Stress and dizziness: what to know

Dizziness may mean lightheadedness, feeling faint, imbalance or a spinning sensation. During stress, rapid breathing can lower carbon dioxide in the blood and produce tingling or lightheadedness; poor sleep, missed meals and dehydration can add to it. The symptom may also accompany [Anaemia](/conditions/anaemia/), [Iron Deficiency Anaemia](/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/), [Atrial Fibrillation](/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/), low blood sugar or an inner-ear balance problem. The description, timing and triggers help a clinician sort these possibilities.

Sit or lie down until you feel steady, then rise slowly. Avoid driving, ladders and machinery while dizzy. Take calm, regular breaths rather than repeated deep breaths, and consider whether you have eaten, drunk enough fluids or become overheated. Record the sensation, position, activity, medicines and associated symptoms. Do not self-treat recurring episodes with supplements or glucose products unless a clinician has advised you. Arrange assessment if episodes continue or affect daily activities.

Seek urgent help for dizziness with chest pain, fainting, severe breathlessness, a new irregular heartbeat, weakness on one side, facial drooping, trouble speaking, severe headache or inability to walk. Prompt assessment is also sensible after significant fluid loss, heat exposure or suspected low blood sugar. These symptoms should not be attributed to stress without checking for a physical cause. [Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo](/conditions/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo/) is another possibility when head movement brings on spinning.

Do I mean lightheadedness, imbalance or vertigo? Could my medicines, blood count, heart rhythm, hydration or blood sugar be involved? What should I do if an episode returns?