Dizziness
Everyone will experience dizziness at some point in their lives. It’s
disorienting, nauseating, and often fleeting. In many cases, dizziness
goes away on its own without the need for medical care.
Sometimes, though, the symptoms are so severe that you need to go to the emergency room. With six convenient locations, Legacy ER & Urgent Care makes it easy to get the care you need when you’re dizzy or lightheaded.
Dizziness Vs. Vertigo
Many people use the words “dizziness” and “vertigo” interchangeably, but they are two different conditions. If you have dizzy spells, you’ll feel like you’re off balance. For example, you might have trouble walking and feel as if you’re about to fall.
On the other hand, vertigo causes you to feel like your surroundings or your body is moving. You might experience the sensation of:
- Spinning
- Whirling
- Tipping
Both conditions impact balance and often require medical treatment.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
While your primary care provider can generally address dizzy spells, you should seek emergency medical care if the dizziness is accompanied by one or more of the following:
- Severe headache with a sudden onset
- Chest pain and difficulty breathing
- Numbness of the arms and legs
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
- Hearing changes
- Facial weakness or numbness
- Double vision
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Seizures
What Causes Dizziness?
You can’t help but wonder, “Why do I feel dizzy?” Dizziness is caused by a variety of conditions, including:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Meniere’s syndrome
- Ear infections
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Narrowed arteries
- Head injuries
- Migraines
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stress and anxiety
- Low blood sugar
- Vision problems
- Certain medications
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Alcohol use
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
- Hearing changes
- Facial weakness or numbness
- Double vision
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Seizures
What Causes Dizziness?
You can’t help but wonder, “Why do I feel dizzy?” Dizziness is caused by a variety of conditions, including:
Because dizziness has so many causes, getting a proper diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment. You need to know if your dizziness is caused by a serious medical condition, such as an irregular heartbeat, or if it’s due to an issue you can easily fix by changing your medications or treating an ear infection.
If you feel lightheaded and dizzy, you are at an increased risk for falls. You could also have an undiagnosed medical condition that requires treatment. Legacy ER & Urgent Care can diagnose and treat your condition. With six locations, we are nearby, ready to serve you. Visit us today before your dizziness gets worse. While this condition might feel like a mere nuisance, it could be a sign that something’s wrong, so don’t delay seeking treatment.