Dizziness is a term used to describe everything from feeling faint or lightheaded to feeling weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo.  As a child, spinning until you were dizzy may have been great fun. But otherwise, finding the room spinning isn't pleasant at all.  Dizziness is one of the most common reasons adults visit their doctors. Although it may be disabling and incapacitating, dizziness rarely signals a serious, life-threatening condition. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms, but is usually effective.

See your doctor if you experience any unexplained, recurrent or severe dizziness.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you experience dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following:

• Head injury
• A new, different or severe headache
• A fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C)
• A very stiff neck
• Blurred vision
• Hearing loss
• Speech impairment
• Leg or arm weakness
• Loss of consciousness
• Falling or difficulty walking
• Numbness or tingling
• Chest pain or rapid or slow heart rate