We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

What are the Most Common Dizziness Symptoms?

By Erin J. Hill
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The most common dizziness symptoms are nausea, clumsiness, faintness, feeling off balance, weakness, or a combination of one or more of these symptoms. Dizziness is generally a symptom of an underlying condition and is not considered an illness itself. Patients who are dizzy may say the room seems to be spinning; their equilibrium is often off, which causes a lack of balance and focus. Dizziness can accompany nearly any other symptoms or illness, and it is one of the top complaints doctors get from patients.

Dizziness symptoms can often feed on one another and lead to more severe discomfort. For instance, the feeling of being off balance or faint can lead to nausea and vomiting. There are various causes for dizziness, ranging from infection, head injuries, and hormonal changes. Standing up too fast can also cause temporary dizziness. Most causes of dizziness symptoms are not serious and will clear up on their own. If they continue for more than a day or so, however, a doctor should be consulted.

One of the most common causes of dizziness symptoms is an ear infection. The ears play a large role in balance, so when one or both of them has an infection, it can throw everything off. This leads to dizziness and nausea in many individuals. Infections are often treated with antibiotics, although most will clear up on their own.

Anyone who is suffering from dizziness symptoms should sit down and relax. Putting one’s head between the legs in a hunched over sitting position is often helpful, as well as putting a cold or wet cloth over the face. Many patients who experience dizziness also report feeling hot and sometimes sweaty. Sometimes this is due to fever, so that should be checked as well, and an anti-fever medication can be used if necessary.

Since there are so many potential causes for dizziness symptoms, it is important to note any other symptoms in order to determine a diagnosis. If there is pain or discomfort elsewhere, this can help give doctors some indication of what the problem is. Treatment of dizziness usually involves the treatment of whatever condition is causing it. Medications may be used to alleviate symptoms in the meantime if the patient is in severe discomfort.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

By anon354879 — On Nov 12, 2013

I had prolonged stress for a couple of years end eventually while walking, I started feeling as if my right side were falling off. I would feel funny on my feet and then lose my balance. I drifted on my left side could follow. At times I was lightheaded, and felt as if were floating. My blood pressure was 160 and I was put on drugs. Even now the feeling is still there and mostly I feel it on my right side of the head above the ear. What could this be?

By Crispety — On Mar 02, 2011

Cupcake15 - I have heard of vertigo. It sounds awful.

I have had headaches and dizziness when I was pregnant once. I felt lightheadedness and had to get air and drink some Sprite.

Thank goodness that I only fainted once in my house and it had been because I was feeling warm and feeling a little dizziness. The soda really helped.

They say that dizzy spells can also result from a drop in the level of blood pressure or even problems with the heart itself.

It is really something that you have get checked out. In my situation it was an isolated case, but if it would have happened again, I definitely would have had that checked out.

By cupcake15 — On Feb 28, 2011

I know that my mother in law suffers from dizzy spells associated with her vertigo symptoms.

Because of her imbalance in her inner ear she has severe motion sickness and feels very disoriented whether she is on a slow moving train or a cruise ship.

As a matter of fact, she took a winter cruise to the Caribbean and had to fly home because she could not stop vomiting.

Her nausea and dizziness symptoms were a lot for her to handle. My husband suffers from mild vertigo symptoms.

He can ride most rides in any amusement park but a ride with repetitive spinning like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party ride at Disney World is definitely out of the question.

My mother in law gets such bad migraines when she develops dizzy nausea symptoms during her vertigo attacks that she has to get injections followed by best rest.

Headaches and dizziness are very common among people that suffer from Vertigo.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.