Dizziness: sorting out the common causes
Spinning, faintness or unsteadiness are different problems
Dr. Antoine Mercier
Neurologist
In simple terms
What you feel tells the doctor a lot about where the problem is.
Describe the sensation precisely
Vertigo is a false sense of movement, usually spinning. Presyncope is feeling about to faint. Disequilibrium is unsteadiness while walking. Each points to a different set of causes.
The most common cause of true vertigo
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, where tiny crystals move into the wrong part of the inner ear. Attacks last under a minute and are triggered by turning in bed or looking up. A repositioning manoeuvre performed by a trained clinician cures most cases in one or two sessions.
Other frequent causes
- Vestibular neuritis: severe vertigo lasting days after a viral illness
- Meniere's disease: vertigo with hearing loss and ringing in one ear
- Low blood pressure on standing, often from medication or dehydration
- Anaemia, low blood sugar, anxiety with hyperventilation
Warning signs
Vertigo with double vision, slurred speech, facial or limb weakness, severe headache, or an inability to walk at all can indicate a stroke in the back of the brain and needs emergency assessment.
The words explained
Medical terms used above, in everyday language.
- Blood pressure
- The force of blood pushing against your artery walls. Too high, over years, damages the heart and vessels.
- Blood sugar
- The amount of sugar circulating in your blood, your body's main fuel.
- Anxiety
- Ongoing worry or fear that is strong enough to affect daily life.
When should you see a doctor?
- Your symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back.
- They get worse quickly, or stop you doing everyday things.
- You notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding — seek urgent care.
- You already take medication and want to change anything about it.
This article explains general health information. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Dizziness: sorting out the common causes?
- What you feel tells the doctor a lot about where the problem is.
- What are the main symptoms or signs of Dizziness: sorting out the common causes?
- Common signs vary from person to person. The article above lists the symptoms to watch for, how they progress, and when they need medical attention.
- When should you see a doctor for Dizziness: sorting out the common causes?
- See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks, get worse quickly, stop you doing everyday things, or if you notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding.
Related health topics
Ear, Nose & Throat
BPPV: brief violent vertigo when you turn in bed
Why the spinning lasts under a minute, and how a simple manoeuvre cures most cases in one visit.
Conditions
Orthostatic hypotension: dizzy when you stand up
Why standing makes you light-headed, which medicines cause it, and simple measures that work.
Healthy Aging
Preventing Falls After 65
The main risk factors at home and in the body, plus a simple balance routine and a room-by-room safety check.