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Physical Causes of Dizziness

Dizziness is a broad term for various sensations such as lightheadedness, unsteadiness, loss of balance and vertigo, or a spinning sensation, according to Mayo Clinic. While dizziness may be unsettling and sometimes debilitating, it generally does not indicate a life-threatening condition. There are many possible causes of dizziness, including physical and mental reasons; while some people may experience dizziness due to mental conditions such as anxiety disorders, most causes of dizziness are a result of a physical problem.

  1. Brain Disorders

    • Serious neurological conditions such as stroke, brain hemorrhage, brain tumor or multiple sclerosis can cause you to experience a type of dizziness called vertigo. In addition, headaches and migraines can make you feel dizzy. It's important to remember that if you are experiencing dizziness as a result of a serious brain disorder, typically, you'll also experience additional neurological symptoms such as loss of balance, vision and speech changes and facial numbness and weakness.

    Inner Ear Problems

    • Inner ear infections may cause you to feel persistent dizziness along with nausea, vomiting and balance problems for several days. Meniere's disease, or a condition where excessive fluid accumulates in the inner ear can also cause you to experience vertigo that lasts anywhere from half an hour to several hours. Just like with inner ear infections, people who have Meniere's also suffer from additional symptoms such as balance problems and ringing in the ears, according to MedlinePlus.

    Heart Conditions

    • Problems relating to the heart can also cause dizziness. Heart disease may prevent your heart from pumping out adequate blood flow which leads to your feeling faint or lightheaded, according to Mayo Clinic. Some heart conditions that cause dizziness include heart attack, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm) or an abnormal heart rate where the heart beats too fast or too slow.

    Abnormal Blood Pressure

    • Having abnormal blood pressure---high or low---can cause dizziness. If you have very high blood pressure, this may cause damage to your brain, which in turn can cause you to experience dizziness, according to eMedicineHealth. Similarly, if there is a drop in your blood pressure after standing or sitting up too abruptly, you may also feel dizzy, lightheaded or faint, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Medication Side Effects

    • The majority of prescription drugs list dizziness as a potential side effect, according to eMedicineHealth. However, some medications are more likely to cause you to feel dizzy; for example, anti-seizure medications, tranquilizers and sedatives tend to make you feel unsteady. Blood pressure medications that lower your blood pressure significantly can make you feel faint or lightheaded. Drugs that cause dehydration such as diuretics can make you dizzy too. If a drug is the cause, once you stop taking the drug the dizziness goes away.

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