What are the common causes of sudden dizziness and nausea. How can you identify the symptoms of various conditions leading to dizziness. What are the most effective ways to manage and treat sudden dizzy spells.

Understanding Dizziness: Types and Sensations

Dizziness is a common condition that can manifest in various ways. It’s crucial to understand the different types of dizziness to better identify and address the underlying causes.

• Vertigo: A sensation of spinning or movement when you’re stationary
• Lightheadedness: Feeling faint or unsteady
• Disequilibrium: A sense of imbalance or unsteadiness
• Presyncope: Near-fainting experience

Each type of dizziness can be associated with different conditions and may require specific treatments. Recognizing the exact sensation you’re experiencing can help healthcare professionals determine the most likely cause and appropriate course of action.

Common Causes of Sudden Dizziness and Nausea

Sudden onset of dizziness, especially when accompanied by nausea, can be attributed to various factors. Understanding these potential causes is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Inner Ear Disorders

Inner ear problems are among the most common causes of sudden dizziness and nausea. These conditions affect the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Caused by displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear
• Meniere’s Disease: Characterized by recurring episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus
• Vestibular Neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, often following a viral infection
• Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the inner ear labyrinth, typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection

These conditions can lead to intense dizzy spells, often accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. The symptoms may be triggered by certain head movements or occur spontaneously.

Cardiovascular Issues

Problems related to the heart and blood circulation can sometimes manifest as dizziness and nausea.

• Orthostatic Hypotension: A sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly
• Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats that can affect blood flow to the brain
• Carotid Artery Stenosis: Narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the brain

In these cases, dizziness may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations.

Neurological Conditions

Certain neurological disorders can lead to sudden dizziness and nausea:

• Vestibular Migraines: Migraines associated with vertigo and dizziness
• Multiple Sclerosis: Can affect balance and coordination
• Brain Tumors: Rarely, tumors in specific areas of the brain can cause dizziness
• Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Can cause sudden dizziness along with other neurological symptoms

These conditions often present with additional neurological symptoms and require prompt medical attention.

Identifying Symptoms and Warning Signs

Recognizing the symptoms associated with sudden dizziness can help determine the severity of the condition and the need for medical intervention.

Key Symptoms to Watch For

• Vertigo: A spinning sensation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of balance or unsteadiness
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Hearing loss or changes in hearing
• Visual disturbances
• Headache
• Fatigue

The presence of these symptoms, especially when occurring suddenly or intensely, may indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Red Flags Requiring Immediate Medical Attention

Certain symptoms accompanying dizziness warrant immediate medical care:

• Sudden, severe headache
• Chest pain or pressure
• Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg
• Sudden vision changes
• High fever
• Loss of consciousness

These symptoms could indicate serious conditions such as stroke, heart attack, or severe infections, requiring urgent medical evaluation.

Diagnostic Approaches for Dizziness

Diagnosing the cause of sudden dizziness often involves a comprehensive approach, including various tests and examinations.

Physical Examination

A thorough physical exam may include:

• Checking blood pressure while lying down and standing
• Examining eye movements
• Testing balance and coordination
• Assessing hearing

Specialized Tests

Depending on the suspected cause, additional tests may be recommended:

• Electronystagmography (ENG) or Videonystagmography (VNG): To evaluate inner ear and eye movement coordination
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) scans: To visualize brain structures
• Audiometry: To assess hearing function
• Blood tests: To check for infections, anemia, or other underlying conditions

These diagnostic tools help healthcare providers pinpoint the exact cause of dizziness, enabling more targeted and effective treatment strategies.

Treatment Options for Sudden Dizziness

The treatment for sudden dizziness depends on the underlying cause. Here are some common approaches:

Medications

• Antihistamines: Can help with vertigo and nausea
• Antiemetics: To control nausea and vomiting
• Diuretics: May be prescribed for Meniere’s disease
• Antibiotics: If a bacterial infection is the cause

Vestibular Rehabilitation

This specialized form of physical therapy can help improve balance and reduce dizziness symptoms. It typically involves exercises designed to:

• Strengthen the vestibular system
• Improve gaze stability
• Enhance balance and coordination
• Decrease sensitivity to certain movements

Canalith Repositioning Procedures

For BPPV, specific head movements can help reposition the displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear, often providing immediate relief.

