Dizziness and nausea are common sensations, often experienced together. While sometimes mild and temporary, they can also be persistent or signal conditions requiring medical attention. Understanding their various causes can help identify underlying factors and guide next steps.
Everyday and Lifestyle Factors
Dehydration, or insufficient fluid intake, commonly causes dizziness and nausea. When the body lacks water, blood volume decreases, leading to a drop in blood pressure. This reduces blood flow to the brain, causing lightheadedness, and can contribute to nausea. Regular fluid consumption supports stable blood pressure and overall bodily function.
Hypoglycemia, a sudden drop in blood glucose, often causes lightheadedness and an upset stomach. This can result from skipping meals, certain diets, or diabetes management. Low blood sugar deprives the brain of energy, leading to dizziness, shakiness, and fatigue. Regular, balanced meals help maintain steady blood glucose levels and prevent these symptoms.
Motion sickness causes dizziness and nausea due to conflicting sensory inputs. The inner ear, eyes, and body send mixed signals to the brain about movement. For example, in a car, your eyes might see a stationary interior while your inner ear detects motion, leading to confusion, spinning sensations, and stomach upset. This sensory mismatch can occur in various vehicles.
Heightened stress, anxiety, or panic can trigger physiological responses leading to dizziness and nausea. The body releases adrenaline, and breathing patterns may change, potentially causing hyperventilation. These responses alter blood flow and oxygen levels, contributing to unsteadiness and gastrointestinal discomfort. Managing stress and anxiety can help alleviate these physical sensations.
Extreme tiredness or lack of sleep can contribute to dizziness and nausea. When fatigued, the body’s systems may not function optimally, impacting stability and well-being. This can result in unsteadiness and a feeling of sickness. Prioritizing adequate rest supports the body’s equilibrium and proper function.
Inner Ear and Balance System Issues
Issues within the inner ear, home to the vestibular system, frequently cause dizziness and nausea. This system sends signals to the brain about head and body movements, maintaining balance. When these signals are disrupted, spinning sensations or unsteadiness can occur, often triggering nausea.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) causes brief, intense spinning sensations (vertigo), often triggered by specific head movements. It occurs when tiny calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) dislodge from their normal inner ear position and move into the semicircular canals. These displaced crystals send false signals to the brain, leading to sudden dizziness and nausea, especially when turning in bed or looking up.
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder causing episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and ear pressure. It is thought to result from fluid buildup in the labyrinth, the inner ear part responsible for balance and hearing. This fluid accumulation disrupts normal inner ear signaling, leading to recurrent, often severe, bouts of dizziness and nausea.
Inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) or vestibular nerve (vestibular neuritis) can cause sudden, severe vertigo and nausea. These conditions are typically viral. Labyrinthitis affects balance and hearing, while vestibular neuritis primarily impacts balance. The inflammation disrupts balance information transmission to the brain, causing persistent, intense spinning sensations and often vomiting.
Acoustic neuroma, a rare, non-cancerous growth on the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain, can cause balance issues and dizziness. This slow-growing tumor presses on nerves for hearing and balance. Its presence can interfere with vestibular system signals, potentially leading to persistent unsteadiness and occasional nausea.
Medication and Systemic Health Factors
Certain medications can induce dizziness and nausea as side effects. Common culprits include some antibiotics, pain relievers, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants. These drugs can interfere with neurological signals, alter blood pressure, or impact the digestive system, leading to unsteadiness and sickness. Consult a healthcare professional if these symptoms emerge after starting new medication.
Blood pressure fluctuations, especially orthostatic hypotension, frequently cause dizziness upon standing quickly. This happens when blood pressure suddenly drops as a person moves from sitting or lying to standing. The temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain can cause lightheadedness or faintness. Nausea can sometimes accompany this due to the body’s systemic response.
Food-related issues can also contribute to dizziness and nausea. Food poisoning, caused by bacterial or viral contamination, often leads to significant gastrointestinal distress, including severe nausea and vomiting. Dizziness may accompany these symptoms, particularly due to dehydration from fluid loss.
Food allergies or sensitivities can also cause dizziness and nausea in some individuals. While often linked to skin or respiratory issues, certain food triggers can cause systemic responses affecting the digestive system and overall equilibrium. Identifying and avoiding specific food allergens or sensitivities can help prevent these reactions.
Anemia, characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin, can lead to dizziness and sometimes nausea. Red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the body, including to the brain. Impaired oxygen delivery can result in fatigue, weakness, and lightheadedness, contributing to nausea.
Other Underlying Conditions
Migraine headaches often present with dizziness and nausea, even without a typical headache. This is especially true for vestibular migraines, where dizziness, vertigo, and balance disturbances are prominent. Neurological changes during a migraine can disrupt the brain’s balance processing, leading to unsteadiness or spinning.
Pregnancy is a well-known cause of nausea, often called “morning sickness,” which can occur any time of day. Hormonal changes, particularly increases in hCG and estrogen, contribute to this. Dizziness can also occur due to hormonal shifts, changes in blood volume, or lower blood sugar levels. These symptoms are most common in early pregnancy.
Heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion or heatstroke, can cause dizziness and nausea. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures or strenuous activity in heat can overheat the body, disrupting its regulatory systems. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances often accompany these conditions, contributing to unsteadiness and sickness. Early recognition of symptoms is important to prevent severe complications.
Various infections, beyond stomach bugs, can cause systemic symptoms like dizziness and nausea. Conditions such as the flu or other widespread viral or bacterial infections can induce malaise, body aches, and fever. The body’s immune response, along with potential dehydration from fever, can contribute to lightheadedness and an upset stomach. These symptoms often subside as the infection resolves.
In rare instances, dizziness and nausea can indicate more serious underlying conditions, such as neurological problems or cardiovascular events. These may include issues affecting blood flow to the brain or central nervous system disorders. While less common, persistent or severe symptoms, especially with other concerning signs, warrant immediate medical consultation to determine the cause.