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Dizziness, Nonvertigo

(Nonvertigo Dizziness)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Home | Health Information Center | Disease, Condition, & Injury Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Dizziness is a feeling of lightheadedness or weakness. A person may also feel like they are going to faint. It can happen for a short time or happen often and get in the way of daily activities.

It is not the same as vertigo, which is a feeling that the room is spinning.

Causes

Causes may be:

A drop in blood pressure when standing— orthostatic hypotension
Problems with the nerves
Health problems that affect how the heart pumps blood to the body
Anxiety disorders
Alcohol use disorder or illegal drug use
Infection or fever
Brain injury
Low blood sugar— hypoglycemia
Anemia

It may also be caused by certain medicines, such as:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Calcium channel blockers
Nitrates
Antipsychotics
Tricyclic antidepressants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Blood Flow to the Brain

In some cases, dizziness may be due to decreased blood flow to the brain.

Risk Factors

The risk of this problem is higher in people who have any of the health problems that cause or and those who take certain medicines.

Symptoms

Problems may be:

Lightheadedness
Balance problems
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Vision or hearing problems
Fast heartbeat

When Should I Call My Doctor?

Call your doctor if you have:

Dizziness that increases or gets worse
Signs of an infection, such as fever or chills
Concern that your medicine may be causing dizziness
Hearing loss
A headache that happens with dizziness
Other symptoms that happen with dizziness

When Should I Call for Medical Help Right Away?

Call for medical help or go to the emergency room right away if you have:

A head injury
Rapid, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain
High fever

Call for emergency medical services right away if you or a loved one has signs of a stroke:

Face drooping—one side may be numb and smile is uneven
Arm weakness—one arm will drift down when both are raised
Speech problems—slurring or cannot repeat a short sentence

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.

Blood tests may be done to look for a cause.

Images may be taken. This can be done with:

Other tests may be:

Tilt table test to see how a change in position affects heart and blood pressure
Hearing and vision tests
EKG to test the electrical activity of the heart

Treatment

Treatment will focus on the cause. This may ease dizziness.

It may take time for treatment to work. It may not ease all dizziness. A person can avoid injury by sitting down as soon as dizziness is felt.

Prevention

Prevention will depend on the cause. Managing chronic health problems may lower the risk.

RESOURCES:

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org

VEDA
http://www.vestibular.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society
http://www.balanceanddizziness.org

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). ENThealth—American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv. Accessed January 26, 2021.

Dizziness in adults—approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/dizziness-in-adults-approach-to-the-patient. Accessed January 26, 2021.

Muncie HL, Sirmans SM, et al. Dizziness: Approach to Evaluation and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Feb 1;95(3):154-162.

Stroke symptoms. American Stroke Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 26, 2021.

Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 1/26/2021

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