When should you see a doctor about dizziness?

Dizziness can mean spinning, lightheadedness, imbalance, or feeling close to fainting. Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion may cause lightheadedness, while low blood sugar can occur with Hypoglycaemia. A drop in blood pressure after standing can occur with Postural Hypotension. Spinning with hearing symptoms may occur with Labyrinthitis or Meniere's Disease; migraine can also cause dizziness, sometimes without a strong headache.

Sit or lie down until the sensation passes, rise slowly, and drink fluids if you can do so safely. Avoid driving, heights, and machinery while symptoms continue. Note what you were doing, your position, food and fluid intake, medicines, hearing changes, headache, palpitations, and how long the episode lasted. A clinician may check blood pressure, balance, ears, blood sugar, and blood tests such as those used to assess Iron Deficiency Anaemia.

Seek emergency care for dizziness with one-sided weakness or numbness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, sudden severe headache, chest pain, fainting, or inability to walk safely. Get urgent help after a head injury, or when repeated vomiting prevents fluids. Dizziness with heat exposure and confusion, or with severe weakness, also needs prompt attention.

Ask whether the pattern suggests an inner-ear, blood-pressure, blood-sugar, migraine, medicine-related, or blood-count problem. Ask what measurements or tests are appropriate and what to do if the sensation returns.