Being sick can make you dizzy, a common side effect of many infections and illnesses. The term “dizziness” describes two distinct sensations. Lightheadedness is a feeling of faintness or unsteadiness, often described as feeling like you might pass out, without a sensation of movement. Vertigo, conversely, is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, tilting, or whirling, even when you are perfectly still. Dizziness often arises from systemic responses that affect the entire body, as the body’s fight against illness involves physiological changes that temporarily disrupt the delicate balance systems.
Systemic Mechanisms That Cause Dizziness
One frequent cause of dizziness during illness is dehydration, common with fevers, vomiting, or diarrhea. When the body loses more fluid than it takes in, the total blood volume decreases. This drop in volume leads to a reduction in blood pressure and less oxygen-rich blood reaching the brain, resulting in lightheadedness.
This low blood volume often causes orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when quickly changing position, such as standing up. The circulatory system cannot respond fast enough to pump blood upward, causing a momentary feeling of faintness or unsteadiness. Additionally, the loss of fluid is often accompanied by a loss of electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, which are necessary for proper nerve and muscle function.
Fever itself contributes to dizziness through vasodilation, where blood vessels widen to help the body dissipate heat. This widening lowers overall blood pressure and can further reduce blood flow to the brain, especially during movement. The body’s generalized inflammatory response also releases signaling molecules called cytokines that affect the central nervous system. These inflammatory mediators contribute to the overall malaise, fatigue, and grogginess often described as generalized dizziness or “brain fog” when ill.
Specific Illnesses Known to Affect Balance
Dizziness can result from a direct, localized attack by an infection on the body’s balance system. Conditions like Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis are typically caused by viral infections that inflame the structures of the inner ear. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, uses fluid-filled canals and nerves to send signals about motion and spatial orientation to the brain.
In vestibular neuritis, inflammation targets the vestibular nerve, causing severe, sudden vertigo without hearing loss. Labyrinthitis is more extensive, affecting both the nerve and the labyrinth, which includes the hearing organ, leading to vertigo accompanied by hearing loss or tinnitus. In both cases, the inflamed nerve sends incorrect signals to the brain, creating a mismatch with what the eyes and muscles are sensing, resulting in the intense spinning sensation of true vertigo.
Upper respiratory and sinus infections can cause dizziness due to pressure changes, even without directly infecting the inner ear. Severe congestion and inflammation in the sinus cavities can block the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. This blockage prevents the middle ear from equalizing pressure, leading to a feeling of fullness, muffled hearing, and disequilibrium.
Gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu, also frequently causes dizziness. The rapid fluid and electrolyte loss from persistent vomiting and diarrhea quickly leads to significant dehydration. This loss reduces blood volume, causing pronounced lightheadedness and weakness. The accompanying low blood sugar from reduced food intake during the illness can further exacerbate these feelings of unsteadiness and faintness.
Immediate Steps for Relief and When to Seek Medical Attention
For immediate relief from illness-related dizziness, several simple actions can help manage symptoms. When you feel lightheaded, immediately sit or lie down to prevent a fall and allow blood flow to stabilize. When moving from a lying or sitting position, do so slowly and deliberately to give your circulatory system time to adjust, mitigating orthostatic hypotension.
Maintaining fluid intake is important, especially with illnesses that cause fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. While water is helpful, using oral rehydration solutions or electrolyte drinks helps replenish lost salts and minerals. If you are experiencing vertigo, minimizing sensory input by resting in a dark, quiet room and avoiding screens can help reduce the severity of the spinning sensation.
While most illness-related dizziness is harmless and temporary, certain symptoms signal a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical care if dizziness is accompanied by a sudden, severe headache or chest pain. Other warning signs include new neurological symptoms like slurred speech, double vision, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty walking, persistent vomiting, or any loss of consciousness.