What should I do now?
Call 911
Call 911 for new or unexplained chest pressure that persists or returns, severe trouble breathing, collapse without normal recovery, or sudden face/arm weakness or trouble speaking. Do not drive yourself.
Contact your care team
Contact your care team for new or recurrent dizziness or near-fainting. Seek urgent assessment if symptoms are severe.
Keep your care plan
Sit or lie down safely during symptoms and note timing and medication changes.
SECTION 5
How is dizziness treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. Your clinician may adjust a medicine, treat anemia, or manage a heart rhythm problem.
If standing causes a blood pressure drop
Changing positions slowly and sitting down when symptoms begin can help. Fluid, salt, compression garments, or medicines may be recommended for selected patients. Do not increase salt or fluids without guidance if you have heart failure, kidney disease, or a fluid restriction.
If the cause is in the inner ear
Some conditions improve with guided repositioning maneuvers or balance therapy. These treatments address the diagnosed problem, rather than treating all dizziness the same way.
Do not stop prescribed heart or blood pressure medicines on your own. Ask about fall prevention and when driving is safe.
Updated October 2026. Educational information; your own care plan may differ. Medical illustrations are simplified examples for teaching.