Dizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. The following are specific types of dizziness:
Vertigo
Vertigo is described as the concept of spinning or having your surroundings spin around you. People find vertigo to be very disturbing and severe vertigo can cause nausea and vomiting. It represents about 25 percent of all types of dizziness.
Presyncope
Presyncope is also known as lightheadedness, muscular weakness and feeling faint. It is different from syncope, which is the process of actually fainting.
Disequilibrium
Disequilibrium is the sensation of being off balance and is most often characterized by frequent falls in a specific direction. Disequilibrium is usually not associated with nausea or vomiting, though it is a common type of dizziness.
Many medical conditions can lead to dizziness and any of its subcategories. The most common medical conditions that cause dizziness as a side effect are:
- Meniere’s disease
- Vestibular neuronitis
- Labyrinthitis
- Otitis media
- Acoustic neuroma
- Chronic motion sickness
- Migraine
- Multiple sclerosis
- low blood pressure (hypotension)
- low blood oxygen content (hypoxemia)
- iron deficiency (anemia)
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- panic disorder
- hyperventilation
- anxiety
- depression