Lifestyle Modifications

In some cases, simple lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of dizzy spells:

• Avoiding triggers (certain foods, stress, lack of sleep)
• Staying hydrated
• Practicing stress-reduction techniques
• Maintaining a regular sleep schedule

Self-Care Strategies for Managing Dizziness

While professional medical care is often necessary, there are several self-care strategies that can help manage dizziness symptoms:

During a Dizzy Spell

• Sit or lie down immediately to prevent falls
• Focus on a stationary object if experiencing vertigo
• Take slow, deep breaths to reduce anxiety
• Avoid sudden movements

Preventive Measures

To reduce the likelihood of dizzy spells:

• Stand up slowly from a seated or lying position
• Use handrails when climbing stairs
• Ensure adequate lighting in your home
• Remove tripping hazards from your environment
• Stay physically active to improve balance and strength

These strategies can help minimize the risk of falls and injuries associated with sudden dizziness.

When to Seek Medical Help for Dizziness

While many cases of dizziness resolve on their own, certain situations require prompt medical attention. Knowing when to seek help can be crucial for proper treatment and prevention of complications.

Immediate Medical Care

Seek emergency medical care if dizziness is accompanied by:

• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Severe headache
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden weakness or numbness
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Ongoing vomiting
• High fever
• Seizures

Non-Emergency Situations

Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider if:

• Dizziness persists for more than a week
• You experience recurrent episodes of dizziness
• Dizziness interferes with your daily activities
• You notice changes in your hearing
• You have a history of head injury or recent ear infection

Early intervention can often lead to more effective treatment and better outcomes, especially for chronic or recurring dizziness.

Prevention and Long-Term Management of Dizziness

While not all cases of dizziness can be prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and manage symptoms over the long term.

Lifestyle Modifications

• Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
• Limit alcohol and caffeine intake
• Quit smoking, as it can affect blood flow and increase dizziness risk
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques or therapy
• Get regular exercise to improve balance and overall health

Environmental Adjustments

Creating a safer environment can help prevent falls and injuries associated with dizziness:

• Install grab bars in bathrooms and along staircases
• Use non-slip mats in showers and bathtubs
• Ensure proper lighting throughout your home
• Keep frequently used items within easy reach
• Consider using a cane or walker if balance is severely affected

Regular Check-ups

Maintaining regular appointments with your healthcare provider can help:

• Monitor any ongoing conditions that may contribute to dizziness
• Adjust medications that might be causing dizziness as a side effect
• Identify and address new health issues before they become severe
• Receive updated recommendations for managing your symptoms

By implementing these preventive measures and working closely with your healthcare team, you can effectively manage dizziness and maintain a better quality of life. Remember, each person’s experience with dizziness is unique, and a personalized approach to prevention and management is often the most effective strategy.

Dizziness – NHS

It’s common to sometimes feel dizzy, lightheaded or off-balance, and it’s not usually serious. See a GP if you’re worried.

Check if you have dizziness

Dizziness includes feeling:

• off-balance
• giddy
• lightheaded or faint
• like you’re spinning or things around you are spinning (vertigo)

How you can treat dizziness yourself

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

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

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• 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

Causes of dizziness

If you have other symptoms, this might give you an idea of the cause. Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you’re worried.

Dizziness while you’re ill with something else

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 (hypoglycaemia) because of diabetes
• iron deficiency anaemia
• motion sickness

Dizziness for no obvious reason

Page last reviewed: 21 April 2023
Next review due: 21 April 2026

Sudden Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms, and More

Inner ear problems are the most common causes of sudden dizziness and nausea. These include BPPV, Meniere’s disease, and vestibular neuritis. But there are several other possible causes.

A sudden spell of dizziness can be disconcerting. You may feel sensations of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or spinning (vertigo). In addition, you may sometimes experience nausea or vomiting.

But what conditions can cause sudden, intense dizzy spells, particularly when they’re accompanied by nausea or vomiting? Read on to discover more about potential causes, possible remedies, and when to see a doctor.

There are many reasons why you may suddenly feel dizzy. Most often, though, sudden dizziness occurs due to problems in your inner ear, which is responsible for maintaining balance.

