The causes of dizziness are as varied as its symptoms. Dizziness can result from something as simple as motion sickness — the queasy feeling that you get on hairpin roads and roller coasters. Or it can be caused by complicated problems with the balance mechanism in your inner ear. Dizziness is also a rare sign of certain serious disorders such as stroke and diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Generally, however, dizziness in the absence of any other symptoms is almost always caused by something less worrisome.

Some causes of dizziness include:

Inner ear problems

  1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  2. Ear infection (middle ear)
  3. Meniere's disease
  4. Motion sickness

Reduced blood flow

  1. Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis
  2. Dehydration
  3. Heart arrhythmias
  4. Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)
  5. Stroke
  6. Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Certain medications
Some types of drugs cause dizziness, including some varieties of:

  1. Antidepressants
  2. Anti-seizure drugs
  3. Drugs to control high blood pressure
  4. Sedatives
  5. Tranquilizers

Other causes of dizziness

  1. Anemia
  2. Concussion
  3. Generalized anxiety disorder
  4. Hypoglycemia
  5. Migraine
  6. Panic attacks


Sep. 11, 2012