Dizziness can be caused by a drop in blood pressure, heart problems, colds and flu, blood loss, and medication. Vertigo is different from dizziness and can be caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. Sudden changes in posture and illness can also cause dizziness. Heart conditions and internal bleeding can be more serious causes of dizziness.
There are a few causes of dizziness or lightheadedness. Usually, vertigo occurs when a person doesn’t get enough blood to the brain. One of the most common causes of dizziness is a sudden drop in blood pressure. Other causes of dizziness include heart problems and the common cold and flu, as well as blood loss.
When a person feels lightheaded, they may feel like they are about to pass out. While vertigo is a type of dizziness, it is not the same as vertigo, which is a feeling that the world is moving around a person when it really isn’t. Feeling lightheaded may be accompanied by nausea and fainting, as well as clammy skin and pale skin.
Sudden changes in posture that result in a loss of blood flow to the head are common causes of dizziness. A person may feel dizzy and lightheaded after standing up quickly or sitting up from a lying position. The likelihood of dizziness after standing up too quickly increases as a person gets older. Standing up more slowly or returning to a reclined position can reduce the feeling of lightheadedness.
A person may also feel lightheaded when sick. Colds and flu commonly cause dizziness, as do allergies. Vomiting and fever can also lead to dizziness, but the feeling will lessen as the person gets better. In some cases, dizziness is caused by medications, including nicotine and alcohol, as well as some prescription drugs, including beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.
Other causes of dizziness are more concerning. A person who has a heart condition, such as an arrhythmia, may feel dizzy. Other heart conditions that can cause dizziness include cardiomyopathy, heart attack, and stroke. Usually, if a person’s vertigo is caused by a heart problem, they will also pass out, have chest pain, and a fast beating heart. If so, he should go to the doctor right away.
A loss of blood can also cause dizziness. In some cases, a woman may feel dizzy due to blood loss during her menstrual cycle, while in other cases, blood loss is a serious problem, such as bleeding from a serious wound. A person may be bleeding internally and feel lightheaded, but otherwise unaware that they are bleeding. If a person is bleeding internally, the first signs may be dizziness and feeling tired.
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