Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

The causes of dizziness are as varied as the ways it makes people feel. It can result from something as simple as motion sickness — the queasy feeling that you get on twisting roads and roller coasters. Or it could be due to various other treatable health conditions or medicine side effects. Very rarely, dizziness may stem from infection, injury or conditions that reduce blood flow to the brain. Sometimes healthcare professionals can't find a cause.

In general, dizziness that happens without any other symptoms is not likely to be a symptom of a stroke.

Inner ear problems

Dizziness often is caused by conditions that affect the balance organ in the inner ear. Inner ear conditions also can cause vertigo, the sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. Examples of such conditions include:

  1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  2. Migraine
  3. Meniere's disease
  4. Balance problems

Reduced blood flow

Dizziness can be caused if your brain doesn't receive enough blood. This can happen for reasons such as:

  1. Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis
  2. Anemia
  3. Overheating or not being well hydrated
  4. Hypoglycemia
  5. Heart arrhythmia
  6. Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)
  7. Stroke
  8. Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Certain medicines

Some types of medicines cause dizziness as a side effect, including some types of:

  1. Antidepressants
  2. Anti-seizure medicines
  3. Medicines to control high blood pressure
  4. Sedatives
  5. Tranquilizers

Other causes of dizziness

  1. Carbon monoxide poisoning
  2. Concussion
  3. Depression (major depressive disorder)
  4. Generalized anxiety disorder
  5. Motion sickness: First aid
  6. Panic attacks and panic disorder

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Sept. 26, 2024

See also

  1. Acoustic neuroma
  2. Agoraphobia
  3. Anaphylaxis
  4. Anaphylaxis: First aid
  5. Anemia
  6. Angina
  7. Anorexia nervosa
  8. Aplastic anemia
  9. Aspirin allergy
  10. Autonomic neuropathy
  11. Bee sting
  12. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  13. Blood tests for heart disease
  14. Brain tumor
  15. Brain tumor FAQs
  16. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
  17. Calcium supplements: A risk factor for heart attack?
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  19. Carbon monoxide poisoning
  20. Cardiac ablation: treatment for ventricular tachycardia
  21. Cardiac MRI animation
  22. Cardiomyopathy
  23. Carotid artery disease
  24. Chelation therapy for heart disease: Does it work?
  25. Chest pain
  26. Chiari malformation
  27. Concussion
  28. Concussion in children
  29. Concussion Recovery
  30. Concussion Telemedicine
  31. Congenital heart disease in adults
  32. Coronary artery spasm: Cause for concern?
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  54. Genetics and Cardiomyopathy
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  57. Healthy Heart for Life!
  58. Heart attack
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  64. Heart disease prevention
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  113. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
  114. Sudden cardiac arrest
  115. Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed
  116. Sulfa allergy
  117. Takayasu's arteritis
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  119. Traumatic brain injury
  120. Types of diabetic neuropathy
  121. Ventricular tachycardia
  122. Vertigo
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