Dizziness: causes, what to do and when to see a doctor

The NHS says the cause often becomes clearer from your other symptoms, but advises not to self-diagnose and to see a GP if you are worried. Dizziness often goes away after you are treated for something else.

The NHS says you may feel faint while pregnant, and that this is usually due to hormonal changes. Fainting happens if the brain is not getting enough blood and therefore not enough oxygen. You are most likely to feel faint if you stand up too quickly from a chair or out of a bath, but it can also happen when lying on your back.

The NHS tips are to get up slowly after sitting or lying down; if you feel faint when standing still, find a seat quickly, and if it does not pass, lie down on your side; and if you feel faint lying on your back, turn onto your side. It says it is better not to lie flat on your back in later pregnancy and to avoid going to sleep on your back after 28 weeks, as it has been linked to a higher risk of stillbirth.

Tell your midwife or GP about dizziness that is frequent or severe. The NHS list of pregnancy symptoms needing help says that if breathlessness comes on suddenly, or you are out of breath lying down or have other symptoms like chest pain or dizziness, this needs to be checked immediately.

The NHS says low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60mmHg and may cause lightheadedness or dizziness, feeling sick, blurred vision, weakness, confusion or fainting. If you get symptoms when you stand up or suddenly change position, you may have postural hypotension.

Things that help, according to the NHS, include getting up slowly from sitting to standing, taking care getting out of bed, eating small frequent meals and drinking more water, and avoiding standing for long periods, bending down suddenly and too much alcohol. A GP may change medicines if they are the cause or suggest support stockings.

Vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning, enough to affect your balance. The NHS says it is more than just feeling dizzy. A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours, and severe vertigo can last for many days or months.

Inner ear problems are the most common cause: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis and Ménière’s disease. Migraine and some medicines can also cause it. With labyrinthitis, the NHS says the symptoms often ease after a few days and you usually get your balance back over 2 to 6 weeks, though it can take longer.

The NHS says dizziness usually goes away on its own, and suggests the following.

• Lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly.

• Move slowly and carefully and get plenty of rest.

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

• Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.

• Do not bend down or get up suddenly after sitting or lying down.

• Do not drive, climb a ladder or use heavy machinery while dizzy.

The NHS says to see a GP if you are worried about your dizziness or vertigo, it will not go away or keeps coming back, or you have any of the following.

• Finding it harder to hear or speak.

• Ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus).

• Double vision, blurred vision or other eyesight changes.

• A numb or weak face, arms or legs.

• Changes to your pulse, fainting or collapsing, headaches, or feeling or being sick.

For vertigo, the NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you also have a severe headache, are being sick or feel very sick, or have a very high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have vertigo and double vision or loss of vision, hearing loss, trouble speaking, or leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling. Take someone who cannot be woken up to A&E or call 999. The NHS also says sudden hearing loss in one ear needs urgent advice.

If you drive, the NHS says you must tell the DVLA about your vertigo.

A GP will ask about your symptoms and may check your balance with a simple test that involves moving quickly from sitting to lying, and may refer you to a specialist. The NHS says exercises, vestibular rehabilitation with a physiotherapist or audiologist, and short courses of medicines may be used. NHS physiotherapy waiting lists can be long, and the NHS notes you may prefer to pay for private treatment; most private physiotherapists accept direct self-referral.