Dizziness: Types, Causes, Symptoms, When to Call a Doctor & Treatment

Fact Checked

Dizziness refers to spatial perception and stability Dizzinessimpairment. Dizziness can pertain to a wide variety of symptoms, thus it can refer to any one of its four types, which will be further discussed later. And because dizziness can pertain to many things, causes can also vary greatly from person to person. Almost everyone has experienced dizziness at some point in their lives. It is one of the commonest symptoms that lead to visits to the doctors. Most causes of dizziness do not call for alarm and are usually easily treated or can even disappear on their own.

Types of Dizziness

                Because dizziness is imprecise and pertains to a range of symptoms, there are four types of dizziness, which can help a physician narrow down the possible causes of problems.

  • Lightheadedness
    • Also called presyncope
    • Fainting feeling
    • Vertigo
      • When one feels that their surroundings is spinning when it is not
      • Disequilibrium
        • Feeling unsteady on the feet or feeling of falling
        • Non-specific
          • Psychiatric in origin

Causes of Dizziness

Causes will also vary on the type of dizziness, some of the causes associated with the particular types of dizziness include:

  • Lightheadedness
    • Allergies
    • Standing up too fast
    • Breathing deeply a number of times
    • Vertigo
      • Inner ear problems
      • After riding a Merry-Go-Round orpinning one’s self around
      • Disequilibrium
        • Walking problems or other disorders involving the cerebellum
        • Non-specific
          • Stress
          • Anxiety
          • Others
            • Viral illness affecting the ears
            • Migraine
            • Dehydration
            • High blood pressure or low blood pressure
            • Hypoglycemia
            • Decreased blood flow in the back of the brain
            • Carbon monoxide poisoning
            • Irregular heart rhythm
            • Particular medications

Symptoms Accompanied by Dizziness

Certain symptoms can be associated with dizziness. If these symptoms are observed with dizziness, home treatment may be given.

  • Weakness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Blurred vision
  • Palpitations
  • Feelings of panic or anxiety

When to Call a Doctor Regarding Dizziness

If any of the following are observed with dizziness, it may be time to call for emergency medical services:

  • Prolonged dizziness
  • Head injury
  • Double vision
  • Seizures
  • Angina
  • Persistent palpitations
  • Severe vomiting or dehydration
  • Severe bleeding
  • Shortness of breath
  • Change in speech or vision
  • Difficulty to move limbs or walking

Treatment for Dizziness

Dizziness is not a disease on its own but is usually a symptom for many different conditions or disease. Temporary dizziness can be treated at home. Some of these treatments include:

  • Advise the person to sit down or lay down in a comfortable position. Allow the person to rest as long as needed.
  • Avoid sudden movements and changes in position.
  • Avoid bright lights.
  • If the person is thirsty, assist the person in drinking fluids.

Dizziness can be given home remedies however, always be aware of when it may be time to seek medical attention. Register in First Aid Training to learn to how to treat different symptoms, such as dizziness.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The information posted on this page is for educational purposes only.
If you need medical advice or help with a diagnosis contact a medical professional

  • All cprhcp.ca content is reviewed by a medical professional and / sourced to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

  • We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable websites, academic research institutions and medical articles.

  • If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact us through our contact us page.