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What Causes Dizziness Upon Waking Up?

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Posted on Thu, 31 Aug 2017
Question: Hi,
My Wife (XXXX) is 33 years old. She woke up this morning with dizziness. After taking a multi vitamin tablet and resting for 2 hours, it got better. However, in the evening before dinner she felt dizzy. She is healthy before this incident and had her complete health check done in September 2016. What could be the reason for this sudden dizziness? Are there any other symptoms we need to observe? She is fine now after dinner.
Thanks
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Questions so that I can help

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Before I answer, I need clarification of the type of dizziness, because it can mean a few different things:

1. Does XXXX feel light headed when she stands up quickly?
2. When standing for a long time?
3. Is it, instead of light headedness, a feeling of the room spinning? And does it occur when she is lying down, too?
4. Is she dizzy when her head is perfectly still?

Also:
5. Where is she in her menstrual cycle (if the first day of bleeding is Day 1 of her month)?

Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (16 minutes later)
Hi Doctor,

This morning when I woke up, i was feeling dizzy and it continued irrespective of me standing, lying down or sitting. After taking the vitamin tablet and rest for 2 hours, it subsided to some extent and later in the afternoon there no dizziness. Find answers to your questions from me.

1. Does XXXX feel light headed when she stands up quickly?
XXXX - Not specifically.
2. When standing for a long time?
XXXX - No
3. Is it, instead of light headedness, a feeling of the room spinning? And does it occur when she is lying down, too?
XXXX - Yes
4. Is she dizzy when her head is perfectly still?
XXXX - Yes
Also:
5. Where is she in her menstrual cycle (if the first day of bleeding is Day 1 of her month)?
XXXX - Last cycle was on 7/20
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,

If it is a feeling of the room spinning, this type of dizziness is called vertigo. There are many causes for vertigo, but the most common type of vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. It comes pretty much out of nowhere and isn't associated with any other symptoms (except for possibly nausea from feeling like the room is spinning). It is due to otoliths getting from the part of the inner ear that they should be to a part that they shouldn't be, and causing the problems you are noting. Treatment is certain head position maneuvers that a doctor can do (called Epley maneuvers). However, many people have success doing positional maneuvers at home. I'm attaching a you-tube video of an ear-nose-throat (ENT) doctor's demonstration of the maneuvers you can do at home. It will not show up as a blue link, but you can copy and paste it into your address bar to see it.
XXXXXXX asked what other symptoms to watch for. While it is most likely BPPV (which is very common and which does not have any other neurological signs associated with it), do watch for slurred speech, weakness in part of the body or on one side, changes in vision or cognition (all of which are signs you should get to the ER quickly). Hearing impairment is another symptom to watch for (but is not from BPPV).

So here is the video. I hope it helps you on your first try:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VWyPgfMuvM&t=47s
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3133 Questions

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What Causes Dizziness Upon Waking Up?

Brief Answer: Questions so that I can help Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Before I answer, I need clarification of the type of dizziness, because it can mean a few different things: 1. Does XXXX feel light headed when she stands up quickly? 2. When standing for a long time? 3. Is it, instead of light headedness, a feeling of the room spinning? And does it occur when she is lying down, too? 4. Is she dizzy when her head is perfectly still? Also: 5. Where is she in her menstrual cycle (if the first day of bleeding is Day 1 of her month)? Thank you.