Dizziness can have more than one cause at a time, such as a heart problem, arthritis, stroke, and anxiety.

Many causes of dizziness exist, including medications, blood pressure changes, and ear and heart problems. These causes include:

Sudden Low Blood Pressure

This condition happens when sitting or standing up, and is called orthostatic or postural hypotension. For a short time, there isn’t enough blood to flow to a person’s heart, brain, or the rest of their body. Dizziness happens within three minutes of sitting up or standing and lasts up to several minutes. Feeling sick and having pale skin may also happen.

Examples of some conditions that can cause sudden low blood pressure include:

• Dehydration, which can be caused by not drinking enough fluids, being ill, or very hot weather.
• Health conditions such as those with heart problems, diabetes, or anemia (not enough red blood cells)

Ear Problems

These problems include infections and inner ear changes, such as Ménière's disease, which is a disease of the inner ear.

Nervous System Problems

Examples include Parkinson's disease and migraines.

Medications

Some medications can affect a person’s ears, such as diuretics (water pills) or some pain medications (NSAIDs - Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Other medications that can cause dizziness include anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications, blood pressure medications, and anti-psychotics.

Disequilibrium

Unsteadiness or imbalance when standing or walking can have many causes including vitamin B12 deficiency, vision problems, spine problems, and nerve pain, or certain tumors.

Last Updated December 2022