What does it mean when u feel light headed

It's common to sometimes feel dizzy, lightheaded or off-balance, and it's not usually serious. See a GP if you're worried.

Check if you have dizziness

Dizziness includes feeling:

  • off-balance
  • giddy
  • lightheaded or faint
  • like you're spinning or things around you are spinning (vertigo)

How you can treat dizziness yourself

Dizziness usually goes away on its own. But there are things you can do to take care of yourself while you're feeling dizzy.

Do

  • lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly

  • move slowly and carefully

  • get plenty of rest

  • drink plenty of fluids, especially water

  • avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs

Don’t

  • do not bend down suddenly

  • do not get up suddenly after sitting or lying down

  • do not do anything that could be dangerous while you're dizzy, like driving, climbing a ladder or using heavy machinery

  • do not lie totally flat if you feel like things are spinning

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you're worried about your dizziness or vertigo
  • it will not go away or it keeps coming back
  • you're finding it harder to hear
  • there's ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus)
  • you have double vision, blurred vision or other changes in your eyesight
  • your face, arms or legs feel numb
  • you have other symptoms like fainting, headaches, feeling or being sick

Causes of dizziness

If you have other symptoms, this might give you an idea of the cause. Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.

Dizziness while you're ill with something else

Dizziness often goes away after you're treated for something else. For example:

  • an ear infection
  • migraine
  • dehydration or heat exhaustion
  • stress or anxiety
  • low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) because of diabetes
  • iron deficiency anaemia
  • motion sickness

Dizziness for no obvious reason

Possible causes of dizziness when you're not ill.Dizziness symptomsPossible causesWhen standing or sitting up suddenlySudden drop in blood pressure (postural hypotension)Feeling off-balance, losing some hearing, ringing or other sounds in your ears (tinnitus)Inner-ear problemsFeeling off-balance or like things are spinning, feeling or being sick, sometimes after a cold or fluLabyrinthitisAfter starting new prescription medicineSide effect of medicineWith symptoms like hearing loss, double vision, blurred vision, numb face, arms or legsDecreased blood flow to the brain, possibly from clogged arteries (atherosclerosis)

Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo.

Dizziness is one of the more common reasons adults visit their doctors. Frequent dizzy spells or constant dizziness can significantly affect your life. But dizziness rarely signals a life-threatening condition.

Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms. It's usually effective, but the problem may recur.

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Symptoms

People experiencing dizziness may describe it as any of a number of sensations, such as:

  • A false sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
  • Lightheadedness or feeling faint
  • Unsteadiness or a loss of balance
  • A feeling of floating, wooziness or heavy-headedness

These feelings may be triggered or worsened by walking, standing up or moving your head. Your dizziness may be accompanied by nausea or be so sudden or severe that you need to sit or lie down. The episode may last seconds or days and may recur.

When to see a doctor

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo.

Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following:

  • Sudden, severe headache
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Numbness or paralysis of arms or legs
  • Fainting
  • Double vision
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Confusion or slurred speech
  • Stumbling or difficulty walking
  • Ongoing vomiting
  • Seizures
  • A sudden change in hearing
  • Facial numbness or weakness

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How do I stop feeling so light headed?

How you can treat dizziness yourself.
lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly..
move slowly and carefully..
get plenty of rest..
drink plenty of fluids, especially water..
avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs..

What is lightheadedness a symptom of?

Common causes of dizziness migraine – dizziness may come on before or after the headache, or even without the headache. stress or anxiety – particularly if you tend to hyperventilate (breathe abnormally quickly when resting) low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) – which is usually seen in people with diabetes.

Should I worry if I feel light headed?

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo. Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: Sudden, severe headache. Chest pain.

What is the most common reason for lightheadedness?

The most common cause of lightheadedness is orthostatic hypotension, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up. Positional changes, especially quick ones, divert blood flow temporarily from the brain to the body.