Sudden intense dizziness accompanied by nausea or vomiting is the hallmark symptom of certain conditions and may be caused by:

• low blood sugar
• heat exhaustion
• anxiety or panic disorders
• medication side effects

Below, we’ll explore in more detail a few of the other conditions that can cause sudden dizziness and nausea.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is a condition that causes sudden, intense feelings of dizziness. The sensation often feels like everything around you is spinning or swaying, or that your head is spinning on the inside.

When dizziness is severe, it’s often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

With BPPV, symptoms almost always occur when you change the position of your head. An episode of BPPV usually lasts less than a minute. Even though the dizziness is short lived, the condition can become disruptive to daily activities.

BPPV happens when crystals in a specific part of your inner ear move out of place. Often, the exact cause of BPPV is unknown. When a cause can be established, it’s often the result of:

• injury to the head
• inner ear disorders
• damage during ear surgery
• unnatural positioning on your back for extended periods, like lying in a dentist‘s chair

When these crystals are dislodged, they move into another part of your inner ear where they don’t belong. Because the crystals are sensitive to gravity, changes in the position of your head can cause intense dizziness that seems to come out of nowhere.

Treatment typically involves your doctor maneuvering your head in specific directions to reposition the dislodged crystals. This is called canalith repositioning, or the Epley maneuver.

It’s possible for BPPV to go away on its own, though the condition has a recurrence rate of about 22 percent over 5 years. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary.

Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease also affects the inner ear. It typically only affects one ear. People with this condition can experience severe vertigo, which may lead to feelings of nausea. Other symptoms of Meniere’s disease include:

• muffled hearing
• a feeling of fullness in the ear
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• hearing loss
• loss of balance

The symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come on suddenly or after a short episode of other symptoms like muffled hearing or ringing in your ears. Sometimes, episodes may be spaced apart, but other times they can happen closer together.

Meniere’s disease happens when fluid gathers in your inner ear. What causes this fluid buildup is unknown, although infections, genetics, and autoimmune reactions are suspected.

The treatment options for Meniere’s disease include:

• medications to treat the symptoms of dizziness and nausea
• salt restriction or diuretics to help reduce the amount of fluid your body retains
• injections with steroids or the antibiotic gentamicin to alleviate dizziness and vertigo
• pressure treatment, during which a small device delivers pulses of pressure to prevent dizziness
• surgery, when other treatments are not effective

Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis

These two conditions are closely related. Both have to do with inflammation in your inner ear.

• Labyrinthitis happens when a structure called the labyrinth in your inner ear becomes inflamed.
• Vestibular neuritis involves inflammation of the vestibulocochlear nerve in your inner ear.

With both conditions, dizziness and vertigo can come on suddenly. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, and problems with balance. People with labyrinthitis may also experience ringing in the ears and hearing loss.

It’s unknown what causes labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. However, it’s believed that a viral infection may be involved.

Treatment often involves resting in bed, avoiding bright light, and avoiding activities like watching TV or reading while symptoms are present. A person may need to take medications that can relieve symptoms like dizziness and nausea.

If balance problems persist, treatment may involve a type of therapy called vestibular rehabilitation. This therapy uses various exercises to help you adjust to changes in balance.

Vestibular migraine

People with vestibular migraine experience dizziness or vertigo in association with migraine attacks. Other symptoms can include nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. In some cases, a headache may not even be present.

The length of these symptoms can range from 5 minutes to 72 hours. Like other types of migraine, symptoms may be caused by certain triggers like stress, lack of rest, or certain foods.

It’s unknown what causes vestibular migraine, although genetics may play a role. Additionally, conditions like BPPV and Meniere’s disease have been associated with vestibular migraine.

Treatment involves using over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications to ease migraine pain and symptoms of dizziness or nausea. Vestibular rehabilitation may also be used.

Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension is a condition in which your blood pressure suddenly drops when you change positions quickly. It can happen when you go from lying down to sitting up, or from sitting up to standing.

Some people with this condition have no noticeable symptoms. However, others may experience nausea, along with other symptoms like:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• headache
• fainting episodes

The drop in blood pressure means less blood flows to your brain, muscles, and organs, which can lead to symptoms. Orthostatic hypotension has been linked to neurological conditions, heart disease, and certain medications.

