Vertigo and feeling sick

The inner ear, eyes, and brain work together to sense movement. During vertigo, these signals may disagree, producing nausea, sweating, pallor, or a need to vomit. Symptoms can be triggered by turning the head, rolling in bed, standing, or looking at moving patterns.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo commonly causes short attacks after particular head movements. Meniere's Disease can cause spinning with ear pressure, ringing, or hearing changes. Migraine may cause vertigo and nausea with or without a headache. A Middle Ear Infection may cause dizziness alongside ear symptoms. These conditions are possible explanations, not conclusions from sickness alone. See [Vertigo](/symptoms/vertigo/) for background.

Stop what you are doing and sit or lie on your side in a safe place. Keep your head still, focus on a fixed point when tolerated, and take small sips of water or oral rehydration fluid. Avoid alcohol and do not drive, cycle, or use machinery while spinning or sedating medicines are affecting you.

If episodes repeat, note what happened immediately beforehand, whether movement triggered them, how long they lasted, and whether there was headache, hearing change, or ear pressure. A clinician can use this history and an examination to guide treatment. The [Epley Manoeuvre](/treatments/minor-procedures/epley-manoeuvre/) may help selected positional cases.

Get urgent help if vomiting accompanies new weakness, trouble speaking, severe unsteadiness, fainting, a sudden severe headache, new double vision, chest pain, or difficulty staying awake. Emergency assessment is also appropriate when you cannot keep fluids down or are passing very little urine.

Arrange medical review for a first episode, repeated attacks, new hearing loss, severe ear pain, fever, or symptoms that continue beyond the expected episode. Dehydration can develop even when the original trigger is an inner-ear problem.

Ask what features point to positional vertigo, migraine, or an ear disorder. Ask whether you need a hearing test, balance assessment, or medicine for nausea, and what warning signs should send you to urgent care. Mention pregnancy, long-term conditions, and every medicine or supplement you take.