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Dizziness, Nonvertigo

(Nonvertigo Dizziness)

by Rebecca J. Stahl, MA

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition

Dizziness may cause you to feel light-headed or weak. You may feel like you are going to faint. Dizziness can happen for a short period of time or be a long-lasting condition that gets in the way of your daily activities.

Causes

A common cause of dizziness is vertigo. Vertigo makes you feel like the room is spinning or rotating while you are still.

Many conditions can cause dizziness such as:

Orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure when standing
Neurological conditions
Conditions that affect how the heart pumps blood to the body
Anxiety disorders
Alcohol or illicit drug use
Infection or fever
Head injury
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar
Anemia

Prescription medications can also cause dizziness. These may include:

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Calcium channel blockers
Nitrates
Antipsychotics
Tricyclic antidepressants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Blood Flow to the Brain

In some cases, dizziness may be due to decreased blood flow to the brain.

Risk Factors

Dizziness is a symptom that may be caused by another condition. There are no risk factors for dizziness.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the type of dizziness you have. Common symptoms include:

Lightheadedness
Imbalance
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Vision or hearing problems
Heart palpitations

Call your doctor if you:

Are having episodes of dizziness, especially if they are happening more often or are worse in intensity
Have signs of an infection such as fever or chills
Are concerned that your medication may be causing dizziness
Experience hearing loss

Call for medical help or go to the emergency room right away if you have:

A head injury
Rapid, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain
High fever

Look for and know the signs of stroke. These may include:

Face drooping—one side of the face is numb or drooping
Arm weakness—one arm is numb, weak, or drifts downward when trying to raise it up
Speech difficulty—includes slurring, inability to speak, or inability to repeat a simple sentence
Leg numbness or weakness
Confusion or difficulty understanding
Difficulty walking
Loss of balance
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Your doctor may recommend the following to find the cause of your dizziness:

Blood tests
Blood pressure tests
Hearing and vision tests
Tilt table test
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
CT scan
MRI scan

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the dizziness. If your dizziness is caused by a condition, the treatment may help reduce symptoms. Examples include:

Cause	Treatment
Orthostatic hypotension	Medication, lifestyle and dietary changes
Motion sickness	Medication, lifestyle and lifestyle changes
Anxiety disorder or other mental health condition	Therapy and medication
Infection	Antibiotic or antiviral medication
Dizziness due to medication that you are taking	Changes to your medication
Imbalance	Physical therapy to build strength and balance

To avoid injuries, make these lifestyle changes:

If you are feeling dizzy, sit down right away. Also, avoid activities that could cause harm, like driving, using machinery, or climbing a ladder.
Remove items in your home that could cause you to lose your balance such as throw rugs and loose electrical cords.
Place slip-resistant mats in your shower and on your bathroom floor.
Place night lights in hallways and in the bathroom.
Use a cane if you feel that you need extra support.

Prevention

Try these tips to prevent dizziness:

Avoid sudden movements.
Avoid bending down or extending your neck.
Avoid smoking, drinking excess amounts of alcohol, and using illicit drugs.
Maintain proper treatment for long-term conditions.
Get treatment when you have an infection.
Talk to your doctor right away if you have side effects from your medications.

American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor

http://www.familydoctor.org

Vestibular Disorders Association

http://www.vestibular.org

Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society

http://www.balanceanddizziness.org

Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated January 14, 2013. Accessed April 25, 2013.

Dizziness and motion sickness. American Academy of Otolaryngology website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/dizzinessMotionSickness.cfm. Updated December 2010. Accessed April 25, 2013.

Dizziness-differential diagnosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated December 16, 2011. Accessed April 25, 2013.

Stroke warning signs and symptoms. American Stroke Association website. Available at: http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp. Accessed April 25, 2013.

Last reviewed April 2013 by Rimas Lukas, MD; Brian Randall, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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