See Vertigo, and Giddiness.Encyclopedia Entry for Dizziness :Dizziness and vertigo - aftercare. Most often, people say the spinning feeling can start when they roll over in bed or tilt their head up to look at something. Along with lightheadedness and vertigo, you may also have: Nausea and vomiting Hearing loss Ringing in your ears (tinnitus) Vision problems, such as a feeling that things are jumping or moving Loss of balance, difficulty standing up Lightheadedness usually gets better by itself, or is easily treated. However, it can be a symptom of other problems. There are many causes. Medicines may cause dizziness, or problems with your ear. Motion sickness can also make you dizzy. Vertigo can be a symptom of many disorders, as well. Some may be chronic, long-term conditions. Some may come and go. Depending on the cause of your vertigo, you may have other symptoms, like benign positional vertigo or Meniere disease. It is important to have your doctor decide if your vertigo is a sign of a serious problem.If you have vertigo, you may be able to prevent your symptoms from getting worse by: Avoiding sudden movements or position changes Keeping still and resting when you have symptoms Avoiding bright lights, TV, and reading when you have symptoms When you feel better, slowly increase your activity. If you lose your balance, you may need help walking to stay safe. A sudden, dizzy spell during certain activities can be dangerous. Wait 1 week after a severe spell of vertigo is gone before you climb, drive, or operate heavy machinery or consult your health care provider for advice. Chronic lightheadedness or vertigo can cause stress. Make healthy lifestyle choices to help you cope: Get enough sleep. Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Do not overeat. Exercise regularly, if possible. Learn and practice ways to relax, such as guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or meditation.Make your home as safe as you can, just in case you lose your balance. For example: Remove loose wires or cords from areas you walk through to get from one room to another. Remove loose throw rugs. Install night lights. Put nonskid mats and grab bars near the bathtub and toilet.Your health care provider may prescribe medicines for nausea and vomiting. Lightheadedness and vertigo may improve with some medicines. Commonly used drugs include: Dimenhydrinate Meclizine Sedatives such as diazepam (Valium) Too much water or fluid in your body may make the symptoms worse by increasing fluid pressure in your inner ear. Your provider may suggest a low salt diet or water pills (diuretics).Call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to an emergency room if you are dizzy and have: A head injury Fever over 101 F (38.3 C) Headache or a very stiff neck Seizures Trouble keeping fluids down; vomiting that does not stop Chest pain Irregular heart beat Shortness of breath Weakness Cannot move an arm or leg Change in vision or speech Fainting and losing alertness Call your provider if you have: New symptoms, or symptoms that are getting worse Dizziness after taking medicine Hearing loss.Meniere disease - aftercare; Benign positional vertigo - aftercare.Chang AK. Dizziness and vertigo.Encyclopedia Entry for Dizziness :Dizziness. Most causes of dizziness are not serious, and they either quickly get better on their own or are easy to treat.Lightheadedness occurs when your brain does not get enough blood. This may occur if: You have a sudden drop in blood pressure. Your body does not have enough water (is dehydrated) because of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and other conditions. You get up too quickly after sitting or lying down (this is more common in older people). Lightheadedness may also occur if you have the flu , low blood sugar , a cold, or allergies. More serious conditions that can lead to light-headedness include: Heart problems, such as a heart attack or abnormal heart beat Stroke Bleeding inside the body Shock (extreme drop in blood pressure) If any of these serious disorders are present, you will usually also have symptoms like chest pain, a feeling of a racing heart, loss of speech, change in vision, or other symptoms. Vertigo may be due to: Benign positional vertigo , a spinning feeling that occurs when you move your head Labyrinthitis , a viral infection of the inner ear that usually follows a cold or flu Meniere disease , a common inner ear problem Other causes of lightheadedness or vertigo may include: Use of certain medicines Stroke Multiple sclerosis Seizures Brain tumor Bleeding in the brain.If you tend to get lightheaded when you stand up: Avoid sudden changes in posture. Get up from a lying position slowly, and stay seated for a few moments before standing. When standing, make sure you have something to hold on to. If you have vertigo, the following tips can help prevent your symptoms from becoming worse: Keep still and rest when symptoms occur. Avoid sudden movements or position changes. Slowly increase activity. You may need a cane or other help walking when you have a loss of balance during a vertigo attack. Avoid bright lights, TV, and reading during vertigo attacks because they may make symptoms worse. Avoid activities such as driving, operating heavy machinery, and climbing until 1 week after your symptoms disappear. A sudden dizzy spell during these activities can be dangerous.Call your local emergency number (such as 911) or go to an emergency room if you are dizzy and have: A head injury Fever over 101 F (38.3 C), headache, or very stiff neck Seizures Trouble keeping fluids down Chest pain Irregular heart rate (heart is skipping beats) Shortness of breath Weakness Inability to move an arm or leg Change in vision or speech Fainting and loss of alertness for more than a few minutes Call your health care provider for an appointment if you have: Dizziness for the first time New or worsening symptoms Dizziness after taking medicine Hearing loss.Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including: When did your dizziness begin? Does your dizziness occur when you move? What other symptoms occur when you feel dizzy? Are you always dizzy or does the dizziness come and go? How long does the dizziness last? Were you sick with a cold, flu, or other illness before the dizziness began? Do you have a lot of stress or anxiety? Tests that may be done include: Blood pressure reading Electrocardiogram ( ECG ) Hearing tests Balance testing ( ENG ) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Your provider may prescribe medicines to help you feel better, including: Antihistamines Sedatives Anti-nausea medicine Surgery may be needed if you have Meniere disease.Lightheadedness - dizzy; Loss of balance; Vertigo.Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the left artery Carotid stenosis, x-ray of the left artery Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the right artery Carotid stenosis, x-ray of the right artery Vertigo Vertigo Balance receptors Balance receptors.Baloh RW, Jen JC. Hearing and equilibrium.