Differences Between Dizziness & Faintness

People often explain being dizzy as feeling like the world is spinning or as a sensation of movement coming from within their head. People experiencing dizziness also describe it as a general sense of being disoriented, feeling light-headed or as if they might faint. Faintness is similar to dizziness; however, it is a sensation in which a person feels as if he will lose consciousness. Faintness often occurs in conjunction with periods of dizziness.

Dizziness

• If you are a dizziness sufferer, then you probably feel as if you are moving, and as a result, experience nausea and vomiting. Vertigo is a form of dizziness that results in sensations of the environment spinning around the sufferer. Dizziness also can be present in the form of disequilibrium, in which you may feel you may fall or lose balance. The causes of dizziness and the sensations associated with it are numerous, including head injury, inner ear problems, high blood pressure, infections and anxiety.

Faintness

• Persistant feelings of faintness can often lead to passing out.

  Faintness is a sudden sensation that you're going to pass out or black out. Faintness is often also classified as a form of dizziness, which can occur when other symptoms persist or become severe. If you suffer from faintness spells, then you may feel a swimming sensation in your head, then a sensation that you are going to lose consciousness. As with other forms of dizziness, faintness can have many causes.

Treating Dizziness

• You can usually manage dizziness with medications, and you can alleviate it with physical therapy, exercise, relaxation techniques and stress control. If anxiety is causing your dizziness, then counseling might help by determining the cause of your anxiety. In severe cases when a disorder in the inner ear is present, corrective surgery might be necessary. After diagnostic testing, a doctor will provide a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment option.

Treating Faintness

• See a doctor if dizziness or faintness persists to determine the cause.

  Faintness often results from prolonged dizziness, and is usually a passing sensation. When faintness occurs from a stressful situation, a drop in blood sugar or from medications, it often passes with a few moments of rest. You also might find that putting your head between your knees for several minutes eases the sensation. However, if faintness and actual loss of consciousness continually occur, then this could be an indication of a more serious problem.