Track your dizziness and vertigo
Dizziness and vertigo can range from lightheadedness to a spinning sensation that affects your balance and safety. Accurate logging is vital for neurological and inner-ear diagnostics.
Why track this symptom?
- Record the specific duration and intensity of spinning episodes.
- Identify positional triggers (e.g., standing up too fast).
- Provide a clear timeline to help specialists rule out conditions.
How Trace helps
Trace captures the 'when' and 'how much' with zero friction. During a dizzy spell, you can log the event with a single tap, ensuring you have the data for your doctor once the room stops spinning.
Common causes
Dizziness commonly results from benign positional vertigo (BPPV) when calcium crystals in the inner ear become displaced, especially with head position changes. Vestibular neuritis, Ménière's disease, and inner ear infections cause spinning vertigo often accompanied by hearing changes. Orthostatic hypotension from dehydration, blood pressure medications, or blood loss causes lightheadedness when standing. Anxiety, medication side effects, and blood sugar fluctuations also frequently trigger dizziness episodes.
When to see a doctor
Call emergency services if dizziness occurs with chest pain, severe headache, slurred speech, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I track when I feel dizzy?
Log whether the room spins (vertigo) or you feel lightheaded, duration, triggers like head position changes or standing up, associated symptoms like nausea or hearing changes, and what helps resolve it. Track meals and hydration too.
How does a dizziness log help my doctor?
The distinction between vertigo and lightheadedness points to very different causes. Your log helps doctors determine if dizziness is vestibular, cardiovascular, or neurological in origin, which guides the right tests and referrals.
When is dizziness serious enough for medical attention?
Seek immediate care if dizziness comes with double vision, slurred speech, facial drooping, or severe headache. See your doctor if episodes are recurrent, lasting longer, or affecting your ability to walk safely. Tracking patterns helps prioritize the right investigations.
How can I accurately describe different types of dizziness in my tracking app?
Distinguish between spinning sensation (vertigo), feeling faint or lightheaded, and off-balance or unsteady feelings. Note triggers like head movements, standing up, or occurring spontaneously. Rate intensity and duration separately, as these details help doctors narrow down whether the cause is inner ear, cardiovascular, or neurological.
What patterns in my dizziness log would prompt my doctor to order specific tests?
Episodes triggered by specific head positions suggest BPPV and may warrant positional testing. Dizziness with hearing changes indicates possible Ménière's disease requiring audiological evaluation. Patterns showing dizziness when standing suggest blood pressure or heart rhythm issues needing cardiac assessment.
Read the complete guide: How to Track Dizziness / Vertigo: A Complete Guide →