Dizziness is a common description for many different feelings. The feeling of dizziness, or a "dizzy spell" may be familiar to an individual, yet difficult to describe. The person may have a feeling of lightheadedness, spinning, whirling, or motion, either of themselves or of the surroundings. The person may also feel as if they are going to faint. Dizziness may be just mildly annoying or caused by something possibly life-threatening. Some of the reasons a person might feel the sensation of dizziness include:

Fainting or near fainting, which may result from:
-- Emotional upset
-- Standing up too quickly (orthostatic hypotension) or standing still too long
-- Having the flu, a cold, or other illness
-- Seasickness or motion sickness
-- Fatigue or tiredness

Vertigo, which is similar to, but not the same condition as dizziness, is a medical term to describe a spinning sensation of a person's surroundings, usually caused by head movement or positioning. This is the same feeling an individual might have after getting off a merry-go-round or spinning in place. Several diseases of the balance organs of the inner ear can cause vertigo, or it may be a symptom of a tumor or stroke.

What is the treatment for dizziness?
If a person is feeling dizzy, it may be a symptom of a condition or disease that is something more dangerous and should always be discussed with a doctor. Medical treatment for dizziness depends on the cause and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

What are home remedies for dizziness?
Dizziness may be a symptom of something dangerous and should always be discussed with a health care professional. At home, it is recommended for the patient to do the following some home remedies for mild cases of dizziness include:

-- Get plenty to drink, have regular meals, and get plenty of rest.
-- Stand up slowly, as this may help dizziness associated with position changes.
-- Reassurance can help an anxious person who feels dizzy.
-- Make your home safe for a chronically dizzy person.
Banisters, a walker or cane, and tub mats are safety measures that may help avoid injury to the patient.
-- Secure rugs and carpeting to avoid falls.
A doctor can recommend resources for a professional home-safety consultant visit.