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What are the Most Common Causes of Dizziness and Nausea?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Dizziness and nausea are symptoms that may develop for a variety of reasons. Among the most common causes of dizziness and nausea is blood pressure that is either too high or too low. An individual may also develop dizziness and nausea because he has become dehydrated. Pregnancy is among the most common causes of these symptoms as well. Sometimes dizziness and nausea may develop because of a serious undiagnosed medical condition. To rule out serious medical issues, a person may do well to notify his doctor when these symptoms arise.

One of the most common causes of dizziness and nausea is low blood pressure. Most people know that high blood pressure is a problem but are unaware that low blood pressure can be problematic as well. When a person’s blood pressure is too low, the affected individual’s brain may be deprived of the amount of blood it needs. As a result, a person may feel dizzy and experience nausea as well. In addition, a person who has low blood pressure may sweat, experience shortness of breath, vomit, and even have chest pain.

A sudden drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness.
A sudden drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness.

High blood pressure is also among the most common causes of nausea and dizziness. When a person has high blood pressure, his blood is forced against the walls of his arteries at too high a rate. This condition can cause nausea and dizziness as well as a range of other symptoms. For example, a person with high blood pressure might also have headaches and blurred vision. In some cases, chest pain and vomiting may develop as well.

Women who are pregnant may experience dizziness and nausea.
Women who are pregnant may experience dizziness and nausea.

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of dizziness and nausea. Dehydration occurs when a person is taking in less fluids than he is putting out in the form of human waste, sweat, and even breathing. Besides dizziness and nausea, a person may also experience a lack of tears, dry mouth, scant urination, muscle cramping, vomiting, and abnormal heart rhythms when he is suffering from dehydration.

High blood pressure is a common cause of dizziness and nausea.
High blood pressure is a common cause of dizziness and nausea.

Dizziness and nausea may also develop when a woman is pregnant. For example, some pregnant women feel dizzy and nauseated when they stand up or get out of bed too quickly. They may also feel dizzy and become nauseous when they go too long between meals. Some women may even develop these symptoms after they have remained standing for an extended period of time. In general, these symptoms are not cause for alarm, but should be reported to one's doctor.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon1005118

Has she any loss of hearing? Check out Ménière’s disease .

anon334541

Look up gallstones. That might be the culprit.

anon330172

I have a friend who is suffering dizziness and nausea. She is very athletic too and has seen a couple of doctors. Blood tests have shown nothing, but the doctor has decided maybe it is food related and told her to go on a gluten free and sugar free diet for at least eight weeks. A week has passed and my friend is feeling the same, only very hungry.

anon322603

It's stress. Age, blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, medications, dehydration, pick one or all of them. It could be anything. When I'm walking sometimes, all of a sudden I feel myself falling, but stop myself. That was caused by not eating in the morning and not eating all day until supper time for about two months. It could be eating habits too, judging from my eating habits.

Sleep? You may toss and turn all night and not know it because you are sleeping. I do know lack of rest causes dizziness.

anon309889

I've had problems with dizziness and nausea. I feel sick and can't eat, which is not good. I just found out I have low blood pressure and a lack of vitamin D, but I couldn't stop feeling nauseated, so I went to the doctor again and they said I have vertigo and gave me medication for it.

All of a sudden, my nose has gone dry and my ears have gone dry and I've always had bad earwax, but it has stopped. I don't know if I should be worrying about that. I made another appointment with the doctor and I'll see how that goes.

Bostongal43

I was diagnosed with BPPVertigo, labyrinthitis and severe tinnitus in 2005 at age 46. They said it was a viral infection.

I did Vestibular therapy to retrain my brain to balance, walk again and be able to drive a car. Your friend may need this therapy. I have sat in the Epley-Omniax chair four times. The first time was OK, then I had severe nausea the last three times, and it won't go away. I went from 104 pounds to 100 pounds, in 12 days.

Now I'm on the chemo drug Zofran for the severe, 24/7 nausea. It hasn't really helped that much at all. Good luck.

whitesand

@Markus - I've heard that before too about the salt causing a problem with the inner ear that makes people feel dizzy with nausea and headaches all the time.

I just checked the website again where I found the information about it before. It's when crystal particles that float in our inner ear canals are displaced.

Apparently there are several head exercises that are designed to help reposition the crystals so you can get your balance back.

Markus

@Sierra02 - If your roommate is experiencing severe dizziness and nausea she should consider seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist.

I know that sounds odd but a friend of mine had similar symptoms to those of your roommate and discovered that he had a severe inner ear infection.

He never felt any pain in his ear and didn't even know it was a problem but apparently it was caused by too much salt in the diet and messed up his equilibrium.

You never know, too much salt might be what causes her dizziness and nausea too. It's worth a visit to an ear specialists to find out.

Sierra02

My roommate and I are very athletic and we like to go jogging several times a week. The past few months I've jogged mostly on my own because just as we get two or three blocks away from our home she gets too dizzy and has to return.

She didn't think a lot about it at first but when her sudden dizziness and nausea symptoms kept happening for no apparent reason, it was time to go get checked out.

Since then she has had numerous blood tests and has been seen by several different specialists but no one can find anything wrong with her or find any specific reasons for the dizziness and nausea.

Sometimes she feels like giving up and thinks she just has to live with it. She's my best friend and I really hate seeing her so depressed.

If anyone has any ideas on what could be wrong with her please share them with us. Thank you.

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    • A sudden drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness.
      By: laurent hamels
      A sudden drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness.
    • Women who are pregnant may experience dizziness and nausea.
      By: LanaK
      Women who are pregnant may experience dizziness and nausea.
    • High blood pressure is a common cause of dizziness and nausea.
      By: bruno135_406
      High blood pressure is a common cause of dizziness and nausea.
    • Both low and high blood pressure may lead to vomiting.
      By: Tom Wang
      Both low and high blood pressure may lead to vomiting.
    • Nausea is a sensation that generally occurs before an individual vomits.
      By: pathdoc
      Nausea is a sensation that generally occurs before an individual vomits.