Dizziness is not a sickness in itself but a symptom that can have many different causes. It is often experienced as a sensation that everything is spinning, rocking, or that the surroundings are moving even though they are actually still.

Our balance depends on several systems in the body working together: the balance organ in the inner ear, the visual sense of the eyes, the brain’s processing of information (especially the cerebellum), and the body’s sense of position in muscles and joints. If just one of these functions is disturbed, dizziness can occur.

A common cause is problems in the inner ear, such as loose ear crystals (benign positional vertigo) or inflammation of the balance nerve. Neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or migraine can also cause dizziness because the brain’s ability to process sensory input is affected.

In addition, dizziness can arise from more diffuse effects on the brain, such as alcohol, dehydration, low blood sugar, anemia, or side effects from medication. Psychological conditions like anxiety, stress, or nervousness can also cause a sensation of dizziness.

Many also experience dizziness as a brief drop in blood pressure - called orthostatic hypotension - when standing up quickly from a sitting or lying position. Dizziness can also result from generally low blood pressure or anemia, for example due to a lack of iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid.