Lightheadedness

<h2 id="causes">Causes</h2>
<p>Lightheadedness can be simply (and most commonly) an indication of a temporary shortage of <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">blood</a> or <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> to the brain due to a drop in <a href="/facts/Blood_pressure/VtqqSM2J">blood pressure</a>, rapid <a href="/facts/Dehydration/2RXJ8GGI">dehydration</a> from <a href="/facts/Vomiting/R2vQkHqV">vomiting</a>, <a href="/facts/Diarrhea/6TBHaRdA">diarrhea</a>, or <a href="/facts/Fever/waVxR2Ac">fever</a>. Other causes are: <a href="/facts/Altitude_sickness/DPNTnljN">altitude sickness</a>, <a href="/facts/Low_blood_sugar/BlAmuP6k">low blood sugar</a>, <a href="/facts/Hyperventilation/ElocGGlI">hyperventilation</a>, <a href="/facts/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome/Xndeukmn">postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome</a> (increase in heart rate upon sitting up or standing), <a href="/facts/Panic_attacks/qwDgfN2f">panic attacks</a>, and <a href="/facts/Anemia/AgEPPmg8">anemia</a>. It can also be a symptom of many other conditions, some of them serious, such as heart problems (including abnormal <a href="/facts/Heart_rhythm/AouErvDx">heart rhythm</a> or <a href="/facts/Heart_attack/xoGw0qcG">heart attack</a>), respiratory problems such as <a href="/facts/Pulmonary_hypertension/4848aBJl">pulmonary hypertension</a> or <a href="/facts/Pulmonary_embolism/LPjKCPba">pulmonary embolism</a>, and also <a href="/facts/Stroke/DwpjdzY0">stroke</a>, bleeding, and <a href="/facts/Shock_(circulatory)/aIKGDS0e">shock</a>. If any of these serious disorders are present, the individual will usually have additional symptoms such as <a href="/facts/Chest_pain/QFUzPBsT">chest pain</a>, a feeling of a racing heart, loss of speech or a change in vision.
</p><p>Many people, especially as they age, experience lightheadedness if they arise too quickly from a lying or seated position. Lightheadedness often accompanies the <a href="/facts/Flu/nWuFzh6L">flu</a>, <a href="/facts/Hypoglycaemia/BlAmuP6k">hypoglycaemia</a>, <a href="/facts/Common_cold/fP9A03U9">common cold</a>, or <a href="/facts/Allergies/dYAVosh8">allergies</a>.
Dizziness could be provoked by the use of <a href="/facts/Antihistamine/HuMC25lt">antihistamine</a> drugs, like <a href="/facts/Levocetirizine/PnqVIKcQ">levocetirizine</a>, or by some antibiotics or <a href="/facts/SSRI/L6jjcmEH">SSRIs</a>. <a href="/facts/Nicotine/VQ6HcIrY">Nicotine</a> or <a href="/facts/Tobacco_product/jVCn4CEC">tobacco products</a> can cause lightheadedness for inexperienced users. <a href="/facts/Narcotic/XPC65A8f">Narcotic</a> drugs, such as <a href="/facts/Codeine/lr7WHXmX">codeine</a>, can also cause lightheadedness.
</p>
<h2 id="treatment">Treatment</h2>
<p>Treatment for lightheadedness depends on the cause or underlying problem. Treatment may include drinking plenty of water or other fluids (unless the lightheadedness is the result of <a href="/facts/Water_intoxication/Jg0DpnA0">water intoxication</a> in which case drinking water is quite dangerous). If a patient is unable to keep fluids down from nausea or vomiting, they may need <a href="/facts/Intravenous_fluid/AwwuD3Nu">intravenous fluids</a> such as <a href="/facts/Ringer%27s_lactate_solution/Aae1Y9VR">Ringer's lactate solution</a>. They should try eating something sugary and lying down or sitting and reducing the elevation of the head relative to the body (for example, by positioning the head between the knees).
</p><p>Other simple remedies include avoiding sudden changes in posture when sitting or lying and avoiding bright lights.
</p><p>Several essential <a href="/facts/Electrolyte/4YE8bIVa">electrolytes</a> are excreted when the body perspires. When people experience unusual or extreme heat for a long time, sweating excessively can cause a lack of some electrolytes, which in turn can cause lightheadedness.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Clouding_of_consciousness/4qY1aaVf">Clouding of consciousness</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Dizziness/eI8UvmS5">Dizziness</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Greyout/TTzHsQu7">Greyout</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Orthostatic_hypotension/pkeTyF8w">Orthostatic hypotension</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Vasovagal_response/cn33I5ww">Vasovagal response</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Vertigo_(medical)/2RDjIkuh">Vertigo</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

<ul><li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html">The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Chapter 14: Evaluation of the Dizzy Patient". Retrieved 2009-08-06. <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dons/part_2/chapter_14.html#chpt_14_presyncope" target="_blank">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dons/part_2/chapter_14.html#chpt_14_presyncope</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Joel A. Goebel (2008). Practical Management of the Dizzy Patient. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-7817-6562-6. <a href="978-0-7817-6562-6" target="_blank">978-0-7817-6562-6</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Lightheadedness open-in-new

Lightheadedness