Shaking, dizziness and light-headedness

Light-headedness can feel like you may faint, while dizziness may feel like movement or spinning. Shaking may accompany either sensation when the body is under strain. Episodes can follow missed meals, standing quickly, heat, illness, or emotional stress.

Other possibilities include hypoglycaemia, an overactive thyroid, alcohol withdrawal, or generalised anxiety disorder. A symptom pattern cannot identify the cause alone. Timing, food and drink, medicines, sleep, alcohol use, heartbeat changes, and other symptoms help a clinician narrow it down.

Sit or lie down promptly, preferably somewhere cool and safe. Avoid driving, climbing, or crossing roads while symptoms continue. Sip water when you can swallow normally, and if you have diabetes follow your personal low-blood-sugar plan. Keep a record of triggers, duration, position, meals, and associated symptoms.

Arrange a medical appointment if episodes recur, interfere with daily activities, or occur without an obvious trigger. Do not stop prescribed medicine or suddenly change alcohol intake without clinical advice.

Seek emergency help for fainting, chest pain, severe breathlessness, a new severe headache, one-sided weakness, trouble speaking, confusion, a seizure, or a very fast or irregular heartbeat. Get prompt care if symptoms follow a head injury or do not settle while resting.

Ask which checks may explain the combination, whether blood sugar or thyroid testing is appropriate, and how to manage a future episode. Describe exactly what dizziness feels like and whether standing, eating, stress, or alcohol changes it.