Orthostatic hypotension can be managed through lifestyle changes. These include:

• changing positions slowly
• sitting down while performing daily tasks
• changing medications, if possible

Dizziness is typically caused by issues with the inner ear, which regulates balance. When your brain receives signals from your inner ear that don’t line up with the information your senses are reporting, it can result in dizziness and vertigo.

Several factors can cause sudden dizzy spells, including:

• anemia
• dehydration
• medication side effects
• circulation issues, such as sudden drops in blood pressure or insufficient blood flow to your brain, such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke

TIA or stroke

Often called a “ministroke,“ a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is like a stroke, but the symptoms typically only last a few minutes. It happens when there’s a temporary lack of blood flow to part of the brain.

Unlike a stroke, a TIA usually doesn‘t cause lasting damage. But it can be a warning sign of a more serious stroke.

Although rare, a TIA can be the cause of sudden dizziness. According to a 2019 review, sudden dizziness is reported in about 8 percent of patients with a TIA or stroke.

Sometimes, a sudden onset of dizziness is the only symptom of a TIA. Other times, there may be other symptoms. These can include:

• weakness, numbness, or tingling in your arm, leg, or face, usually on one side of your body
• slurred speech or difficulty talking
• problems with balance
• vision changes
• sudden, severe headache
• disorientation, confusion

Although less common, sudden dizziness can also be caused by a stroke, specifically a brain stem stroke. With a brain stem stroke:

• Dizziness lasts longer than 24 hours.
• Dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance usually occur together.
• Weakness on one side of the body isn’t typically a symptom.
• In more severe cases, symptoms can include slurred speech, double vision, and a decreased level of consciousness.

If you have any symptoms of a TIA or stroke, it‘s important to get immediate medical attention. Your doctor will determine if you‘ve had a TIA or a stroke, or if your symptoms have a different cause.

If you have a sudden onset of dizziness, nausea, or vertigo, consider taking the following steps:

• Sit down as soon as the dizziness comes on.
• Try to avoid walking or standing until the dizziness passes.
• If you must walk, move slowly and use a supportive device like a cane, or hold onto furniture for support.
• Once your dizziness has passed, be sure to get up very slowly.
• Consider taking an OTC medication like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) to ease your nausea.
• Avoid caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol, which can worsen your symptoms.

Make an appointment to see your doctor or healthcare professional if you have sudden dizziness and nausea that:

• happens frequently
• is severe
• lasts a long time
• can’t be explained by another health condition or a medication

To help diagnose the cause of your dizziness and nausea, your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical examination. They’ll also perform a variety of tests. These may include:

• balance and movement testing, which can help determine if specific movements lead to symptoms
• eye movement testing to detect abnormal eye movements associated with inner ear conditions
• hearing tests to check if you have any hearing loss
• imaging tests like MRIs or CT scans to generate a detailed image of your brain
• complete blood count and blood chemistry tests

Seek emergency medical care if you experience sudden dizziness or nausea that occurs with any of the following symptoms:

• feelings of numbness, weakness, or tingling
• severe headache
• slurred speech or trouble talking
• chest pain
• rapid heartbeat
• trouble breathing
• frequent vomiting
• changes in your hearing, such as ringing in your ears or hearing loss
• blurry or double vision
• confusion
• fainting

If you don’t already have a healthcare professional, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect with physicians in your area.

Many people experience dizziness for one reason or another. However, in some cases, dizziness may seem to come out of nowhere and feel intense. In these cases, you may also experience symptoms like nausea or vomiting.

Many of the causes of this type of dizziness are associated with inner ear problems. Examples include BPPV, Meniere’s disease, and vestibular neuritis.

See your doctor if you have dizziness or vertigo that’s frequent, severe, or unexplained. Other symptoms like severe headache, numbness, or confusion could indicate another condition, such as a stroke, and require emergency medical attention.

causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of dizziness in men and women

Vertigo is a condition associated with a lack of confidence in what position in space a person or objects around him occupies. This is one of the most common complaints that are addressed to a medical institution. At the same time, the state cannot be accurately interpreted. Many people describe it in different ways. They may characterize it as sudden weakness, anticipation of fainting, or as an immediate sensation of spinning.

Causes

Dizziness can occur in healthy people if predisposing causes are present:

• prolonged or severe stress;
• physical or intellectual overwork;
• malnutrition;
• frequent smoking;
• overheating in the sun or high air temperature;
• alcohol intoxication;
• dehydration;
• fast travel (e.g. rides).

