
- Hard candy, such as suckers or jelly beans
Once your blood sugar comes back up, eat a snack or a meal to keep it stable.
Call your doctor or 911 if your blood sugar doesn’t go up after you eat something sweet.
Migraine. This type of headache causes severe and throbbing pain, often on one side of your head. You may feel dizzy or nauseated when you get one of these headaches.
Other symptoms you might have with a migraine are:
- Spots or flashes of light called aura
- Feeling sensitive to light, sound, and smells
- Blurred vision
Your doctor can suggest medicines to prevent and treat migraine headaches.
Get medical help right away if:
- Your pain is intense, or it feels like the worst headache of your life
- You have a stiff neck, fever, seizures, double vision, weakness, or trouble speaking
- The headache started after a head injury, or when you coughed, sneezed, or strained
Heart Attack. This can happen when a clot blocks blood flow to your heart. The lack of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood can damage your heart muscle. Dizziness and nausea can be symptoms.
This is a medical emergency that needs fast treatment. Call 911 or go to an emergency room right away if you have symptoms like:
- Pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest that may spread to your neck, jaw, or arms
- Shortness of breath
- A cold sweat
- Fatigue
Doctors treat a heart attack with medicines that break up blood clots and stop new ones from forming. Surgery may be needed to clear or bypass the blockage.
Brain Tumor. It’s rare, but dizziness and nausea may be signs of a brain tumor. Other symptoms are:
- Severe headaches
- Seizures
- Changes in your vision, hearing, or sense of smell
- Personality changes
- Loss of balance
Treatment depends on the size and type of your tumor. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are all possible treatments.
The older you are, the greater your chance for problems with dizziness. As you age, you’re also more likely to take medications that have it as a possible side effect.
If you’ve had a dizzy spell in the past, your odds of having a problem again are increased.
The most serious complication with dizziness is falling. It may also be unsafe for you to drive or do other tasks. If your dizziness is caused by another health problem, you may face other problems if that condition goes untreated.
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Dizziness with a runny nose: causes, treatment and prevention
- Oxygen starvation and hyperventilation of the lungs – the main cause of dizziness with a runny nose
- Intoxication – the cause of dizziness No. 2
- Labyrinthitis – another cause of dizziness with a cold
- Dizziness due to antibiotic intoxication
- What should I do if I feel dizzy with a runny nose?
Have you noticed that sometimes when you have a runny nose, you suddenly feel dizzy, and your vision loses clarity? There may be a feeling that you are swimming or falling, there is a sharp weakness, you cease to control the body. There are several reasons why you feel dizzy when you have a cold.
With a cold, naturally, the supply of oxygen to the blood in normal quantities is disturbed. There is a mild oxygen deficiency, one of the symptoms of which is dizziness (for example, climbers can tell a lot about this). With non-physiological breathing (frequent shallow breaths – hyperventilation), carbon dioxide accumulates in the lungs, which affects the medulla oblongata, causing dizziness. With a runny nose of any nature, both factors contribute equally to the appearance of dizziness.
By the way, oxygen starvation is one of the consequences of a long runny nose, even if it is not very strong. Even a slight lack of oxygen dramatically reduces immunity, cognitive function and energy production. Therefore, it is imperative to treat a protracted runny nose.
With intoxication that occurs with SARS, sinusitis and some other infections, the body includes protective reactions, which include vasoconstriction. This is done to slow down the “journey” of harmful substances through the body and especially their entry into the brain. Due to spasm of the head vessels and the outflow of blood from the main parts of the brain, dizziness occurs. What diseases cause such severe intoxication?
Sinusitis
Let’s start with the well-known sinusitis. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, they are located to the right and left of the nose, in the area of the cheeks under the eyes. Normally, the sinuses are filled exclusively with air. Their mucous membrane secretes a small amount of secretion, which enters the nasal cavity through small openings – anastomoses. With inflammation of the sinuses, the mucous membrane swells, the fistulas overlap, and the exit of the mucous masses becomes impossible. Pus accumulates in the sinus.
Symptoms of sinusitis:
- Dizziness and headache.
- Pain and feeling of fullness in the area of the maxillary sinuses, bridge of the nose.
- Pain may radiate to the jaw, temples.
- Specific nasal voice “on the nose”.
Sinusitis may be accompanied by a severe runny nose, the discharge is viscous, with an unpleasant odor. In severe cases, the runny nose stops. This is a very bad symptom: it means that the fistulas are completely blocked, mucus accumulates in the sinuses.
Frontit
Frontitis – inflammation of the mucous membrane of the frontal sinuses. It can occur due to allergies, as a complication of SARS, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis.
Frontitis symptoms:
- Intense pain in the superciliary arches.
- Dizziness.
- Severe nasal congestion.
