What causes dizziness and nausea?
Jun 16, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Feng
Introduction
In general, dizziness and nausea may be caused by excessive mental stress, environmental factors, dehydration, hypoglycemia, anemia, or other reasons. Symptomatic treatment such as general care or medication may be needed. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. When experiencing dizziness and nausea, it is advisable to immediately find a safe and comfortable place to sit or lie down and rest to avoid falling and getting injured.
Under normal circumstances, dizziness accompanied by nausea may be caused by excessive mental stress, environmental factors, dehydration, hypoglycemia, anemia, and other factors. Symptomatic management through general treatment and medication may be needed. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and undergo appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Excessive Mental Stress
Prolonged mental stress may lead to physical stress responses and potentially cause endocrine disorders, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It may also be accompanied by anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and other symptoms. It is recommended to learn stress-relief techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditation, which can help relax the body and mind.
2. Environmental Factors
Remaining in an enclosed, poorly ventilated environment for a long time may gradually reduce the oxygen concentration in the air, leading to insufficient cerebral blood supply. This may cause discomfort such as chest tightness and dizziness, and may also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It is recommended to open windows appropriately to maintain indoor ventilation or move to a well-ventilated environment as soon as possible.
3. Dehydration
Inadequate water intake can easily lead to dehydration. Dehydration affects blood circulation, forcing the heart to work harder to maintain normal blood flow, which may cause a drop in blood pressure and result in a feeling of dizziness. Additionally, dehydration may stimulate the vomiting center, causing nausea, and may also be accompanied by symptoms such as thirst, dark urine, and dizziness. It is recommended to replenish fluids promptly by drinking small amounts slowly, avoiding excessive water intake at once.
4. Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is mainly caused by insufficient food intake, excessive blood sugar reduction, and other factors. When blood glucose levels are too low, the brain's energy supply decreases, affecting brain function and causing sensations of dizziness and nausea. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, tremors, and palpitations. It is recommended to immediately consume sugary foods or drinks and follow medical advice to use medications such as glucose sodium chloride injection, hydrocortisone tablets, and mannitol injection to alleviate symptoms.
5. Anemia
Malnutrition, excessive blood loss, and impaired hematopoietic function can lead to anemia. In anemic conditions, due to reduced numbers of red blood cells or hemoglobin, the blood's ability to carry oxygen decreases, leading to tissue and organ hypoxia, especially in the brain, which can trigger dizziness. Additionally, the hypoxic state may stimulate the body's vomiting center, causing nausea, possibly accompanied by fatigue, pallor, palpitations, and other symptoms. It is recommended to follow a doctor's instructions to use medications such as ferrous sulfate sustained-release tablets, ferrous fumarate tablets, and ammonium ferric citrate vitamin B1 syrup II for treatment.
When experiencing dizziness with a feeling of nausea, it is recommended to immediately find a safe and comfortable place to sit or lie down and rest to avoid falling and sustaining injuries.
