Coping With...Feeling Dizzy

Dizziness is a common symptom that usually settles on its own and is rarely serious, says Dr Gill Jenkins

- Dr Gill Jenkins

The sensation of dizziness may be hard to describe to others but can include feeling giddy, off-balance or spinning around, light-headed or faint with associated nausea or ringing in the ears.

Many different problems cause dizziness, the most common being viral ear infections, but also anxiety, dehydration, low blood sugar and during motion sickness. Other infections, anaemia, migraine or certain medications may be responsible. Much less commonly, decreased blood flow to the brain such as with hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) or brain diseases and tumours might be found to be the cause.

Dizziness from viral ear infections may be called labyrinthitis or acute vestibular neuronitis, and is caused by the virus inflaming the inner ear. Associated symptoms include vertigo (spinning), balance loss, nausea, ear pain, headache and possibly hearing loss or ringing.