Dizziness & Balance

Dizziness can be a side effect of several things, including, but not limited to:

• Medication
• Recreational drugs
• Alcohol or nicotine use
• Highly stressful or emotional events
• Not eating enough
• Not drinking enough water

Some causes of dizziness are:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Head injuries, including concussions
• Inner ear disorders, like vestibular neuritis or Meniere’s disease
• Migraines
• Other diseases like MS, Parkinson’s, brain lesions, acoustic neuromas, etc.
• Stroke

Talk to a doctor if you experience recurring, sudden, severe or ongoing dizziness.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following alongside your dizziness or vertigo:

• Bleeding
• Confusion or difficulty understanding those around you
• Diarrhea
• Feelings of weakness or numbness in your arms, hands, legs or face
• Sudden, bad headache
• Trouble talking, chewing or swallowing
• Trouble walking
• Vision changes, especially double-vision or vision loss/blackouts
• Vomiting whenever you eat or drink
• New, severe, continuous dizziness never experienced before (possible sign of stroke).

Call 9-1-1 right away, as these symptoms may be an emergency. You should not drive yourself to the hospital.

Every year, 15 to 20% of adults experience dizziness and balance disorders. While anyone can have problems with dizziness and balance, the people most at risk are likely to be older. Women are also twice as likely to struggle with dizziness than men.

Other risk factors include: