Doctors don’t really know what causes it, but extra fluid in the inner ear is thought to be related or at least trigger symptom flare-ups. There’s also a close relationship between Meniere’s disease and another dreaded M-word, migraine. An estimated 51% of people with the inner ear condition also experience migraine, compared to 12% of the population without Meniere’s disease.
Vestibular migraine
There’s a “special” kind of migraine called a vestibular migraine that’s known to cause dizziness of the spinning sort. Though Dr. Piker points out that while experiencing a vertigo sensation is typical, some people may perceive it as unsteadiness. According to the American Migraine Foundation, it affects up to five times more women than men, particularly those with a personal or family history of migraine or motion sickness. (A similar gender disparity exists for migraine in general.)
Not all vestibular migraine attacks occur with headaches, but they can and often do. Other potential symptoms beyond the vertigo and head pain include nausea, vomiting, pressure in the ears, and sensitivity to light and sound.
What are common causes of dizziness that feels like lightheadedness?
Dehydration
We could all probably put down the latte and pick up our water bottle a little more often. After all, the body is between 55% and 78% water, so it’s important to keep replenishing fluids. The reason skimping on water intake could leave you feeling woozy is because it reduces the volume of your blood, lowering your blood pressure and preventing enough blood—and the essential oxygen it carries—from getting to your brain. Alongside dizziness, the trickle-down effects of dehydration could prompt a headache, fatigue, muscle weakness and problems focusing. It’s good to hydrate regularly throughout the day, but be extra diligent when exercising or enjoying the outdoors in the steamy summer months (when you’re likely to lose more fluids via sweat).
Overdoing it during workouts
Exercising without staying hydrated or having consumed enough calories for energy is a surefire way to feel faint or as if you’re on the verge of passing out. As is jumping into a super-intense workout when your body isn’t ready to take on that level of intensity or doing vigorous physical activity in a very hot climate. It’s important to fuel your body well, regularly replenish your fluids, and gradually level up your workouts to avoid feeling off-balance mid-sweat—after all, getting dizzy at the gym or while out on a run could cause you to fall and seriously injure yourself.
Though not as common, it is possible to exercise so intensely that you’re gasping for air, which leads to hyperventilation—rapid breathing that causes carbon dioxide levels in the blood to drop, resulting in lightheadedness. If that sounds like you, know that it’s okay to take a break during your HIIT class (it really isn’t a competition!).
Anxiety
Dizziness and anxiety tend to go hand-in-hand for a few different reasons. As noted, any sensation of vertigo could prompt some anxiety as a result of the connections between your vestibular system and your nervous system. But at the same time, the physical manifestations of anxiety symptoms like a racing heart and shortness of breath could certainly leave you feeling lightheaded (which might just exacerbate your anxiety, kicking off a vicious cycle). And research suggests being emotionally unsteady could also trigger a “subjective sensation of dizziness”—which could fall into either category on this list.
Hypoglycemia
Also known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is most common in people with diabetes who use insulin, and it can cause a lightheaded sensation, similar to standing up too fast. You might also experience sweating and anxiety. If you do have diabetes and take insulin, it’s important to always carry a fast-acting source of carbohydrates with you—such as glucose tabs—to quickly bring your blood sugar back up to a healthy level in a pinch.
Nutritional deficiencies
Eating a colorful array of fruits and vegetables as well as fortified foods, fish, and nuts is a good way to hit the recommended values for key vitamins and minerals—but it’s always possible to come up short. An iron deficiency, in particular, can lead to symptoms of dizziness, as it can cause iron-deficiency anemia (another cause on this list), which involves not having enough healthy red blood cells. Other vitamin deficiencies could also be to blame, though, including a lack of folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.
Anemia
Anemia is when you have lower blood counts than normal. It can be due to a number of things, including iron and vitamin deficiencies, as we talked about above. The problem is, when you don’t have enough blood, it can’t carry enough oxygen to your tissues. This can cause shortness of breath and lightheadedness or dizziness. If you are very anemic, you may even experience this symptom when lying down.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is to blame for a lot of weird sensations and symptoms, and feeling dizzy is just one of many on the list. Hormonal changes are responsible for triggering things like nausea and dizziness, including that pesky morning sickness, particularly in the first trimester.
