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What Causes Sudden Head Spinning, Cold Sweats, Nausea And Loss Of Balance?
Question: I woke up in the middle of the night with a start. When I opened my eyes the bedroom was spinning so fast I got the cold sweats and the feeling I was going to throw up. I stumbled to the bathroom and did not throw up so sat on the toilet as I had to have a bowel movement. When I started to sit down I completely lost my balance and fell to the floor. Again, I was cold and clammy and had dry heaves. This has lasted until about 1:00 PM when I could finally move from bed to a Lazy Boy chair. Every time I have gotten up to pee I have been unsteady and eventually had dry heaves. Again, better now at 3 PM but head still dizzy and foggy and I anticipate more dizziness and dry heaves/vomit since I have eaten three hamburgers and sipped some water. What is going on?
Brief Answer:
Some tests should be run
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Well, these are symptoms that encompass a lot of physiological states and also pathological ones. For instance, this can happen after an episode of binge drinking. If this is not the cause, then dehydration can cause this feeling, so stay hydrated as much as you can.
If these are not the causes that may be in the base of the problem, then we should seek other disorders to find out what truly is going on. There are some tests and visits that should be carried out and recommended to do so:
- the cardiac part (heart part - as you are a 58 year old individual of male sex which puts you in cardiovascular risk):
- EKG - to evaluate the electrical and, especially, the conduction system of the heart;
- 24-hour rhythm monitor - to see if there is something unusual going on in your heart conduction system, especially when you may experience this episode again
- the neurological part - a consult with a neurologist and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head may be recommended.
- the otorhinolaringological part - a consult with an ENT doctor and, if former infections/inflammations of the middle/inner ear are present in your history, then the inner ear may be the cause of these concerns (the inner ear is responsible for individual's balance/equilibrium)
- biochemical part - a full biochemical profile, including blood sugar levels, kidney function tests, liver functions tests, blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and electrolytes, is in order at this point
- complete blood count - since changes in certain blood series, especially the red one, may be accompanied with these symptoms.
As soon as we have the results of these tests and consults, we may be more confident in establishing/excluding certain diagnosis(es). This is my thorough opinion.
I hope my answer is helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
Some tests should be run
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Well, these are symptoms that encompass a lot of physiological states and also pathological ones. For instance, this can happen after an episode of binge drinking. If this is not the cause, then dehydration can cause this feeling, so stay hydrated as much as you can.
If these are not the causes that may be in the base of the problem, then we should seek other disorders to find out what truly is going on. There are some tests and visits that should be carried out and recommended to do so:
- the cardiac part (heart part - as you are a 58 year old individual of male sex which puts you in cardiovascular risk):
- EKG - to evaluate the electrical and, especially, the conduction system of the heart;
- 24-hour rhythm monitor - to see if there is something unusual going on in your heart conduction system, especially when you may experience this episode again
- the neurological part - a consult with a neurologist and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head may be recommended.
- the otorhinolaringological part - a consult with an ENT doctor and, if former infections/inflammations of the middle/inner ear are present in your history, then the inner ear may be the cause of these concerns (the inner ear is responsible for individual's balance/equilibrium)
- biochemical part - a full biochemical profile, including blood sugar levels, kidney function tests, liver functions tests, blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and electrolytes, is in order at this point
- complete blood count - since changes in certain blood series, especially the red one, may be accompanied with these symptoms.
As soon as we have the results of these tests and consults, we may be more confident in establishing/excluding certain diagnosis(es). This is my thorough opinion.
I hope my answer is helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Dr. Thank you very much for the thorough diagnosis. I ended up going to see my doctor when I started to feel slightly better around 4:30 PM EDT. I was cleared of any infection - ears were perfectly clear. I was prescribed a drug for the vertigo and also for nas. I forgot to mention that my entire family had serious, fast moving flu sweep through our house. Both boys vomited many times over 8-hours. My wife was lethargic and had diarrhea with no vomiting. I thought I was going to beat this flu, then I wake up dizzy as hell and dry heaves. My doctor said the flu ended up in my head and inner ear. He listened to my heart, took blood pressure (120/70), weighed me and then surprised me by listening to my gut/stomach to rule out gastroenteritis, which he did. Your now my second opinion as he felt this would resolve on its own which it seems to be doing? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Well, it would be a big clue should you have mentioned that all your family was sicm, and with same symptoms. I was ordering those tests as I wanted to be accurate on the diagnosis. As your practitioner stated. I would also recommend that this will resolve on its own between 24-48 hours, if I would have been informed about the familial distribution of this phenomenon.
I hope this helps. Please close the discussion and rate the answer, if you do not have followup questions.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Well, it would be a big clue should you have mentioned that all your family was sicm, and with same symptoms. I was ordering those tests as I wanted to be accurate on the diagnosis. As your practitioner stated. I would also recommend that this will resolve on its own between 24-48 hours, if I would have been informed about the familial distribution of this phenomenon.
I hope this helps. Please close the discussion and rate the answer, if you do not have followup questions.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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