Dizziness Causes

Dizziness may be attributed broadly to a number of things. Sometimes, doctors find no specific cause, but dangerous causes always need to be excluded, for example:

• High blood pressure, usually extremely high, causing damage to the brain
  
  
• Low blood pressure, which can have multiple causes ranging from diseases of the heart to bleeding disorders that cause anemia to adverse reactions to medications
  
  
• Heart causes
  
  
  • Heart attack, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythms), heart rate too fast, heart rate too slow
    
    
  • Weakened, aged, or diseased heart muscle, toxins or drugs affecting the rate or force of the heart
  
  
• Brain causes
  
  
  • Stroke, tumor, headaches, migraines, hyperventilation
    
    
  • Fainting (syncope) - A loss of blood supply to the brain causing loss of consciousness, typically after loss of blood output by your heart
    
    
  • Many things may trigger the infamous "common faint" - emotions, rapidly assuming an upright position, even urination
    
    
  • Dementia or senility - Any illness causing confusion or altered state of mind, such as medications, drugs, or alcohol
  
  
• Medications (Almost all medications list dizziness as a possible side effect.)
  
  
  • Blood pressure medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, pain relievers, some antibiotics
    
    
  • Diuretics, causing dehydration, blood electrolyte changes, heart effects, or direct side effects
  
  
• Metabolic disorders
  
  
  • Hypoxia, low blood oxygen
    
    
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) including an insulin reaction
    
    
  • Dehydration, from many causes
  
  
• Aging
  
  
  • Reduced capacity for exercise or activity
    
    
  • Reduced ability for the blood circulation to compensate for quickly assuming an upright position
    
    
  • Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) causing decreased blood supply to the brain, heart, and other organs
    
    
  • Weakness, deconditioning
    
    
  • Neuropathy, a progressive dysfunction of the nerves from many illnesses, especially diabetes
  
  
• Other illness
  
  
  • Internal bleeding or hemorrhage, which may go unnoticed
    
    
  • Anemia, or low red blood cell count
    
    
  • Prolonged bed rest, causing weakness, loss of ability to compensate for assuming an upright position
    
    
  • Infections
    
    
  • Endocrine diseases - Hormone-producing organs such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland affect hydration, salt balance, and function of other organs
  
  
• Psychiatric reasons
  
  
  • Depression, anxiety, or panic disorder
    
    
  • Hyperventilation - Breathing too fast or too deeply, usually from anxiety (This may not be apparent to the patient or to observers. Associated hand and foot cramping increase anxiety and perpetuate a cycle.)
    
    
  • Somatization - The conversion of a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, into physical symptoms. (Often, the patient may be unaware of the underlying mental illness and insist that they have only physical complaints.)