Dizziness and nausea are common sensations that can feel unsettling. Dizziness can manifest as lightheadedness, a feeling of unsteadiness, or a spinning sensation called vertigo. Nausea is an uneasy feeling in the stomach, often preceding vomiting. While these symptoms can be alarming, they frequently stem from factors that are not serious.
Everyday Reasons for Dizziness and Nausea
Common experiences can lead to dizziness and nausea. Insufficient fluid intake, known as dehydration, can reduce blood volume and lower blood pressure, which may result in lightheadedness and an upset stomach. Similarly, low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur from skipping meals or certain dietary patterns, depriving the brain of energy, causing weakness, dizziness, and nausea.
Motion sickness is another frequent cause, arising from conflicting signals between the eyes, inner ear, and body regarding movement. For example, reading in a moving car can lead to a disorienting sensation that triggers dizziness and nausea. Stress, anxiety, or panic attacks can also manifest physically. These events may trigger a rapid heart rate and changes in breathing, contributing to feelings of dizziness and an unsettled stomach.
Mild viral infections, like the common cold or flu, often present with dizziness and nausea. The body’s immune response to the infection can lead to these widespread symptoms. Orthostatic hypotension is a temporary drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly. This sudden change can momentarily reduce blood flow to the brain, causing lightheadedness and brief unsteadiness.
Medical Conditions Causing Dizziness and Nausea
Various medical conditions can cause persistent or severe dizziness and nausea. Inner ear disorders often disrupt the body’s balance system, leading to dizziness and vertigo. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) involves tiny calcium crystals dislodging in the inner ear, causing brief, intense spinning sensations with head movements. Meniere’s disease, characterized by fluid buildup in the inner ear, leads to episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and pressure, often with severe nausea.
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are conditions where inflammation of the inner ear or vestibular nerve causes sudden, severe vertigo, unsteadiness, and nausea. These inflammations often follow a viral infection and can impair balance. Migraine headaches are not always about head pain; some forms, like vestibular migraine, can cause recurrent dizziness, vertigo, and nausea, even without a prominent headache. Sensory sensitivities to light or sound often accompany these episodes.
Certain medications can induce dizziness and nausea as side effects. Blood pressure drugs, sedatives, antidepressants, and some over-the-counter pain relievers can disrupt the body’s equilibrium or digestive system. Cardiovascular issues, such as irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) or other heart conditions, can affect blood flow to the brain. Reduced or erratic blood supply can lead to lightheadedness, dizziness, and sometimes nausea.
Less common neurological conditions also require urgent attention. A stroke, for instance, can cause sudden dizziness, balance problems, and nausea due to disrupted blood flow to parts of the brain. Concussions from head injuries can also lead to persistent dizziness, nausea, and cognitive changes. Other systemic illnesses, such as anemia or thyroid disorders, can also contribute to these symptoms.
When to Consult a Doctor
Recognize when dizziness and nausea signal a need for medical attention. Seek immediate care if symptoms appear suddenly and are severe. Any dizziness or nausea with concerning symptoms warrants prompt evaluation.
These accompanying signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, a severe headache, confusion, or slurred speech. Weakness on one side of the body, changes in vision, or loss of consciousness are also important indicators. If dizziness or nausea develops after a head injury, medical assessment is necessary. Persistent, worsening, or symptoms that significantly interfere with daily activities also warrant a doctor’s consultation. Symptoms with a high fever, stiff neck, or severe, uncontrollable vomiting also require professional medical advice.
What to Expect at the Doctor’s Office
When visiting a doctor for dizziness and nausea, the diagnostic process typically begins with a detailed medical history. The doctor will ask about the onset, duration, and nature of your symptoms, as well as any discomforts or current medications. This comprehensive discussion helps to narrow down potential causes.
Following the history, a physical examination is performed. This usually includes checking vital signs, assessing neurological function, and examining your ears and eyes. Depending on initial findings, the doctor may order further tests, such as blood tests for underlying conditions or imaging scans to evaluate brain structures. The treatment plan is then determined based on the identified underlying cause.