Dizziness

Dizziness includes feeling:

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

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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 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 symptoms : When standing or sitting up suddenly
Possible causes : Sudden drop in blood pressure (postural hypotension)

Dizziness symptoms : Feeling off-balance, losing some hearing, ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus)
Possible causes : Inner-ear problems

Dizziness symptoms : Feeling off-balance or like things are spinning, feeling or being sick, sometimes after a cold or flu
Possible causes : Labyrinthitis

Dizziness symptoms : After starting new prescription medicine
Possible causes : Side effect of medicine

Symptoms of dizziness include problems with balance, feeling lightheaded and feeling like everything is spinning.

Things that can help if you feel dizzy include lying down until it stops, drinking plenty of water and trying not to bend over or move suddenly.

Common causes of dizziness include a problem inside your ear (such as an ear infection), a migraine, dehydration, anxiety and some medicines.