Chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness on one side, a fit or heavy bleeding needs help now, not an appointment.

112Any emergency108Ambulance102Pregnancy and newborn
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Head, brain and nerves

Dizziness or giddiness

Also called dizziness, giddiness, chakkar, vertigo, light headed

What it meansSafe at homeDo not doSee a doctorWarning signs

What this means

Dizziness can mean feeling light headed or feeling that the surroundings are spinning. Common causes include low blood pressure, dehydration, inner ear problems or low sugar.

Safe to do at home

  • Sit or lie down safely until it passes
  • Get up slowly from lying or sitting
  • Drink water and eat regularly
  • Avoid sudden head movements during an episode

Please do not do this alone

  • Do not drive or climb heights while feeling dizzy
  • Do not take vertigo medicines on your own long term
  • Do not ignore dizziness with fainting

Book a consultation if

  • Dizziness keeps coming back or lasts long
  • It comes with hearing changes or ringing in the ears
  • It affects your balance or daily activities

Get help immediately if

  • Dizziness with chest pain, breathlessness or a racing heart
  • Dizziness with slurred speech, weakness or facial droop
  • Dizziness with a sudden severe headache or fainting

The right doctor for this

General Physician

This is the specialist who sees this symptom most often and can examine you properly. If you are not sure, a general physician is always a safe place to start and will refer you onward if you need it.

Consult a General Physician

Get care for this

Doctors and care for dizziness or giddiness

Verified Teleprac doctors you can see online or in a clinic, lab tests with home sample collection, and genuine medicines delivered to your door.

See all symptoms

How to use this page. It explains what a symptom usually means, so that you can decide whether to watch it, book a consultation or get help now. It does not diagnose you, it does not know your age, your pregnancy or your other medicines, and it cannot replace being examined. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own.

Consult a doctorGeneral Physician

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Emergency numbers in India

Save these in your phone now, not when you need them. Tap any number to call it.

112Any emergencyOne number for police, fire and ambulance across India108AmbulanceFree emergency ambulance in most states and union territories102Pregnancy and newbornAmbulance for mothers and babies in most states14416Mental health supportTele MANAS, free counselling every hour of the day, many languages1800 116 117Poisoning or overdoseNational Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS New Delhi1098Child in distressChildline India, free and confidential

Where to read more

Public health sources written for patients rather than for doctors, and kept up to date.

Ministry of Health and Family WelfareOfficial Indian health programmes, advisories and public guidanceWorld Health Organization health topicsGlobal fact sheets written for the public, on hundreds of topicsNHS health A to ZPlain language pages on symptoms, conditions, tests and treatmentsMedlinePlusPatient information from the United States National Library of MedicineTele MANASIndia's national mental health support service, free and available all day

Important: Everything in Teleprac patient resources is general health education. It does not give you a diagnosis and it cannot replace examination by a qualified doctor, because it does not know your age, your reports, your pregnancy or the other medicines you take. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own. Teleprac Healthcare is not liable for decisions made on the basis of this information. In an emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital immediately.