How Can I Stop Feeling Dizzy?

Dizziness is a feeling or sensation of:

• Being unsteady
• Unbalanced
• Spinning
• Altered sense of motion
• Fainting or falling
• Disoriented
• Heaviness

Dizziness is often referred to different sensations associated with balance:

• Lightheadedness: A feeling of fainting or falling that improves by lying down, and if it worsens, it can lead to a fainting spell called syncope.
• Vertigo: A feeling of movement, either themselves or the surroundings around, often associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, and visual disturbances.

Dizziness is a common experience and could be a sign of multiple diseases such as:

• Circulatory problems:
  • Orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure due to rapidly sitting or standing up from lying position). It may be caused due to medications or autonomic dysfunction.
  • Transient ischemic attack (disruption of blood supply to the brain or poor blood circulation)
  • Vasovagal syncope
• Ear infections:
  • Viral or bacterial ear infections
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (spinning sensation caused by movement of the head or a change in position)
  • Meniere’s syndrome (inner ear infection characterized by dizziness, ringing in the ear, nausea, and vomiting)
  • Vestibular neuritis 
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Cholesteatoma
  • Acoustic neuroma
• Cardiovascular system:
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Hypotension
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Heart attack
• Brain diseases:
  • Migraine
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Stroke
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Tumors
• Endocrine diseases:
  • Diabetes
  • Hypoglycemia 
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Addison’s disease
• Other causes:
  • Anxiety disorders and panic attacks (worsens due to hyperventilation)
  • Fever
  • Stress
  • Motion sickness
  • Extremely hot weather
  • Dehydration (volume loss causes drop in blood pressure and compromised blood supply to the brain)
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Alcohol addiction
  • Head injuries
  • Medications such as antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, tranquilizers, and sedatives
  • Vision defects
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (characterized by increased heart rate, dizziness, fatigue, and palpitations)

Although dizziness is not a disease, it is a sign of other medical issues; in a few cases, it can lead to severe injury due to falls.

The odds of having bouts of dizziness are increased in the following conditions:

• As the age increases, the risk for feeling dizzy is higher
• A possible side effect of medications taken for other health issues
• Previous history of having dizzy spells

After analyzing the history and a thorough physical examination (neurological examination), an audiologist will perform a vestibular and balance assessment to determine the exact cause of dizziness. 

• Blood tests:
  • Complete blood count
  • Blood sugar
  • Electrolytes
  • Thyroid function test
• X-rays: Cervical spine X-rays
• Autonomic function tests: Heart rate variability and blood pressure measurements in sitting and standing position
• Imaging tests: Computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging

Seek medical attention if dizziness is severe, constant, lasting longer, or worsening and if you have additional symptoms such as:

• Unexplained fainting episodes
• Tinnitus or hearing loss
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Severe headache
• High-grade fever
• Abnormal pulse rate
• Stiff neck
• Other neurological problems such as facial or leg weakness and facial drooping
• Difficulty in talking or slurred speech
• Double or blurred vision
• Difficulty in swallowing

Dizziness can be a temporary symptom and get better without any treatment or can be treated with lifestyle modifications, therapies, and medications (antianxiety and anticholinergic drugs).