Dizziness and vomiting are both symptoms with a wide variety of potential causes, including anxiety, migraine, or a stomach virus. These symptoms can appear together or separately.
Dizziness may include feelings of lightheadedness or vertigo. It can occur alongside nausea, vomiting, or both.
While dizziness and vomiting might indicate an underlying medical problem, the cause is often something temporary, such as anxiety or a minor stomach bug.
This article lists some potential causes of dizziness and vomiting and explains when to speak with a doctor.
Various things can cause dizziness and vomiting. People can speak with a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause.
A doctor may consider risk factors, such as whether someone has had recent exposure to something dangerous, and take other symptoms into account.
Below are some potential causes of dizziness and vomiting.
1. Anxiety and other mental health issues
Intense anxiety may lead to nausea and vomiting. Some people may also feel dizzy, confused, and as if their thoughts are out of control.
This type of anxiety may come before a specific event, such as a test or a difficult emotional situation. When the stress resolves, the anxiety should also go away.
When anxiety causes dizziness and vomiting, it may initiate a continuous cycle: a person feels anxious, then vomits, and then gets anxious about the cause of the vomiting.
If anxiety and its symptoms occur frequently, do not go away, or worsen, a person
Other mental health factors may also play a role in vomiting and dizziness. For example, people with strong food aversions or phobias may vomit after exposure to a trigger. Depression may also contribute to acute or chronic stomach problems.
2. Stomach viruses and infections
Nausea and vomiting
Gastroenteritis ranges from mild to severe. In
Excessive vomiting can lead to dizziness, especially if a person becomes dehydrated. Some people also feel dizzy when they are nauseated.
Some of the most common causes of gastroenteritis include:
- Viruses: Viruses that can cause gastroenteritis include norovirus and rotavirus.
- Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections that can cause gastroenteritis include E. coli and Salmonella.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to metabolize glucose, potentially causing very high blood sugar. People with diabetes may vomit or feel dizzy when their blood sugar is too high or too low.
Diabetes can also cause a life threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when there are too many ketones in the blood.
Ketones are chemicals that help break down fat for energy if someone does not have enough insulin to break down blood sugar.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis include:
- stomach pain
- dry, flushed skin
- severe thirst and frequent urination
- confusion
- fruity-smelling breath or urine
- nausea and vomiting
4. Inner ear issues
The inner ear helps regulate balance. Problems with the inner ear, including infections and physical injuries,
Vertigo is the feeling that the body is moving in space, even when it is not. It may feel like someone is spinning or turning while standing still.
Some people may also feel nauseous and vomit due to the dizziness. Inner ear problems can develop slowly or come on suddenly.
If someone has sudden vertigo, nausea, and vomiting that lasts
If dizziness is intense or interferes with a person’s ability to function properly, it is essential to see a doctor.
5. Liver problems
The liver acts as the body’s detoxification system. If the liver is not working properly, a person may feel dizzy or vomit. Liver problems may also cause:
- very dark urine
- intense pain in the upper right side of the body
- yellow skin and eyes
Sometimes a gallstone can block a bile duct, causing liver issues. If the body can pass the gallstone, the symptoms may suddenly go away on their own.
If the gallstone cannot pass, symptoms
6. Neurological health problems
When something goes wrong in the brain, it can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and various other symptoms.
Conditions that can affect various parts of the brain include:
People who feel dizzy after a car accident or a blow to the head should seek medical help.
7. Migraine
People may experience changes in vision and perception immediately before a migraine. It is also
It is possible to feel dizzy from a migraine with little or no headache.
8. Motion sickness
Moving in a car, boat, airplane, or another vehicle can confuse the body’s balance system. For some people, this causes motion sickness and may trigger headaches, dizziness, or vomiting.
Symptoms usually go away after a person gets back on stable ground. People can also try certain medications and management strategies,
- keeping the head as stable as possible
- avoid reading
- listen to calm music
- focus on a fixed point on the horizon
- take anticholinergic medications or antihistamines
9. Cyclic vomiting syndrome
Frequent bouts of dizziness and vomiting may be due to a condition called cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). This condition involves vomiting and nausea that may last
CVS sometimes gets better with diet changes, but more research is necessary to understand what causes this syndrome.
While there is no standard treatment for CVS, certain medications, including migraine medication or antihistamines, may offer some relief.
10. Alcohol or drugs
Various recreational drugs can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as dizziness. The risk of these symptoms may increase with heavy use.
Drinking alcohol can also lead to a variety of symptoms, including vomiting, dizziness, and headaches.
11. Poisoning
Sudden, unexplained dizziness and vomiting can sometimes indicate poisoning,
Poisoning is more likely when someone visits contaminated areas, inhales potentially toxic substances, has radiation exposure, or consumes food or water that might be contaminated.
12. Organ injury
Organ failure and physical trauma can cause intense nausea and stomach pain, as well as vomiting and dizziness.
If someone gets a physical injury, has a severe infection, or is at risk of organ failure, they should consider the possibility of organ problems causing dizziness and vomiting.
13. Pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones can cause dizziness and vomiting, particularly in the first trimester. Some people find that the following management strategies help reduce symptoms:
- avoiding foods that trigger nausea
- resting
- drinking more water
- preventing hunger
14. Stroke
A stroke
Some people experience nausea and vomiting during a stroke. However, almost all people having strokes experience other symptoms, too. Nausea and vomiting alone are unlikely to mean someone is having a stroke.
15. Heart attack
Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting can also occur during a heart attack, although they are less common and less well-known than other symptoms.
Sometimes, a heart attack may cause these symptoms without more common signs, such as chest pain. Chest pain may also be mild or start slowly.
Heart attacks are
Not all home remedies work for all forms of vomiting and dizziness. If either symptom is severe, it is vital to seek medical attention.
When symptoms are mild or come and go, people can try the following strategies:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Most people should aim for six to eight glasses of water daily. An electrolyte replacement drink may also help.
- Use a carbonated beverage to help settle the stomach.
- Lie down in a cool, quiet place to rest.
- Avoid bright lights, loud sounds, and anything that might overstimulate the brain.
- Eat a bland diet until the vomiting stops. Clear liquids, such as broths, tea, and juices, may also help.
- Try an over-the-counter stomach medication to reduce vomiting.
The above list of potential causes for dizziness and vomiting does not outline every possible cause. In some cases, a doctor may find another underlying cause. People should speak with a doctor if:
- vomiting occurs with a fever
- vomiting is intense, and it is impossible to keep any food down
- vomiting related to pregnancy is getting worse
- a migraine headache is getting worse or will not go away
When to seek urgent medical care
Go to the emergency room or seek urgent care if:
- there are signs of a stroke, such as:
- a droopy face
- balance changes
- muscle weakness
- changes in consciousness
- an intense headache
- new numbness or tingling
- difficulty thinking or speaking clearly
- there is chest pain or shortness of breath
- there is blood in the vomit, or the vomit looks like coffee grounds
- symptoms occur after a head injury, car accident, or blow to the stomach
- there are signs of liver failure, such as yellow skin or pain in the upper right abdomen
- the pain in the stomach or head is intense or unbearable
- a person with diabetes has symptoms of ketoacidosis
Dizziness and vomiting are never pleasant, but often go away on their own. There is typically no need to panic if these symptoms are mild and temporary, but it is vital to be aware of possible causes that warrant medical attention.
Home strategies that may relieve symptoms include staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and eating bland foods.
If the dizziness and vomiting worsen or persist, a person should speak to a doctor for a proper diagnosis.