Dizziness

Dizziness is a general term describing sensations such as feeling faint, lightheaded, unsteady, or as if the room is spinning (vertigo). It may be temporary and harmless or a symptom of an underlying condition involving the inner ear, cardiovascular system, or nervous system.

• Inner ear problems: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease.
• Circulatory issues: Low blood pressure, dehydration, anemia, heart rhythm problems.
• Neurological causes: Migraine, stroke, multiple sclerosis.
• Other contributors: Medications (blood pressure drugs, sedatives), anxiety disorders, hypoglycemia.
• Risk factors: Older age, history of head injuries, cardiovascular disease, medication side effects.

Call a doctor if dizziness is recurrent, severe, or associated with fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, difficulty speaking, or weakness. These may signal stroke, heart problems, or other emergencies. Sudden, prolonged vertigo should also be evaluated promptly.