What to do about dizzy spells

If you often feel faint or unsteady, know when to see a doctor.

Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo. Frequent dizzy spells or constant dizziness can significantly affect your life. But dizziness rarely signals a life-threatening condition.

Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms. It's usually effective, but the problem may recur.

Symptoms

People experiencing dizziness may describe it as any of a number of sensations, such as:

• A false sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• Unsteadiness or a loss of balance
• A feeling of floating, wooziness or heavy-headedness

These feelings may be triggered or worsened by walking, standing up or moving your head. Your dizziness may be accompanied by nausea or be so sudden or severe that you need to sit or lie down. The episode may last seconds or days and may recur.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of getting dizzy include:

• Age. Older adults are more likely to have medical conditions that cause dizziness, especially a sense of imbalance. They're also more likely to take medications that can cause dizziness.
• A past episode of dizziness. If you've experienced dizziness before, you're more likely to get dizzy in the future.

When to see a doctor

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo.

Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing or double vision.

Adapted from Mayo Clinic

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