Also, the causes of dizziness in men in the absence of pathologies can be triggered by meteosensitivity. But in each of these cases, episodes often appear once and quickly pass after rest and recovery of the body.

Determining the possible cause of the disorder is important for the correct selection of treatment. Among them may be:

1. Diseases of the inner ear (paroxysmal positional vertigo of a benign nature, Meniere’s disease, labyrinthitis, traumatic impact).
2. Atherosclerotic damage to cerebral vessels.
3. Chronic cerebral ischemia.
4. Intracranial neoplasms.
5. Inflammatory process in the cerebellum.
6. Arrhythmias, bradycardias and tachycardias.
7. Chronic hypertension or hypotension.
8. Concussion.
9. Heart failure and cardiomyopathy.
10. Pathologies of the cervical spine: osteochondrosis, protrusions, hernias, arthrosis.
11. Hemorrhage in the cerebellum.
12. Neurological and mental diseases: Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, multiple sclerosis, cerebellar ataxia, migraines, panic attacks, phobias (in particular – agoraphobia).
13. Infectious processes in the ear.
14. Anemia.
15. Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.

You should also highlight the risk factors in which dizziness is more likely to occur:

1. Age category – people over 65 often have a number of somatic pathologies with a chronic course.
2. Taking a number of drugs or their inappropriate combination – some drugs can provoke conditions accompanied by dizziness. These medications include antibiotics, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cytostatics, antidepressants, tranquilizers, antiviral and some other drugs.
3. Gender – hormonal changes are among the causes of dizziness in women.

Three-level pathology development format

Specialists distinguish 3 levels at which dizziness can develop, according to the system in which the disturbances occur:

1. Peripheral – the pathological process affects the inner ear and vestibular nerve. In this case, the attacks last no more than 24 hours.
2. Intermediate – changes are observed on the path of nerve impulses from the inner ear to the structures of the central nervous system.
3. Central – the problem lies in the loss of the brain’s ability to recognize and then analyze the information received. The duration of the attacks increases to several days, sometimes lasting a couple of weeks.

Determining the level that has become the starting point in the development of the pathological process is necessary for further work with the patient and the selection of the correct treatment.

Classification options

Vertigo is classified in several ways. The first option distinguishes 2 large groups:

1. Systemic – accompanied by a feeling of instability or rotation of a person or objects. This type is also called true, vestibular or vertigo.
2. Non-systemic – to a greater extent associated not with the sensation itself, but with accompanying manifestations. Other names of the group are false, non-vestibular.

Non-systemic dizziness is further subdivided into 3 types:

1. Pre-syncope is a condition associated with a feeling of impending loss of consciousness.
2. Impaired balance – a person’s gait becomes unsteady, he shakes from side to side while walking.
3. Persistent – accompanied by disorientation, mild nausea, anxiety and a feeling of lightness or “wool” in the head.

The second classification is based on the duration of the condition:

1. Temporary – observed for no more than 1 month.
2. Chronic – episodes recur for more than 1 month.

Another approach relies on the sensations accompanying dizziness and distinguishes 3 forms:

1. Proprioceptive – it seems to a person that his body is moving in space, and he cannot stand still.
2. Tactile – it seems that the floor or other support under your feet is moving, swaying.
3. Visual – a person feels as if objects and the surrounding space are moving around him.

Possible complications

If the cause of a pathological condition is not identified in a timely manner, the treatment is missing or incorrectly carried out, the condition may be complicated by:

1. Depression or anxiety disorders.
2. Hearing impairment, up to complete loss, or the occurrence of persistent and difficult to treat tinnitus.
3. Loss of the ability to move independently.
4. Injuries resulting from falls or collisions in violation of balance and orientation in space.

Separately, a non-specific complication is distinguished that may occur in the absence of therapy – an accident while driving any vehicle or while working with heavy machinery. This threatens both serious injury and death for the patient.

