How to know when dizziness is a sign of a more serious condition, according to doctors

• Dizziness is very common, and usually, nothing to be concerned about.
• However, chronic or intense dizziness can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Most of us know that spinning around in circles can make you feel dizzy. But what should you do if dizziness sets in for seemingly no reason at all?

In its broadest sense, dizziness is a feeling of wooziness or that the world is spinning. Dizziness is very common, with around 18 million patients seeking medical care for dizziness in the US each year.

In many cases, dizziness is nothing to be concerned about. Occasionally, though, it can indicate there's a more serious underlying issue. If you experience a sudden onset of severe dizziness that lasts more than 15 minutes, you should seek medical care.

Likewise, if you experience dizziness alongside other symptoms, like slurred speech, numbness in the limbs or face, or loss of consciousness, that's a red flag that something more concerning could be going on, says Steven Doettl, a practicing audiologist and clinical professor in the department of audiology and speech pathology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Read on to learn more about what some of the most common causes of dizziness are and how to tell when you need to see a doctor.

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is a condition caused by a crystal that comes loose in your inner ear, says Peter Weber, a professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Caused by movements like rolling over in bed or sitting up, BPPV leads to severe bouts of dizziness in which the room seems to spin. The episodes only last about a minute, but they can recur if the triggering movements are repeated.

Other symptoms of BPPV include:

• Loss of balance
• Nausea
• Vomiting

What to do about it: BPPV isn't itself a threat to your health, but being dizzy all the time isn't fun. If you experience frequent bouts of severe vertigo, you should make an appointment with your doctor. BPPV can be diagnosed with head movement tests.

Without treatment, the misplaced crystal in your ear will usually eventually make its way back to the appropriate place. However, therapists and audiologists can also use something called canalith repositioning procedures to correct crystal placement more quickly, Doettl says.

Your medical provider can also instruct you on how to reposition crystals at home through the Epley Maneuver.

2. Infections

From classic bacterial ear infections to conditions more often caused by viruses like labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, infections can mess with your inner ear. When this happens, you can lose your sense of balance and feel dizzy.

Other key symptoms of ear infections include:

• Hearing loss
• Pressure in ear
• Ear pain
• Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
• Fluid or pus coming out of the ear
• Fever
• In children, crying more than usual or being unusually fussy

Often, an ear infection will cause ear pain and a fever as well as a sudden onset of dizziness, says Komal Ashraf, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Missouri.

What to do about it: It's important to get treatment if you suspect you have an ear infection, especially if you're immunocompromised. Ear infections that are left untreated can spread to different parts of the body, including the brain. They can also lead to hearing loss.

Bacterial ear infections are usually treated with antibiotics. For infections like labyrinthitis that are usually caused by a virus, doctors often prescribe rest and monitoring. In these cases, medications can sometimes be used to alleviate vertigo, but they won't treat the source of the infection. Fortunately though, they'll likely improve on their own in days to weeks.

3. Heart conditions

Though we don't usually think of our hearts as impacting our visual perceptions, certain heart conditions can limit blood flow to the brain, which can cause dizziness.

For instance, heart arrhythmias, which occur when the heart beats too fast or too slow, are particularly likely to cause lightheadedness because the brain isn't getting enough blood, Weber says.

Other common symptoms of arrhythmias include:

• Irregularly paced heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Feeling like your heart is "skipping" a beat

What to do about it: If you suspect you have a heart arrhythmia, you should see a doctor immediately. Heart arrhythmias can be fatal if left untreated.

To diagnose a heart arrhythmia, a doctor will run tests like an electrocardiogram, or ECG. Once an arrhythmia is diagnosed, a doctor might prescribe lifestyle interventions like cutting alcohol out of your diet to help manage your condition. For more severe or persistent cases, pacemakers or surgical procedures can be used to regulate your heart rhythm, along with medicine.

4. Stroke

A stroke is when something blocks blood flow to a part of the brain, like a clot or a buildup of plaque. This can cause a range of different neurological symptoms, including dizziness.

Important: It's vital to treat stroke promptly to prevent permanent brain damage. If you experience a sudden onset of dizziness that you think might be associated with a stroke, you should go to the emergency room immediately, Weber says.

Other common symptoms of stroke include:

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg
• Confusion
• Trouble speaking
• Trouble walking
• Sudden severe headache

For all of these symptoms, the key is to look for a sudden onset. A stroke may take only minutesto set in.