- High temperature – up to 39 °C.
Nasal discharge may come from only one nostril if one side is affected.
Influenza and SARS
Most often, it is influenza that causes intoxication, leading to dizziness. But other SARS in severe cases may be accompanied by intoxication with dizziness.
As the name suggests, labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinth of the ear. The labyrinth is located in the thickness of the temporal bone (inside the skull) and consists of several interconnected and fluid-filled cavities and passages. The labyrinth is part of the vestibular apparatus, which is responsible for the position of the body in space, so it is not surprising that when the labyrinth becomes inflamed, the head begins to spin.
Of all the SARS viruses, only influenza can cause labyrinthitis. With a decrease in immunity or a long-term illness, influenza viruses cross protective barriers and can enter the labyrinth with the blood stream.
Symptoms of inflammation of the labyrinth:
- Vertigo of varying intensity, occurring in any position of the body or only when turning the head.
- Unsteady gait.
- Violation of coordination of movements.
- Loss of balance and sudden falls.
- Nausea and vomiting without relief.
- Running eye movements (as if a person is reading).
- Sometimes – tinnitus.
The appearance of such symptoms in parallel or as ARVI subsides is a serious reason to consult an otolaryngologist. Labyrinthitis is dangerous because it can turn into meningitis, and this disease can lead to the saddest outcome.
With SARS, antibiotics are usually not prescribed, but many take them on their own, finding them in a home medicine cabinet or managing to buy them at a pharmacy. There is another option: with an attached bacterial infection or a protracted ARVI, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent complications.
Many antibacterials have reported side effects of dizziness with prolonged use. However, patients more often associate balance problems with SARS not with medication, but with a runny nose, although a runny nose in this situation has nothing to do with it.
As soon as you feel dizzy and have a runny nose, clear your sinuses by rinsing your nose properly. It is undesirable to use vasoconstrictor drops, as they can increase dizziness.
It is advisable to visit an ENT doctor to determine the exact cause of dizziness. In the case of labyrinthitis, frontal sinusitis or sinusitis, adequate treatment will be required, which may include antibiotics and physiotherapy.
You need to drink a lot. Drinking plenty of water will reduce intoxication and also make nasal discharge thinner and easier to remove. Drink warm drinks. However, by no means coffee: it loads the liver and can increase the symptoms of intoxication.
With dizziness accompanying a runny nose, bed rest should be observed so as not to harm yourself or get injured. If there is a need to leave the house (for example, to the clinic), then it is necessary to do this only together with the accompanying person.
In case of ARVI, you can and should use the Spray Oil Dyshi®. Composition Oil Dyshi® destroys airborne pathogenic viruses and bacteria. The spray should be sprayed in the room where the sick person is located. Firstly, inhalation of vapors of essential oils with antiviral and antibacterial properties will reduce the risk of complications, including frontal sinusitis, sinusitis and labyrinthitis. Secondly, essential oils will disinfect the nasal passages, and levomenthol will reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane, which will favorably affect the course of the disease.
Ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken for severe headache and high fever.
It is very important to regularly ventilate the room where there is a big one who is dizzy with a runny nose. Ventilation will increase the amount of oxygen in the room, which will lead to a decrease in hypoxia.
If, despite all the measures taken, dizziness does not go away for more than a day, call a doctor!
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Migraine symptoms: vomiting, dizziness, nausea, yawning
Neurology
Migraine is becoming more and more common as it affects millions of people every day. Severe pain often occurs on one side of the head and is sometimes accompanied by symptoms such as sensitivity to light, vomiting, dizziness, and nausea. It will get worse over the years if you don’t act early.
1. Nausea.
Having a migraine is accompanied by nausea. Nausea is another warning sign of an impending migraine. Nausea often keeps you from wanting to eat, but eating certain foods will definitely ease the nausea. Also, some people suffer from vomiting while others experience digestive problems or diarrhea.
2. Pain in the eyes.
Eye pain is one of the warning signs of a migraine. People often blame it on eye fatigue and get them checked out. However, it does not relieve headaches.
3. Sensitivity to light or sound.
Sensitivity to light or sound is a symptom that can occur with a headache. Any bright lights and loud noises should be avoided at this stage as they can make the pain worse. Instead, you should seek refuge in a dark, quiet place during a migraine attack. You should also stay away from annoying odors.
4. Yawning.
Along with nausea and eye pain, yawning is a warning sign that a migraine is coming. This is excessive, you may yawn more than usual. Other symptoms that may accompany yawning include fluid retention, food cravings, fatigue, and thirst.
5. Blurred vision.
Blurred vision is believed to be due to changes in blood flow in the brain. This can happen as part of the migraine stage or with the migraine itself.
Apart from the 5 signs above, there are some other symptoms that people with migraines experience, including neck pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
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