How to Know when Dizziness Is a Serious Symptom

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: August 22, 2022 References

Some people experience dizziness as feeling lightheaded or faint, getting the spins, losing balance, or having tunnel vision. Dizziness occurs for many reasons. Usually, it’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes, however, getting dizzy can be a sign that something more serious is going on.^{[1]
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Research source} If you get occasional dizziness without any other symptoms, don’t worry. Learn to recognize signs that you should discuss your dizziness with your doctor, or seek medical help right away.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Recognizing When You’re Having a Health Emergency

1
Call emergency services if you’re dizzy and have chest pain. Chest pain by itself should be a red flag that something may be wrong with your heart, but take it even more seriously when it occurs with dizziness. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness or lightheadedness are some of the most common symptoms of a heart attack – caused when your heart isn’t getting enough blood to your brain. If this occurs, call for help immediately.^{[2]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- You might also experience an irregular heart rate, which may or may not cause chest pain. Get help if you’re dizzy and your heart is beating out of sync.
2
Get emergency help if dizziness is accompanied by weakness or slurred speech. It’s normal to feel a little off-balance or fatigued when you’re dizzy, but if you experience a quick onset of weakness – especially on only one side of your body – this could signal that you’re having a stroke. Pay attention to whether your speech is more difficult or if your face is drooping on one side. Call for help as quickly as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- Other symptoms of a stroke include your face, arms, or legs feeling numb and difficulty walking.
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3
Notice if your dizziness occurs with a severe headache. Even if you get minor headaches regularly, pay attention if you feel dizziness and have a new headache, a severely painful headache, or a headache that differs from what you usually experience. If this occurs, have someone drive you to the emergency department or call for emergency services.^{[4]
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National Health Service (UK)
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4
Call for emergency help if you pass out. Take a trip to the emergency department if you lose consciousness, or if you lose your immediate memory.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source} Sometimes people pass out because they’re dehydrated or anxious, but it can also indicate a serious problem that warrants immediate attention.
5
Seek immediate care if you hit your head. If you become so dizzy that you fall – even if you do not lose consciousness – go to the hospital if you hit your head. Head injuries can be very serious, and symptoms of damage may not occur until later. You need to be tested for a concussion and, possibly, for bleeding inside or around your skull.
6
Don’t ignore a high fever or stiff neck. Meningitis can be a serious and potentially deadly cause of dizziness. It often occurs with a high fever of 102°F (39°C) and up and/or a stiff neck.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source} Nausea, vomiting, confusion, a skin rash, or seizures may also occur. Get help right away to begin treating the infection.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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7
Go to the hospital if you are continuously vomiting. Vomiting and dizziness may go hand-in-hand.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} These may be symptoms of vertigo, Meniere’s disease, meningitis, or other illnesses. Persistent vomiting can make you dehydrated quickly – which is both dangerous, and will exacerbate your dizziness. Seek medical care if you’re vomiting regularly for longer than a day.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Discussing Your Dizziness with Your Doctor

1
Get help if your dizziness keeps coming back. It’s normal for a person to sometimes feel dizzy on a hot day or if they stand up too quickly, but if your dizziness is recurring it means something is going on with your body that should get checked. You may be dehydrated, have low blood pressure, low blood sugar, or be experiencing another easily-treatable cause of dizziness. You may also be experiencing an early symptom of something more serious. Don’t ignore recurring dizziness.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Get checked out if your dizziness doesn’t go away after you have water and sit down for a while. “Normal” dizziness should be short-lived and resolve on its own.
2
Get your heart checked if you often feel dizzy when you stand up. Some people just have low blood pressure naturally, and the drop in blood pressure going from sitting to standing can cause momentary dizziness. Dehydration can cause this, too, so notice if drinking extra water helps. Sometimes, however, low blood pressure occurs because your heart isn’t pumping blood to your body effectively – due to an arrhythmic heartbeat, a weak heart muscle, or diseased blood vessels. Have a physical exam and possibly other tests to rule out problems that could cause a heart attack or stroke.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- If you consistently have low blood pressure (under 100 on top and/or 60 on the bottom) and always have, don’t worry – some people are just made that way.
3
See a neurologist if you feel like the room is spinning. Unlike many other causes of dizziness that make you feel like you are spinning, vertigo causes the sensation that the room around you is moving, tilting, or spinning. Dizziness from vertigo may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or trouble standing and walking.^{[11]
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Research source} Vertigo can be caused by serious or non-threatening issues, usually due to dysfunction in your inner ear. See a neurologist to rule out a serious cause and to get treatment quickly. Your regular doctor can refer you to a neurologist.
4
See a doctor if you experience a change in your hearing or vision. Some viruses that affect your inner ear can cause abrupt dizziness. Vestibular labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis usually resolve on their own, but you should be examined and diagnosed by a doctor – they may want to prescribe anti-viral medications or provide you with other medicines to relieve your symptoms.^{[12]
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Research source} Vision changes and weakness could also indicate a neurological disorder like Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis, which should be treated early.^{[13]
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Research source}
5
Talk to your doctor if you experience dizziness over the age of 65. Older people are more at risk for dizziness, and are more likely to experience dizziness as a symptom of a serious disorder like a stroke, neurological disease, or heart condition. Be wary of dizziness if you're over 65, especially if it is recurring or associated with imbalance.^{[14]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Dizziness in the elderly increases the risk of falls, and should be treated to prevent complications of falling.
6
Be aware that there are many potential causes of dizziness. Your doctor may need to take a detailed history and do a physical exam to evaluate the cause of dizziness. Some of the types of dizziness and their potential causes may include:
- Sudden onset of dizziness can be caused by low blood sugar and metabolic disturbances such as hypoxia, hypocarbia, and hypercarbia.
- Chronic dizziness might be related to Meniere’s disease, cerebral insufficiency, cardiovascular or neurologic illness such as multiple sclerosis, blood loss and severe anemia.
- Lightheadedness may be related to anxiety, depression and other psychiatric problems. Panic attacks frequently are accompanied by feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness. Medications for these conditions, such as tranquilizers and antidepressants, can also contribute to dizziness.