A funny, dizzy head feeling often comes from inner ear issues, dehydration, low blood sugar, stress/anxiety, sudden blood pressure drops (like standing up too fast), or as a side effect of medication, but can also signal migraines or anemia; it's usually temporary, but see a doctor if it's severe or persistent, especially with other symptoms like chest pain or weakness.
A feeling of dizziness and pressure in the head may result from a migraine headache, allergies, sinusitis, ear infection, or high blood pressure. However, it may have a different underlying cause.
You should worry about dizziness in pregnancy if it's frequent, causes fainting, or comes with symptoms like severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, shortness of breath, vaginal bleeding, or abdominal pain, as these can signal issues like anemia, low blood pressure, or more serious conditions needing urgent care. While occasional lightheadedness from getting up too fast is common, persistent or concerning dizziness warrants an immediate call to your doctor or midwife.
To treat a dizzy child, have them lie down with their feet elevated, give them fluids (water, juice) and a snack, help them cool off if it's hot, and encourage slow movements; ensure they get enough rest, regular meals, and hydration, especially during activity, but call a doctor if dizziness persists past a few hours, worsens, or if they faint, as treatment depends on the underlying cause, like inner ear issues or dehydration, requiring potential medication or physical therapy.
Drink enough fluids, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and manage stress. If your dizziness comes with an upset stomach, try medicine called an antihistamine. Get the kind that's sold without a prescription. Examples include meclizine (Dramamine Less Drowsy) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
What causes dizziness?
If you are dizzy right now and have any of the following neurological symptoms along with your dizziness or vertigo, call 911 immediately:
Keeping your head turned, tip your head back as much as you can comfortably. Lie back, keeping your head turned. Wait for 30 seconds, then carefully sit back up. If you have BPPV, then the test will make you dizzy.
Chronic stress can sensitize the nervous system, making individuals more prone to vertigo triggers. Experiencing long-term stress keeps cortisol levels high, causing imbalances in the body's nervous system. This chronic stress leads to concerns like vertigo, faster heart rate and more inflammation.
The earliest signs of pregnancy often include a missed period, along with breast tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, and nausea (morning sickness, which can happen anytime) due to hormonal changes. Other common early symptoms are mood swings, food cravings or aversions, heightened sense of smell, bloating, and light spotting (implantation bleeding). These symptoms vary, so a home pregnancy test is the best way to confirm pregnancy.
These days, many women first use home pregnancy tests (HPT) to find out. Your doctor also can test you. All pregnancy tests work by detecting a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only there when a woman is pregnant. It is called human chorionic gonadotropin(kohr-ee-ON-ihk goh-NAD-uh-TROH-puhn), or hCG.
Medical conditions like uterine tumors, menopause or cancer can cause changes in a person's hormone levels. These hormonal changes can mimic pregnancy symptoms like missed periods, fatigue or weight gain. Healthcare providers may want to rule out these medical conditions before diagnosing pseudocyesis.
Less commonly, tumors that develop in the cerebellum—the part of the brain that controls movement—may cause vertigo, a condition characterized by balance problems and room-spinning sensations.
Constantly low blood pressure can be dangerous if it causes signs and symptoms such as:
Contact your provider any time you notice new symptoms or sudden changes that are abnormal for you, such as a new weird feeling in your head that comes and goes, sudden changes in frequency of déjà vu or other abnormal symptoms.
Vertigo is when you feel like you are spinning or falling, or your surroundings are spinning around you. Symptoms that often happen with vertigo are nausea, vomiting and sweating.
An otolaryngologist performs a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms of the cause of vertigo. He or she uses delicate instruments to magnify and examine the ear canal and eardrum. Your doctor may also examine your eye movements or ask you to track an object from one point in space to another.
Vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning – enough to affect your balance. It's more than just feeling dizzy. A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours. If you have severe vertigo, it can last for many days or months.
Sudden-onset dizziness, loss of balance and coordination are signs of posterior circulation stroke, according to Cedars-Sinai experts.
If the dizziness is not fleeting, eased by lying down or your balance is compromised, you should immediately visit the closest emergency department.
4 neurological disorders that trigger dizziness
Low blood pressure symptoms can include: Blurred or fading vision. Dizzy or lightheaded feelings. Fainting.
A viral infection called vestibular neuritis can cause intense, constant vertigo. It's an infection of the main nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain, called the vestibular nerve. If you also have sudden hearing loss, you may have a condition called labyrinthitis.
Lie down until the dizziness passes, and then slowly get back up. Drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeine and soft drinks. Avoid alcohol and drugs.