What to do about it: Once you're at the hospital, doctors will do a physical exam and may administer MRIs and CT scans to help diagnose a stroke. Once a stroke is diagnosed, medication can be given to dissolve the clot blocking the artery. If necessary, surgery can be done to help with the process. That said, the correct course of treatment depends on the individual.

5. Vestibular migraines

If you have recurrent episodes of severe vertigo accompanied by a feeling of dizziness and sensitivity to motion, you might be experiencing vestibular migraines.

Other symptoms of vestibular migraines could include:

• Headache
• Light sensitivity
• Sound sensitivity
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Visual aura

Not all of these symptoms need to be present for a diagnosis of vestibular migraines. Unlike normal migraines, vestibular migraines often don't cause pain.

What to do about it: If you have a history of migraines and you're experiencing unexplained bouts of dizziness, you should check with a doctor to see if vestibular migraines could be the cause.

To treat your vestibular migraines, you may be prescribed medication like a beta-blocker or tricyclic antidepressant. Devices that stimulate nerves like your vagus nerve can also be helpful.

Doctors will also advise you to pay attention to your lifestyle habits, like caffeine intake or stress levels, so you can identify and avoid potential triggers for your migraines.

6. Meniere syndrome

Also called Meniere disease, Meniere syndrome is a chronic condition that occurs when fluid builds up in your inner ear, affecting your balance.

Severe bouts of vertigo are one of the key symptoms of Meniere syndrome. Other symptoms include:

• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of hearing
• Pressure in your ear
• Headaches

Meniere syndrome is usually diagnosed by exclusion, meaning it's usually only diagnosed when no other cause of your dizziness can be identified, Ashraf says.

Doctors will likely administer a balance test, hearing test, MRI scans, and an ECOG before they diagnose you with Meniere syndrome.

What to do about it: Meniere syndrome has no cure. However, there are some treatments that can be used to manage your symptoms.

For instance, you may be advised to reduce the amount of salt in your diet, or you could be prescribed a medication — such as prochlorperazine or antihistamines— to help relieve your dizziness. Surgery is also sometimes used to treat balance issues associated with Meniere syndrome.

Other less serious causes of dizziness

Though dizziness can be the result of a medical condition, there are also day-to-day changes in your body that can make you feel dizzy. This type of dizziness is very common, Doettl says, and isn't necessarily anything to worry about.

Low blood pressure

When your blood pressure suddenly plummets, your brain doesn't get as much blood as it needs. As a result, you might feel woozy or lightheaded.

Dehydration

When you don't drink enough water, your blood volume and blood pressure decrease, depriving your brain of necessary nutrients. Sitting down and drinking water can help you bring your blood volume and blood pressure back up, alleviating any dizziness.

Low blood sugar

When your blood sugar drops, your brain doesn't get enough glucose to function. That can lead you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Medication

Dizziness is a possible side effect of most prescription medicines on the market today, Doettl says.

If you've started taking a new medication in the last couple months and you're experiencing dizziness, it's important to check in with a doctor to let them know what is going on and to make sure something more serious isn't the cause.

A doctor might be able to tweak your prescription to help you manage your dizziness if it becomes severe.

Treating more common dizziness

Overall, the best way to treat a mild bout of dizziness is to sit down and take a rest, Weber says. Have a snack and drink some water.

If the room feels like it's spinning, try to fix your vision on an object in the room and stare at it. This should alleviate your vertigo.

If your dizziness doesn't abate after these interventions, something more serious might be at play and you should go see a doctor. Likewise, though one or two episodes of mild dizziness is likely normal, if you have recurring bouts of dizziness, you should seek the care of a medical professional, Weber advises.

Insider's takeaway

Dizziness is common, but it can also be a sign of a serious medical condition. When diagnosing dizziness, doctors will first rule out life-threatening conditions like heart arrhythmias and stroke before considering more benign conditions like vestibular migraines or Meniere syndrome.

Overall, be sure to take dizziness seriously when it occurs, especially if you have other symptoms like chest pain or weakness in one side of your body. And even if your dizziness comes on without other symptoms, listen to your body.

"At any point, if you're uncomfortable and you think something isn't feeling right then you should definitely go to see a doctor," Ashraf says.