Symptoms and when to see a doctor

Systemic vertigo develops acutely and may be indicated by the following symptoms when an attack occurs:

1. Sensation of body movement in space, despite the fact that in reality the person is static.
2. Sensation of movement, oscillating or uneven ground under feet or arms, sometimes like rocking on waves.
3. False sensation of movement or rotation of objects.
4. Nausea of ​​varying severity and vomiting.
5. Hearing loss or tinnitus.
6. Falling when trying to walk or inability to get up.
7. Headaches.
8. Feeling of weakness in the limbs on one side may be accompanied by numbness.
9. Double vision or nystagmus (uncontrollable fluctuations of the eyeballs).

Symptoms in the non-systemic form include:

• feeling of imminent fainting;
• sudden pallor of the skin;
• impaired concentration;
• lack of stability when standing;
• hesitation while walking;
• unsteady gait;
• feeling of “lightness” in the head.

In addition, each dizziness can be supplemented by fear, increased sweat production, flies before the eyes, a feeling of oxygen deficiency.

Any symptoms, as well as their combinations, are grounds for visiting a doctor, especially if they occur frequently.

Diagnostic measures

If a person is worried about systematic dizziness, the primary question is which doctor to go to. A neurologist can identify the causes of the problem and choose the subsequent treatment. Diagnosis starts with questioning the patient, collecting his complaints and anamnesis, as well as clarifying the frequency of occurrence and duration of symptoms. Then the doctor conducts an examination, assesses the reflexes and the person’s ability to move, and conducts positional tests. After that, he selects laboratory and instrumental examination methods, which may include:

1. Complete blood count, extended coagulogram.
2. ECG, echocardiography, blood pressure monitoring.
3. Stabilography.
4. Audiometry.
5. Ultrasound examination of the arteries of the neck and head.
6. Computed and magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography.
7. Electroencephalography.

Additionally, patient diagnostics may include consultations with related specialists: otolaryngologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist.

Therapeutic approach

Treatment is considered in terms of helping with an attack, introducing lifestyle changes, medications, and physiotherapy.

Relief of an attack

To stop dizziness, it is necessary to immediately provide a person with conditions of rest. Further treatment involves the use of medications that level the attack and associated symptoms. These may be:

• antiemetics;
• tranquilizers;
• vestibular suppressants.

It is important that the medicines used are prescribed by a doctor.

Lifestyle management

The treatment of a person who suffers from recurrent or frequent dizziness involves lifestyle changes, as the patient must be mindful of the spontaneity of the symptom. To protect yourself, a person should:

• avoid sudden movements;
• get out of bed or chair slowly;
• clean the floor of the house as much as possible from carpets and electrical cords, so as not to catch on them, and lay an anti-slip mat in the bath;
• minimize driving and use of heavy technical equipment;
• use good lighting at home;
• if there is insufficiently constant gait instability, use a cane;
• when the first signs of an approaching attack appear, sit or lie down;
• Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco from the diet as they exacerbate and increase symptoms.

Drug aspect

Drug therapy involves combating the symptoms that accompany dizziness, and the specialist may prescribe:

• nootropics;
• histamine mimetics;
• angioprotectors;
• antiemetics;
• antidepressants;
• glucocorticosteroids and other drugs.

Physical rehabilitation

Vestibular exercises are used during physiotherapeutic procedures. A set of exercises is selected individually, and the result of the exercises is the restoration of the usual daily activities and performance. Along with this, therapeutic maneuvers are carried out, and a stabilometric platform can be used.

In addition, if dizziness is accompanied by anxiety or mental instability, treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy.

Prevention options

To minimize the risk of dizziness, follow these guidelines:

1. Maintain a healthy diet.
2. Avoid tobacco and alcohol products.
3. Maintain a balance in the cycle of sleep and wakefulness.
4. Avoid physical or mental overload and stress as much as possible.
5. Reduce caffeine and salt intake.
6. Stabilize weight and maintain it within normal limits.
7. Exercise systematically.
8. Get regular scheduled medical check-ups.
9. Promptly treat hypertension, diabetes and other conditions.

What are the advantages of treatment at the clinic “Miracle Doctor”

Our clinic has a number of advantages that distinguish it from other institutions: strive to create comfortable conditions for each patient throughout all episodes of visiting the clinic.

Modern equipment – branches are equipped with expert level technical equipment.

Professional diagnosis of the causes of dizziness and subsequent treatment is the goal of the specialists in our clinic. And to make an appointment with a doctor, it is enough to leave a contact number for feedback, call the clinic’s hotline on your own or fill out an appointment form immediately on the website.

