General Practice, by video or in person
Dizziness and Vertigo
The signs, the danger signs that mean hospital now, and how to see a doctor by video from anywhere in Nigeria.
Signs to look for
Dizziness and Vertigo
- Feeling light-headed or faint, especially on standing up
- A spinning feeling, of yourself or the room
- Feeling unsteady or off balance
- Brief spinning when you turn over in bed, lie down or look up
- Nausea or vomiting with the spinning
Dizziness can mean feeling light-headed or faint, feeling off balance, or vertigo, the feeling that you or the room are spinning. Most dizziness is not serious. Common causes include standing up too quickly, dehydration and heat, missing meals, anxiety, a viral infection of the inner ear (labyrinthitis), migraine, anaemia, low blood sugar in people with diabetes, and the side effects of medicines, including blood pressure tablets. The commonest cause of brief spinning when you turn over in bed or look up is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), from tiny crystals moving in the inner ear, which is treated with simple head movements rather than tablets. Less often, dizziness is a sign of a heart rhythm problem or a stroke.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- Feeling light-headed or faint, especially on standing up
- A spinning feeling, of yourself or the room
- Feeling unsteady or off balance
- Brief spinning when you turn over in bed, lie down or look up
- Nausea or vomiting with the spinning
- Ringing in the ears or reduced hearing
- Sweating, blurred vision or a pale face before a faint
When to See a Doctor
Go to a hospital emergency department now if dizziness comes with weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, slurred speech, double vision, a sudden severe headache or difficulty walking, which can mean a stroke; or with chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness or fainting during exercise, which can mean a heart problem. See a doctor if dizziness keeps coming back or does not go away, comes with hearing loss or ringing in the ears, started after a new medicine, or if you have diabetes. Do not drive while you are dizzy. A doctor can take the history by video and tell you whether you need tests or an examination.
Treatment options
- A history of what the dizziness feels like and when it happens, which points to the cause
- Blood pressure checked lying and standing, and a blood count and blood sugar where needed
- Repositioning head movements, such as the Epley manoeuvre, for BPPV
- Short-term medicine for severe nausea in labyrinthitis, and balance exercises if it lingers
- A review of medicines that can cause dizziness, including blood pressure tablets
- Treatment of the cause, such as anaemia, dehydration or a heart rhythm problem
- An ENT, neurology or cardiology review when the cause needs it
Common Questions
Is dizziness a sign of high blood pressure?
Not usually. High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. Low blood pressure on standing, sometimes from blood pressure tablets, is a more common cause of light-headedness. Check your readings and tell your doctor about them.
Should I take a tablet for vertigo every time?
Not for BPPV. The clinical guideline on BPPV advises against routine vertigo tablets, because head repositioning treats it and the tablets can slow recovery if taken for long. They have a short-term place in severe nausea from other causes, on a doctor's advice.
Can a doctor assess dizziness by video?
Often, yes. What the dizziness feels like, how long it lasts and what brings it on tell a doctor most of what they need, and a doctor can guide you through some checks on camera. If you need an examination, an ECG or blood tests, they will tell you.
Need Help?
A doctor on a video call, who advises on the right test and treatment, and tells you if you need to be seen in person.
See a doctor by videoIf any of the danger signs on this page applies, go to the nearest hospital now instead.
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The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Dizziness. NHS. Patient information.
- Vertigo. NHS. Patient information.
- Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. NHS. Patient information.
- Clinical practice guideline: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (update). Bhattacharyya N et al., Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 156(3 Suppl):S1-S47, 2017. Peer-reviewed.
Links last checked 29 October 2026.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.