Dizziness: common causes, home care and when to get checked
Most dizziness comes from common, treatable causes such as standing up too fast, dehydration, a viral illness or an inner ear problem, and it passes. Sit or lie down right away so you don't fall. Get checked if dizziness is new for you, keeps coming back, or started after a new medicine.
Dizziness usually means one of two things: lightheadedness, like you might faint, or vertigo, a feeling that you or the room is spinning.
MedlinePlus says the most common type of vertigo is BPPV, which is set off by head movements such as rolling over in bed.
Standing up slowly and drinking enough fluids prevent many lightheaded spells.
MedlinePlus advises no driving, climbing or heavy machinery until one week after vertigo stops.
About 15 percent of American adults had a balance or dizziness problem in 2008, according to the NIDCD.
What kind of dizzy are you?
People use the word dizzy for different feelings. Naming yours helps you and your clinician find the cause faster.
Lightheaded: you feel faint, woozy or like you might pass out. This is often linked to blood pressure, fluids or blood sugar.
Vertigo: you feel that you, or the world around you, is spinning or moving. This usually points to the inner ear.
Off balance: you feel unsteady on your feet, as if you might tip over, without spinning.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) explains that balance depends on your inner ear, your eyes and the nerves in your muscles and joints working together. A problem in any of these can make you feel dizzy.
Common causes of dizziness
Most causes are not dangerous. This table, based on MedlinePlus and NIDCD, matches common causes with the clues that point to them.
Common causes of dizziness and their clues
Cause
What it feels like
Clues
Standing up too fast
Lightheaded for a few seconds
Happens right after you sit up or stand
Dehydration
Lightheaded, tired, thirsty
Vomiting, diarrhea, fever or a hot day; dark urine
Low blood sugar
Lightheaded, shaky, sweaty
Skipped meal, or diabetes medicine
Cold, flu or allergies
Lightheaded, stuffy
Other illness symptoms at the same time
Medicines
Lightheaded
Started after a new or changed medicine, such as blood pressure pills
BPPV
Short spinning spells lasting seconds to minutes
Set off by rolling over, looking up or bending down
Your first goal is to avoid a fall. These steps follow MedlinePlus guidance.
Sit or lie down right awayDon't try to walk it off. Lie down if you feel faint.
Drink and eatIf you have been sick, sweating or skipping meals, sip water or an electrolyte drink and have a small snack.
Stay still during vertigoKeep your head still and avoid sudden moves. Bright lights, screens and reading can make it worse.
Get up slowlySit on the edge of the bed for a moment before you stand, and hold onto something steady.
Move carefully afterwardIncrease activity a little at a time. Use a cane if your balance is off.
Skip risky tasksDon't drive, climb ladders or use heavy machinery until one week after vertigo stops.
How long to wait
Lightheadedness from standing up too fast passes in seconds. BPPV spells last seconds to minutes, though they can come back with the same head movements. If dizziness keeps coming back, doesn't settle with rest and fluids, or is new for you, get it checked rather than waiting it out.
When to visit urgent care for dizziness
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MedlinePlus advises contacting a provider for first-time dizziness, dizziness that is new or getting worse, dizziness after starting a medicine, or dizziness with hearing loss.
Usually fine to watch at home
Brief lightheadedness when you stand that passes quickly
Dizziness with a mild cold that improves with rest
Feeling woozy after a skipped meal that clears once you eat
Come in to urgent care
First-time dizziness you can't explain
Spells that keep coming back
Dizziness after starting or changing a medicine
Spinning set off by moving your head
Dizziness with ringing or hearing loss in one ear
Dizziness with vomiting or diarrhea and signs of dehydration
Dizziness that makes you worried about falling
Walk in or book a visit online. If dizziness comes on suddenly with any warning sign listed at the bottom of this page, call 911 instead of driving.
What happens at our Westmont, IL clinic
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Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, evaluates dizziness for adults and children at two Westmont, IL clinics, open 7 days a week. Our team is led by board-certified physicians.
Questions. What the dizziness feels like, when it started, what sets it off, how long it lasts, recent illness and every medicine you take.
Exam. Your clinician checks your blood pressure and heart rate, ears, eyes, balance and nerves.
Heart check. An EKG can look at your heart rate and rhythm when that may be part of the cause.
Lab tests.Lab testing, such as a blood count or blood sugar, can look for problems like anemia or low sugar.
A plan. Your clinician may recommend medicine for nausea or spinning when appropriate, tell you what to avoid, and refer you to a specialist if needed.
Bring a list of your medicines, including over-the-counter ones. You can read more about our general urgent care visits.
Dizziness in older adults and children
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Older adults
The NIDCD notes that the risk of balance problems rises with age. Dizziness also raises the risk of falls, and a fall can mean a broken wrist or hip. Blood pressure pills, water pills and sleep aids are common culprits. Older adults also get dehydrated more easily, especially with a stomach bug. Our guide to vomiting and diarrhea covers fluid tips.
Sit on the edge of the bed before you stand up in the morning.
Use night lights and clear the path to the bathroom.
Ask a clinician or pharmacist to review your medicines if dizziness started after a change.
Children and teens
In kids, dizziness often comes with a viral illness, not drinking enough, a skipped meal or standing still for a long time. Have your child sit or lie down, offer fluids and a snack, and watch them. Bring them in if spells keep coming back.
How to prevent dizzy spells
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Drink fluids through the day, more on hot, humid Illinois summer days or when you are sick.
Eat regular meals, especially if you take diabetes medicine.
Stand up slowly, especially after lying down or sitting for a long time.
Limit alcohol, which can affect both fluids and balance.
If you have BPPV, avoid the head positions that set it off, as MedlinePlus advises.
Check your carbon monoxide detector batteries each spring and fall. The CDC lists dizziness and headache among the first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Worry when dizziness is sudden and comes with weakness, numbness, face drooping, slurred speech, trouble seeing, chest pain or fainting. Those need 911. For dizziness that is new, keeps coming back, or started after a new medicine, see a clinician soon. Brief lightheadedness when you stand up is common and usually harmless.
Why do I get dizzy when I stand up?
When you stand up, blood briefly pools in your legs and your blood pressure can dip for a moment. MedlinePlus lists standing up too quickly, dehydration and medicines that lower blood pressure as common causes. Get up slowly, sit for a moment first, and drink enough fluids. Get checked if it happens often.
What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?
Dizziness is a broad word, and vertigo is one type of it. Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room is spinning, and it usually comes from the inner ear. Lightheadedness is the feeling that you might faint, and it is more often linked to blood pressure, fluids or blood sugar.
Can dehydration cause dizziness?
Yes. MedlinePlus lists dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea or fever as a common cause of lightheadedness, and dizziness when you stand up is a common sign of being low on fluids. Sip water or an electrolyte drink, rest, and stand up slowly. Get checked if you can't keep fluids down or feel worse.
Should I go to urgent care for vertigo?
Yes, if vertigo is new for you, keeps coming back, or comes with hearing changes in one ear. A clinician can check your ears, eyes and balance, look for causes such as BPPV or an inner ear problem, and recommend treatment. Vertigo with weakness, slurred speech or trouble walking needs 911.
What helps dizziness go away?
Sit or lie down, keep your head still, and drink some water if you might be dehydrated. Eating a small snack helps if you skipped a meal. For BPPV, a clinician can teach repositioning moves, such as the Epley maneuver, that MedlinePlus describes as the main treatment. Avoid driving until it passes.
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