# Why am I so dizzy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437 "2015-07-07T01:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GiJoe007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@GiJoe007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiJoe007)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/1 "2015-07-07T01:27:02Z")
So, I keep getting hit by waves of massive dizziness, as if I feel I want to pass out. For the past couple of days, it’s been starting at approx 3:00pm and continuing on throughout the evening. My heart has also been giving me some troubles: I feel it pounding in my chest even though I’ve only been sitting, and sometimes it beats irregularly. I am weak, tired, have shaky vision (a little) and I become disoriented when the dizziness hits. I’m a bit concerned since I’m only 17 and have never had any major health issues. Do you think this just an arrhythmia, or more? I don’t want to see a doctor, or take meds. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/2 "2015-07-07T01:39:15Z")
Drink a glass of water. It might help with low blood pressure or dehydration. Then google for a nurse hotline you can call and get some real advice. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/3 "2015-07-07T01:46:31Z")
For crying out loud, go to the doctor (probably the ER now would be best). Kids your age drop dead all the time from undiagnosed heart problems. ---
**Author:** ![Ex\_Bubblehead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ex_bubblehead/32/3397_2.png) [@Ex\_Bubblehead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex_Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/4 "2015-07-07T01:51:04Z")
Speaking from experience. See a doctor IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT ignore your heart. 20 years ago I had somewhat similar symptoms, and I simply wrote it off as mere exhaustion from my long hours on the bowling lanes (200+ games a week). Within 2 weeks of the first symptoms I wound up in the emergency room suffering a full blown heart attack. Turned out I had blockages in 3 coronary arteries that had produced no symptoms until that time. You may not be as lucky. SEE A DOCTOR NOW!!! ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/5 "2015-07-07T02:08:08Z")
I second the idea of drinking water (or gatoraid or poweraid) in case you’re dehydrated. Also try eating some potato chips, pickles or anything with lots of sodium. Actually don’t overdo the sodium since too rapid an increase can be more harmful than just being low. Also perhaps a banana for potassium. If no improvement, call 911 - that’s what paramedics are for. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/6 "2015-07-07T02:11:52Z")
Why don’t you want to go to the doctor? Are you afraid it’s something serious? Or afraid it’s nothing and they will make you feel bad for “wasting their time”? I assure you they will be thrilled if it turns out to be nothing. I’ve been to the ER a few times-- it’s not so bad once you’re there. Less scary than thinking about it. Are you concerned about the expense? The advice to call a nurse hotline is good if you absolutely refuse to go to the ER. Get some perspective. You could try one of those walk-in clinics, but they might send you to the ER anyway. Are you eating enough and drinking enough water? What about your parents–are they around? Are you all alone? Don’t just let it slide…for one thing, the worry will drive you nuts. Keep us posted. There are a lot of experienced old farts around here who love to give advice. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/7 "2015-07-07T02:14:29Z")
It could be a lot of things- stress, anxiety, inner ear, infection, diabetes, heart, etc… You won’t know until your doctor checks you out. Don’t sit around worrying and feeling bad. Please go soon and then come back and tell us what it was. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/8 "2015-07-07T02:47:26Z")
We prefer that real-life medical or legal questions be started in IMHO rather than General Questions. That way you can get opinions as well as facts. Moved. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/9 "2015-07-07T13:56:12Z")
Most people do not _want_ to see doctors or take medication. It’s just preferable to becoming physically dysfunctional or dying from a treatable medical condition. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/10 "2015-07-07T14:03:15Z")
See a doctor. Possibly Meniere’s disease. Do you feel dizzy like the room is spinning or like you’re on a rocking boat? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/11 "2015-07-07T14:10:19Z")
Are you drinking a lot of caffeine? I also echo SEE A DOCTOR. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/12 "2015-07-07T15:20:39Z")
Unless your 3:00 dizziness is always preceded by 2:30 whiskey shots, go see a doctor! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/13 "2015-07-07T15:30:22Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Unless your 3:00 dizziness is always preceded by 2:30 whiskey shots, go see a doctor! And at seventeen, if its preceded by 2:30 whiskey shots - see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/14 "2015-07-07T15:38:52Z")
‘Does alcohol make you dizzy?’ ‘Of course! But the name’s _Daisy!_’ _rimshot_ ‘Never go to a doctor. He might find something wrong.’ OK, now that those are out of the way… Unless there is an apparent cause for your dizziness (I was dehydrated when I was working on a film in May and became dizzy – I remedied the situation by drinking about 2 litres of water), go see a doctor. The SO’s blood pressure got out of whack and she experienced dizziness and one of her legs would ‘fall asleep’. After seeing a doctor and adjusting her medication, it seems to be under control. If you have any of the illnesses others have mentioned, it’s not something you should try to remedy yourself. Go see a doctor. If it’s nothing to worry about (e.g., you just need to remember to stay hydrated), then you’ll be relieved. If there _is_ something wrong, he or she can initiate treatment; and the sooner the better. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/15 "2015-07-07T22:43:31Z")
I’ll add my voice to chorus: Go see a doctor RIGHT NOW. You have no idea how serious this is. It could be nothing major, or it could be life threatening. Don’t take that chance. Your life is so much more precious than your pride, or whatever else is keeping you from seeing a doctor. J. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/16 "2015-07-07T23:26:32Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > It could be a lot of things- stress, anxiety, inner ear, infection, diabetes, heart, etc… > > You won’t know until your doctor checks you out. Don’t sit around worrying and feeling bad. > > Please go soon and then come back and tell us what it was. I agree with you , a doctor will not diagnosis a person over the phone so it would be risky to have us give any advice , there are a number of reasons a person can get dizzy . ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/17 "2015-07-08T01:22:51Z")
A doctor will not diagnose over the phone, but one of those “NurseLine” people will give you sensible advice, and THAT person might be better able than us to convince the poster to go to the ER when s/he hears the details. I wonder if we scared him away. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/18 "2015-07-08T03:49:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > A doctor will not diagnose over the phone, but one of those “NurseLine” people will give you sensible advice, and THAT person might be better able than us to convince the poster to go to the ER when s/he hears the details. > > I wonder if we scared him away. Let’s hope we scared him into seeing a Dr.! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/19 "2015-07-08T12:01:25Z")
Oddly, _I_ woke up dizzy this morning. Am I becoming too emotionally involved with this board? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437/20 "2015-07-08T12:43:23Z")
Could it be love? > [@](#): > > Dizzy > I’m so dizzy my head is spinning > Like a whirlpool, it never ends > And it’s you, girl, making it spin > You’re making me dizzy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-so-dizzy/724437.md?page=2)