Dizziness can describe several different sensations. You might feel:

• Faint, as if you could pass out
• Lightheaded or woozy
• Off-balance or unsteady
• As if you or the room are moving, which is known as vertigo

Putting the sensation into words can help a clinician decide what to investigate. A menopause symptom guide may also help you note other symptoms without assuming they have the same cause.

Keep a simple log of when dizziness starts, how long it lasts, what you were doing, and possible patterns involving position changes, meals, fluid intake, sleep, bleeding, hot flashes, headaches, or medicines.

Clinicians often ask whether symptoms come and go and about possible triggers, so these details may make an appointment more productive. Note, too, whether headaches are part of the pattern.

If lightheadedness happens after heavy sweating or a day when you haven’t had much to drink, sip fluids and keep water available. Dehydration can worsen dizziness when standing, so staying hydrated may help if low fluid intake is contributing.

If dizziness keeps coming back, ask a healthcare professional what else may be causing it.

If dizziness happens after sitting or lying down, pause before standing and use a stable surface for support. If symptoms begin, sit down or lie down rather than trying to walk. Stand slowly after the symptoms improve.

People with orthostatic or postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure after standing) may feel faint or lightheaded within seconds to minutes of standing. Recurrent episodes, falls, fainting, or chest discomfort deserve medical attention.

Some medicines can contribute to dizziness. Make a complete list of prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, and supplements, including recent dose changes, and share them with a healthcare professional or pharmacist for review.

Don’t stop taking any prescription medications without first discussing it with the prescribing doctor.

Make an appointment if dizziness is persistent, recurrent, worsening, or unexplained, especially if it occurs with hearing changes, headaches, imbalance, or a recent medicine change.

Recurring dizziness can also result from dehydration, blood loss, anemia, low blood sugar, heart or lung disorders, or medication effects. A history and physical exam can guide whether testing or treatment is needed.

Sudden dizziness — especially when it happens with certain neurological or heart-related symptoms — can signal an emergency health problem.

Call 911 right away if dizziness occurs with warning signs such as:

• Sudden trouble walking or loss of balance
• Sudden vision changes
• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
• A sudden, severe headache
• Fainting
• Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort, especially with shortness of breath or palpitations

These can be warning signs of a stroke or another serious condition. Even if possible stroke symptoms go away after a few minutes, call 911. Don’t drive yourself.