Is wooziness a serious warning sign?
The symptom can be caused by mild or more complicated conditions. Here's how to respond to it.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
As we get older, it’s common to feel suddenly woozy or lightheaded after standing up from a lying or sitting position. If this happens, you should grab on to something and sit down to stabilize yourself, and then slowly try rising again. The woozy sensation will usually pass.
But wooziness also can be a sign that something is very wrong. It’s essential that you learn to recognize when this might be the case.
Decoding “wooziness”
Wooziness is a go-to word that people use for many symptoms. Doctors think of wooziness as feeling lightheaded or faint. But wooziness might also be the way people describe feeling dizzy or confused and not thinking clearly. Those are quite different from lightheadedness.
“If you feel dizzy, as if the room is spinning or the world is moving around you, we call it vertigo. In people who suddenly become confused and have trouble thinking, it’s important to check for other new symptoms such as sudden weakness on one side, difficulty speaking or understanding others, blurry vision, or a headache,” says Dr. Jennifer Dearborn-Tomazos, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “These could be signs of a stroke.”
How serious is wooziness?
Wooziness can range from mild to severe. But even if it’s mild, you should always take it seriously, because it can cause you to fall. Falls can have major consequences, such as head injuries or hip fractures.
So don’t brush off whatever aspect of wooziness you’re feeling. “Wooziness is not a diagnosis; it’s a symptom of an underlying problem, like the tip of an iceberg. If you don’t look for what’s causing it, you run the risk of things getting worse,” says Dr. Natalia Rost, chief of Stroke Services at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. (See “Why do you feel woozy?”)
Why do you feel woozy?Many conditions can cause wooziness. It can be a sign of an infection, such as a urinary tract infection or an inner ear infection that triggers vertigo or balance problems. It also can be caused by a chronic condition, such as neuropathy (a disorder of small nerves that help control blood pressure and balance), chronically low blood pressure that makes you lightheaded if you stand too quickly, a poorly pumping heart that doesn’t push enough blood to the brain, or a lung condition that keeps your brain from getting enough oxygen. Feeling woozy might also result from medications — such as drugs that lower blood pressure or blood sugar — that work a little too well, depriving your brain of enough blood or fuel to function properly. Wooziness might also be due to something life-threatening, such as a stroke or a heart attack. Those are typically accompanied by other symptoms. For example, a heart attack might cause chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, arm pain, back pain, or jaw pain. A stroke that interrupts blood flow to the brain might trigger a sudden headache, trouble thinking, facial drooping, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, changes in vision, or weakness on one side of the body. |
When wooziness hits
Because wooziness washes over you in an instant, it’s important that you and your loved ones learn (if not memorize) how to respond to it, so you’ll be prepared if it happens again.
“If you experience wooziness, sit or lie down immediately to prevent a fall. Call for help and let someone know that you are feeling lightheaded,” Dr. Dearborn-Tomazos advises.
Next, rest for a few minutes, and have a drink of water or juice. If you feel better, slowly stand while being supported by another person. Inform your doctor about the details of the episode.
“But call 911 if you have lightheadedness that has not improved or recurs with standing or you have other concerning symptoms such as chest pain or any neurological symptoms such as vertigo, trouble speaking, or weakness or numbness on one side of the body,” Dr. Dearborn-Tomazos says.
What happens at the hospital?
If you go to the hospital with wooziness, expect to have your blood pressure, heart rate, and possibly blood sugar measured. Doctors might also order a number of tests to rule out certain conditions. “Someone having signs such as trouble speaking or vertigo may require an urgent neurological exam and possibly a CT scan or other imaging to look for serious causes, such as a stroke,” Dr. Dearborn-Tomazos says.
Your wooziness might be due to something much less complicated, like being dehydrated, which can be treated immediately with fluids. But don’t try to diagnose this yourself. “Wooziness can be a medical emergency,” Dr. Dearborn-Tomazos says. “It’s best examined by a medical doctor.”
Image: © mediaphotos/Getty Images
About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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