Dizziness

What is dizziness?

Dizziness is the sensation of feeling off balance or lightheaded. You may feel as though you or your surroundings are spinning or moving (called vertigo). The sensation may make you feel as though you need to sit down before you fall.

Most people experience dizziness at some point due to various factors, and it is rarely a sign of a serious health issue. However, it can also be a sign of an underlying health concern.

When is it an emergency?

If you experience sudden dizziness, you may require urgent medical care. If the sudden dizziness persists, keeps coming back, or occurs with the following symptoms, you should receive immediate medical attention:

• An unusual or severe headache
• Nausea
• High fever
• Any changes in vision, such as blurring
• Numbness in the limbs or face
• Hearing loss
• Other changes in hearing, such as a ringing in the ears
• Falls and other difficulties walking
• Difficulty speaking
• Chest pain

Causes

If you have problems with blood flow to the brain, you may feel dizzy. Conditions that may cause this include an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), low blood pressure (Hypotension), narrowed arteries (atherosclerosis), heart failure, or cardiomyopathy.

Explore our interactive symptom finder to discover whether other symptoms you may be experiencing are a sign of a heart condition.

Prevention

Ensuring you are well-hydrated and not leaving too long a gap between meals can help prevent dizziness caused by dehydration or low blood sugar.

Generally, dizziness can be unpredictable, so there isn’t a straightforward way to prevent it from happening.

However, if you suspect that a heart issue may cause your symptoms, we can help investigate and pinpoint the cause of your concerns.