Things to help with dizziness

Dizziness may mean lightheadedness, feeling faint, loss of balance, or spinning. Heat, dehydration, missed meals, anxiety, anaemia, or a change in position can contribute. Spinning brought on by turning in bed or looking up can occur with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A clinician may ask when it started, what triggers it, and whether you have palpitations, hearing changes, headache, or weakness.

Stop the activity and steady yourself against a safe surface. Rise from bed in stages, avoid driving while dizzy, and keep your head movements gentle. Sip water or an oral rehydration drink when fluid loss, heat, vomiting, or diarrhoea may be involved. If you have diabetes, follow your personal plan for suspected low blood sugar. Keep a note of episodes, medicines, food and drink, and possible triggers; this can help distinguish causes such as dehydration, anaemia, or an inner-ear problem.

Call emergency services for dizziness with facial drooping, one-sided weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, severe chest pain, fainting, a sudden severe headache, or serious breathing difficulty. Seek prompt medical advice if dizziness keeps returning, begins after a new medicine, follows a head injury, or comes with persistent vomiting, an irregular heartbeat, hearing loss, or difficulty walking. Arrange a routine assessment if it does not settle or affects daily activities.

Could my symptoms fit dehydration, anaemia, a heart-rhythm problem, anxiety, or positional vertigo? Which checks might clarify the cause? Should I change any medicine, activity, or fluid routine while this is being assessed?