What is the difference between nausea and dizziness?

We have all experienced dizziness, lightheadedness or imbalance at least once in a lifetime irrespective of age and gender. Sometimes a feeling of nausea and vomiting comes along with dizziness and sometimes it's just a case of simple dizziness.

You must be thinking what is dizziness? What is nausea? and what is vertigo (chakkar aana)? & How feeling nauseated is associated with it? Let me first clear the difference between nausea, dizziness & vertigo.

When a person experiences a sensation of uneasiness in the abdomen it is known as nausea.

Whereas a feeling of lightheadedness when a person feels dizzy or woozy and experiences a loss of balance it is known as dizziness. It can be caused by simple reasons like dehydration or lack of sleep or can be caused due to certain medical conditions like dips in blood pressure and sugar levels. If we talk about vertigo, A sensation of spinning where a room seems to spin around or a person feels he is spinning all by himself which in reality is not in any motion along with a loss of equilibrium such a condition is defined as vertigo.

Dizziness and vertigo both are the symptoms of various underlying causes rather than being an ailment itself. While nausea and vomiting are the most common set of symptoms that comes along with vertigo dizziness. When a person feels uneasy in the abdomen and abdomen muscles tighten up due to lightheadedness or dizziness, and a person starts feeling nauseated.

If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting along with spinning sensations, loss of balance and lightheadedness it indicates vertigo ( chakkar aana) condition. Dizziness and nausea, hand in hand, can even be caused due to migraine attacks and dips in blood pressure levels.

If you are feeling nauseated quite frequently due to vertigo or dizziness, it is advised to seek medical help. An expert neurologist will come to your aid and examine your condition closely by monitoring every vertigo and dizziness symptoms. After a thorough diagnosis of the underlying cause, he would suggest you with the right treatment as a cure for dizziness. If the underlying cause of dizziness is the side effects of certain medications or dips in blood pressure and sugar levels, he will either exchange or may ask you to stop taking tablets for dizziness cure. If you are diagnosed with vertigo condition which makes you feel dizzy and nauseated, he may prescribe certain antidepressants and sedatives tablets for the dizziness to prevent anxiety and early recovery.

By now you are all clear of the fact that nausea is a symptom of dizziness and dizziness is a symptom of various underlying causes. Nausea comes along with dizziness when the abdominal track gets triggered. It causes uneasiness in the abdomen which results in tightening the abdominal muscles and the gastrointestinal tract pushes the gastric content towards the mouth resulting in nausea and vomiting.

Here is a list of some common conditions experienced by patients that results in causing nausea and dizziness together:

Apart from common conditions like dehydration and food poisoning, there are various other conditions that result in making a person feel nauseated along with sensations of dizziness. Let's have a quick look

1. Peripheral and Central Vertigo conditions

As we all know vertigo is a symptom of various underlying causes, it is widely categorized into two parts: peripheral and central vertigo. An inflammation or infection in the vestibular nerve is known as peripheral vertigo whereas a problem in the brain or brain stem is known as central vertigo. BPPV, Meniere’s disease, Labyrinthitis, Vestibular neuritis are vestibular disorders that result in vertigo spells along with making a person lose balance or feel unsteady. Whereas Migraine, Multiple sclerosis, Cerebellar ataxia are central nervous system conditions that result in spinning sensations along with feeling unsteady. Both the conditions come with its own set of symptoms and vertigo is often accompanied by dizziness, nausea & vomiting.

2. Excessive consumption of alcohol

Excess intake of alcohol results in making a person feel dizzy thereby thinning your blood. Excessive consumption of alcohol results in irritating the stomach and makes a person feel nauseated along with sudden bouts of dizziness.

3. Motion sickness

If a person is suffering from motion sickness while riding in a vehicle, it often results in making a person feel dizzy along with nausea.

4. Pregnancy

We all know, morning sickness and dizziness are common occurrences in the initial trimester of pregnancy due to changes in hormones.

5. Anxiety

Stress and anxiety attacks are common conditions that are faced by many. It results in making a person feel dizzy along with shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, sweating, nausea and so on.

6. Side effects of certain antibiotics

Certain antidepressant medicines or sedatives show side effects on the human body. Lack of sleep, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, etc. are the most common adverse effects of certain medications.

7. Low Blood Sugar or Hypoglycemia

Dips in sugar level make a person lose balance and feel nauseated. A person suffering from diabetes is more at risk of such a condition.

8. Hypotension or low blood pressure

When a blood pressure level of a person drops below the normal range it results in making a person feel nauseated and dizzy.

9. Migraines

Migraines cause severe headaches on one side of the head along with blurred vision, thereby resulting in making a person feel dizzy and nauseated.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Treating nausea and dizziness entirely depends on the underlying cause. An expert neurologist will first diagnose the condition closely by seeking the complete medical history of the patient. He will closely monitor dizziness symptoms to identify the underlying cause and will ask you to undergo certain medical tests. MRI, CT scan, vestibular tests, etc. are certain tests that are carried out by doctors to evaluate the condition closely that is responsible for causing dizziness and nausea. He will prescribe certain sedatives, tablets for dizziness, anti-vertigo medications, dopamine, etc. depending on the underlying condition as a cure for dizziness and nausea along with the underlying condition. It is advised not to self-medicate and consult an expert medical professional to get you diagnosed and treated.

With the right diagnosis of your medical condition, you will get the right treatment on time thereby preventing symptoms from getting persistent and the condition from getting chronic. For speedy and early recovery from dizziness and nausea that is affecting your well-being, it's time to seek medical help immediately. A healthy life is equal to a happy life!