Dizziness is usually fleeting, especially when you change positions suddenly, overwork, lose sleep, or worry too much. However, when dizziness is accompanied by some unusual symptoms, it is no longer simply a mild disorder but can be a manifestation of neurological, cardiovascular or inner ear disease.
What are the signs considered abnormal?
1. Dizziness with severe headache
One of the most worrying signs of dizziness is when it is accompanied by a severe, sudden, and unusual headache. The pain may appear as if it was hit hard in the head, spread or localized on one side, and often does not respond to common painkillers. This can be an early sign of a stroke, cerebral hemorrhage or transient ischemic attack, which are medical emergencies that require prompt treatment.
2. Loss of vision or double vision
Dizziness accompanied by loss of vision, blurred vision, or double vision is a serious warning. When the spinning sensation is accompanied by an inability to see things clearly or seeing overlapping images, it is likely that the optic nerve or the area of the brain related to vision is damaged. This condition can stem from conditions such as posterior cerebral ischemia, brain stem damage, or optic nerve tumors.
3. Fainting or Loss of Consciousness
If an attack of dizziness causes you to lose consciousness, faint, or become foggy, it is no longer a mild symptom. Loss of consciousness during dizziness is often caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain, which can be caused by arrhythmia, severe hypotension, or lack of oxygen to the brain. In such cases, it is necessary to quickly rule out dangerous cardiovascular causes and take the patient to the nearest medical facility.
4. Prolonged dizziness with frequent vomiting
Another unusual sign to note is dizziness that lasts for several hours without improvement, accompanied by severe nausea and vomiting. The patient often feels unable to lie still, cannot eat or drink, and even loses control of head movements. This is a common manifestation in acute disorders of the vestibular system such as vestibular neuritis or acute attacks of Meniere’s disease, which should be evaluated by a specialist.
5. Weakness in limbs, facial distortion, difficulty speaking
Dizziness accompanied by weakness in limbs, numbness on one side of the body, facial distortion, or slurred speech are clear signs of a stroke. This is no longer a transient symptom, but a warning from the brain that blood is being blocked or bleeding in the area that controls movement and language. Early detection and immediate emergency care can save the patient’s life and minimize future sequelae.
6. Loss of balance
If you feel dizzy and at the same time can’t keep your balance, walk unsteadily, and fall easily, this is not a normal condition. Loss of balance can be a manifestation of damage to the cerebellum (the area of the brain responsible for coordinating movement) or central nervous system disorders. Especially in the elderly, this sign can also suggest peripheral neuropathy or prolonged vitamin B12 deficiency.
7. Palpitations, rapid heartbeat, cold sweats
Feeling dizzy with an abnormally rapid heartbeat, palpitations, heart palpitations, and cold sweats is a sign that needs special attention. These symptoms often indicate that the cardiovascular system is having problems, possibly due to arrhythmia, acute hypertension, or even myocardial infarction. In such situations, do not delay but quickly have an electrocardiogram measured and monitored at a medical facility.
8. Dizziness that recurs many times a day
Dizziness that recurs many times a day, even when resting or not doing any special activities, is also a warning that cannot be ignored. When the feeling of spinning becomes familiar, appearing at unpredictable times, it shows that you may have a chronic disorder such as vestibular disorder, cerebral circulatory insufficiency, or poorly controlled hypertension.
9. Unable to sit up or turn your head when dizzy
One of the serious but easily misjudged signs is feeling dizzy to the point of being unable to sit up, stand up, or turn your head. When the body seems to have completely lost its ability to coordinate, any small movement makes the condition worse, you need to immediately think of damage to the central nervous system or a serious vestibular disorder. Delaying a visit in this case can lead to irreversible consequences.
