changes in blood pressure due to posture.This can be caused by a number of factors, such as: Causes of feeling faintįeeling faint is common and happens when blood flow to the brain is reduced. Some medicines (check the patient information leaflet) and alcohol can also make you feel dizzy. problems with the blood flow to the brain.a fall in blood pressure when you stand up.problems or conditions that affects the ears such as Meniere’s disease and labyrinthitis.Dizziness has many possible causes, including: What causes dizziness?ĭizziness is common in adults, but it is rarely the sign of a serious condition.
If you feel like the world is spinning or moving, this is called vertigo.ĬHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS - Use the dizziness and lightheadedness Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. You might also feel like you’re going to faint. If you are feeling dizzy, or experiencing a ‘dizzy spell’, you will usually feel light-headed, unsteady or unbalanced and you may also feel weak. It is rarely the sign of a serious problem. It is something that most people may experience from time to time. Related information on Australian websitesĭizziness is a term that describes a range of feelings, such as feeling unsteady, woozy, weak or faint.You don’t need a referral, though your doctor may be able to help you find one. The physio will work on balancing exercises. “If you’re finding it difficult to get answers, the best thing to do is see a vestibular physiotherapist,” suggests Sharpe. “For example, BPPV responds favourably to the Epley manoeuvre, whereas there’s no cure for Meniere’s disease, it needs to be managed long-term by an ENT,” says Professor Dr Margie Sharpe, director of the Dizziness & Balance Disorders Centre. Medications, dietary changes or other exercises may be part of a treatment plan. They can also refer you to specialists like a neurologist, ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist or physiotherapist.ĭizziness often improves by itself, but if you need treatment, it’ll depend on the underlying cause and your symptoms. If necessary, they can organise a neurological examination, blood tests or brain imaging. If dizziness is prolonged, recurrent, severe or comes with symptoms like ringing ears, headaches or vomiting, see your GP. You may find you’re more prone to dizziness as you get older – this could be down to a medical condition or a side effect of medication.
“BPPV is probably the most common cause of dizziness that we see, although hypotension is also fairly common,” says Dr Verma. There are many possible causes, including dehydration, hypotension (low blood pressure), anaemia, anxiety, pregnancy, heart problems (such as cardiac arrhythmias), head injury and neurological disorders like migraine.ĭisorders of the inner ear, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s disease and vestibular neuritis account for about half of all cases of persistent dizziness, reports Better Health Victoria. Causes can include head injury or inner ear problems (see below). This activates nerve cells that tell the brain your head’s moving, when it’s not. We do know that with vertigo tiny calcium carbonate crystals within the inner ear move out of position. “Our central balance comes from multiple parts of the body the eyes, inner ear, muscles and skeletal system, so any number of things that affect those systems can cause dizziness,” explains Dr Abhi Verma, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners spokesperson and GP. What’s going on in my body when I feel dizzy?