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February 8, 2012
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Dizziness

Medical Author:
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Dizziness Causes & Orthostatic Hypotension

Why Do I Get Dizzy Sometimes When I Stand Up?

When standing quickly, it may take a second or two for the body to make adjustments to constrict blood vessels and push blood up to the brain. If there is a delay, then this time of relative low blood pressure may cause symptoms. It can be exacerbated or seen more often in women who are pregnant, people with diabetes, those who become dehydrated, or are taking high blood pressure medications.

Symptoms include of dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) include:

  • lightheadedness,
  • confusion,
  • nausea, and
  • fainting or passing out.

There may also be weakness, blurred vision, and shaking or tremulousness.

These symptoms may resolve quickly as the body slowly adjusts to the standing position, but in some cases the person has to sit or lie down quickly to prevent passing out or falling.

Read more about the causes of dizziness »

References: eMedicineHealth. Low Blood Pressure.
<http://www.emedicinehealth.com/low_blood_pressure/article_em.htm>

MedicineNet.com. Orthostatic Hypotension.
<http://www.medicinenet.com/orthostatic_hypotension/article.htm>

Dizziness Overview

Dizziness is a common description for many different feelings. The feeling of dizziness, or a "dizzy spell," may be very familiar to an individual, yet difficult to describe.

Vertigo is a medical term to describe the feeling of spinning, whirling, or motion either of yourself or your surroundings. This is the same feeling you might have after getting off a merry-go-round or spinning in place. Several diseases of the balance organs of the inner ear can cause vertigo, or it may be a symptom of a tumor or stroke.

  • Dizziness may be just mildly annoying or caused by something possibly life-threatening.

  • Reasons a person might feel dizzy include

    • fainting or near fainting such as "at the sight of blood" or with emotional upset,

    • fainting or near fainting from standing up too quickly or standing still too long,

    • weakness experienced when a person has the flu, a cold, or other illness,

    • seasickness or motion sickness,

    • queasiness, nausea, or vomiting

    • confusion,

    • fatigue, tiredness, or daytime sleepiness, and/or

    • clumsy hands or stumbling when walking
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Viewer Comments & Reviews

Dizziness - Causes

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What caused your dizziness?

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Dizziness - Describe Your Diagnosis

The eMedicineHealth physician editors asked:

Please describe your diagnosis of your dizziness.

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Dizziness

Headache (Mild) »

Mild Headache Overview

Headaches are common but usually do not represent a serious illness. Even when headaches do not have a serious cause, they may be quite painful and disrupt your daily activities.

There are many different causes of headache. The pain in different types of headache varies in intensity, location, and duration. Another important feature that helps distinguish among different types of headache is the quality of the pain: whether it is sharp, dull, constant, intermittent, or pounding. Additional symptoms may accompany a headache:

  • Dizziness

  • Numbness or weakness

  • Changes in vision

  • Difficulty with balance

  • Eye, ear, or facial pain

  • Cold symptoms

  • Fever

All these factors help determine whether or not a headache needs emergency treatment. Ultimately, the caus...

Read the Headache (Mild) article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Dizziness, Vertigo, and Imbalance »

Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common symptoms causing patients to visit a physician (as common as back pain and headaches).

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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