Answers to frequently asked questions

What causes dizziness and ringing in the ears in the morning?

Similar symptoms are sometimes observed in healthy individuals as a result of overwork after a hard day’s work or severe stress. But often these are signs of neurological disorders and serious pathological processes. Therefore, simply using any medicine is not an option. If symptoms occur regularly, you should consult a doctor to find out the causes of the problem, get timely treatment and avoid complications.

Why do vertigo require a diagnosis of the cervical region?

The emphasis on the cervical spine is associated with the blood supply system of the vestibular apparatus. This process involves the vertebral arteries passing through the canals of the cervical region. Therefore, spasms or squeezing of these channels disrupt the blood flow and cause a person to feel dizzy.

What to do with frequent dizziness?

The person needs to sit down and concentrate on measured deep breathing. It is also advisable to drink sweet tea or juice, in some cases, at the time of the attack, it is recommended to eat a couple of pieces of chocolate. This will help you calm down and give your body time to return to normal.

But frequent dizziness is a symptom of a pathological process, and such actions will only help for a while. To determine the cause of what is happening, to get rid of the symptom and the disease that caused it, you need to visit a doctor.

Author

Alyautdinova Irina Anisimovna

cardiologist, therapist

Candidate of Medical Sciences

Experience 17 years

+7 (495) 032-15-21

causes, symptoms and effective treatment

Head spinning: what to do?

Who is not familiar with dizziness? Everyone has had it at least once. But it’s one thing when it happens only once, by accident, and another when dizziness becomes a constant companion. In this case, we are talking about a systematic malaise, which must be disposed of as soon as possible!

In a healthy person, dizziness should not be in principle. It can manifest itself with strong nervous excitement, with colds or viral diseases, such as influenza, and only in the normal state, the symptoms of dizziness indicate the presence of any pathology.

Life with dizziness is not only not very pleasant, but also dangerous, especially if it is accompanied by fainting, which happens very often. If you feel dizzy while driving, in a locked room or when taking a shower, the consequences can be very serious.

That is why you should not postpone a visit to neurologist , but immediately make an appointment with the slightest ailment. The doctor will definitely listen to you and prescribe quality treatment.

Dizziness: what are its symptoms and causes?

When the head is spinning, everything around the person seems to be “driving” somewhere. This is due to incorrect processing of information received from sensors: data on position in space are transmitted in a distorted form, the brain processes them, obtaining a completely different picture than in reality. Thus, each new movement of a person changes the picture that the brain “sees” even more, and it is absolutely “lost”. That is why, in case of dizziness, it is recommended to sit down or even lie down: relax, take a calm position of the body, without making sudden movements.

Thus, the appearance of symptoms of dizziness indicates a mismatch between the three types of data entering the brain: visual, tactile and vestibular. And there can be many reasons for dizziness.

For example, it often appears with vegetovascular dystonia. In this case, dizziness manifests itself with sudden movements “suddenly stood up, darkened in the eyes” – the patients themselves speak of such cases. Also, the head can be spinning with internal inflammatory processes in the ear – with otitis media. In this case, it is accompanied by pain in the ears, noise, ringing. Severe dizziness can signal the pathology of brain tissue and even cancer. Also, the causes may be circulatory disorders in the neck and parts of the brain, often developing into a constant headache. Migraine sufferers know this firsthand: after all, there is a migraine without a headache, the symptoms of which are only weakness, nausea and dizziness. That is why this type of migraine is also called headless migraine.

In addition, there is a symptom of agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces and heights. In these cases, a person feels dizzy on the upper floors of high-rise buildings, in crowded places. In advanced cases, such people experience dizziness and headache when they need to leave the house.

With dizziness, there may be symptoms of nausea, disorientation in space, pain in the neck. The latter often occurs in those people who spend a lot of time in a sitting position and lead a sedentary lifestyle – with sudden head movements, dizziness and a sharp contraction of the neck muscles can occur. This is very painful – if you do not take action, nausea, dizziness will only become stronger.

Weakness and dizziness must be distinguished: it is not uncommon for patients to refer to vertigo as an imbalance when walking, when they cannot walk straight without staggering from side to side. Likewise, it is not dizziness to feel nauseated and about to faint, when a person becomes so ill that he is ready to pass out. These types of symptoms are not related to dizziness, so when interviewing a doctor, you need to clearly distinguish between your conditions and describe them correctly.

