It's common to sometimes feel dizzy, lightheaded or off-balance, and it's not usually serious. See a GP if you're worried.
Check if you have dizziness
Dizziness includes feeling:
- off-balance
- giddy
- lightheaded or faint
- like you're spinning or things around you are spinning (vertigo)
How you can treat dizziness yourself
Dizziness usually goes away on its own. But there are things you can do to take care of yourself while you're feeling dizzy.
Do
lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly
move slowly and carefully
get plenty of rest
drink plenty of fluids, especially water
avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
Don’t
do not bend down suddenly
do not get up suddenly after sitting or lying down
do not do anything that could be dangerous while you're dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder or using heavy machinery
do not lie totally flat if you feel like things are spinning
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- you're worried about your dizziness or vertigo
- it will not go away or it keeps coming back
- you're finding it harder to hear
- there's ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus)
- you have double vision, blurred vision or other changes in your eyesight
- your face, arms or legs feel numb
- you have other symptoms like fainting, headaches, feeling or being sick
Causes of dizziness
If you have other symptoms, this might give you an idea of the cause. Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.
Dizziness often goes away after you're treated for something else. For example:
- an ear infection
- migraine
- dehydration or heat exhaustion
- stress or anxiety
- low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) because of diabetes
- iron deficiency anaemia
- motion sickness
Possible causes of dizziness when you're not ill.Dizziness symptomsPossible causesWhen standing or sitting up suddenlySudden drop in blood pressure (postural hypotension)Feeling off-balance, losing some hearing, ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus)Inner-ear problemsFeeling off-balance or like things are spinning, feeling or being sick, sometimes after a cold or fluLabyrinthitisAfter starting new prescription medicineSide effect of medicineWith symptoms like hearing loss, double vision, blurred vision, numb face, arms or legsDecreased blood flow to the brain, possibly from clogged arteries (atherosclerosis)
Dizziness is a term that describes a range of feelings, such as feeling unsteady, woozy, weak or faint. It is something that most people may experience from time to time. It is rarely the sign of a serious problem. There are ways to relieve dizziness.
What are the symptoms of dizziness?
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. You might also feel like you’re going to faint.
If you feel like the world is spinning or moving, this is called vertigo.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the dizziness and lightheadedness Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes dizziness?
Dizziness is common in adults, but it is rarely the sign of a serious condition. Dizziness has many possible causes, including:
Some medicines (check the patient information leaflet) and alcohol can also make you feel dizzy.
Causes of feeling faint
Feeling faint is common and happens when blood flow to the brain is reduced. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as:
- changes in blood pressure due to posture
- dehydration
- anaemia
- some medicines
- high levels of pain
- exposure to sights you find unpleasant, such as the sight of blood
- high levels of anxiety
- standing up for long periods of time
- coughing, sneezing or laughing
- straining on the toilet
- heat exposure
When should I see my doctor?
You should seek medical attention if you feel dizzy and also have:
- pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in the chest, shoulders, neck, arms, jaw, or back
- nausea, cold sweat, shortness of breath
- numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg
- trouble talking, understanding or swallowing
- vision changes in one or both eyes
- confusion or becoming unconscious
See your GP if you have an unexplained fall, or you are worried by your dizziness, or if your dizziness is sudden, severe, or prolonged or keeps happening.
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How is dizziness diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you, and ask you about your symptoms and medications. You may also need a hearing test and balance tests, blood tests and other tests to check heart and blood vessel health.
How is dizziness treated?
Dizziness often gets better without treatment. If you need treatment, it will depend on what is causing your dizziness.
Even if a cause can’t be found, there are effective ways to treat dizziness, including medications and balance exercises.