Types of dizziness

The head can be spinning in different ways and for various reasons, so there are such main types of dizziness as:

Psychogenic stress. The most common type of dizziness. Like other diseases, it is associated with nervous exhaustion, emotional experiences, which ultimately lead to the appearance of severe dizziness. There is also dizziness of a psychosomatic nature, which is often associated with depressive depersonalization, hysteria or panic attacks.

Permanent dizziness caused by functional disorders of the brain

If severe dizziness is caused by a pathology of the brain tissue, surgery or therapeutic treatment may be required. They can occur as a result of injuries of the skull, neck, spine. A sharp dizziness that arose on a seemingly level ground often indicates damage to the cerebellum and vestibular systems: autonomic nuclei located in the cerebral hemispheres. In these cases, the doctor prescribes special medications for dizziness, the effectiveness of which has been tested by time. However, remember: in no case do not prescribe drugs for dizziness yourself!

Dizziness due to vascular disease

In case of vascular diseases or their dysfunction, for example, VVD, a similar picture can be observed – from sudden movements it darkens in the eyes, there is a pulsation in the temples, high temperature is difficult to tolerate. Atmospheric pressure and other factors can also affect well-being.

Dizziness associated with ear pathology

With inflammatory processes in the inner ear, dizziness and a feeling of congestion may occur, the sound sounds as if deaf, not clear. In this case, it is worth checking with a ENT specialist and an audiologist, who will prescribe drops for the ears and nose.

Vertigo associated with visual function

It can occur in perfectly healthy people who have undergone unusual stimulation of the optic nerves. Dizziness in such cases is most often accompanied by nausea, vomiting is possible. In this state, you should not make sudden movements, drive or engage in activities that require increased attention – this is dangerous!

If you do not know your own illness, the best treatment is non-intervention – unless, of course, you forget about the doctors. Unfortunately, many people, even suffering from frequent severe dizziness, do not want to see a doctor, believing that they can do nothing to help. Of course, this fundamentally erroneous opinion did not arise from scratch – all the blame lies with the medical system of our country, where there are such queues in hospitals that the head will only spin even more from them. And some therapists, seeing that the patient is worried about “just” dizziness, send him home. Therefore, you need to contact specialists – those who professionally provide assistance and conduct a complete diagnosis of the body.

You can not buy dizziness pills without knowing the source of the disease – they will not be able to create a permanent positive effect. Even knowing the true cause of dizziness – which happens very rarely – it can be very difficult to achieve a positive effect, due to the lack of special equipment and medical equipment. Leave the treatment to the professionals who have been professionally treating their patients for vertigo for many years.

The problem of dizziness is taken up by neuropathologists, neurologists, as well as an ENT doctor, or an otolaryngologist. Be sure to pass tests of the vestibular apparatus, showing the reaction of the brain to rotation and the speed of processing visual, vestibular and tactile data. Also, a specialist in the vestibular apparatus should undergo posturography, and a caloric test.

To find out the causes of dizziness, you will need such studies as: tone audiometry and tympanometry, which determine the threshold frequency of perceived sounds and intra-ear pressure and resistance to external pressure.

A specialist in the vessels of the brain and neck performs EEG, REG, as well as magnetic resonance therapy. All these methods have been identified to search for the causes of dizziness and must be carried out in a complete manner in order for the diagnosis to be made correctly.

Self-treatment of dizziness, of course, is not recommended. However, if you are suddenly caught by an attack of dizziness, do not worry: excessive anxiety only exacerbates the symptoms. Take it easy. If possible, take a horizontal position, breathe deeply with your eyes closed. It is best, of course, to immediately consult a doctor – and in no case should you prescribe an anamnesis for yourself. Trust me, a professional doctor knows best.

Clinic “Energo” is one of the leading clinics in the city of St. Petersburg, offering the most modern treatment for dizziness, headaches and other disorders of the body. To identify the causes of diseases, there is professional advanced European and Japanese equipment, known throughout the world for its high quality and accuracy. Of course, the doctors of the clinic have all the necessary skills and appropriate specifications to work with them: you have nothing to worry about, because we only have experts in our staff.