Top 10 Triggers of Dizziness and Sweating

Sudden dizziness and sweating can be caused by conditions like hypoglycemia, anxiety attacks, or serious medical events such as a heart attack. Learning the signs of each can help you know when to seek emergency medical care.

1. Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, happens when blood glucose drops below healthy levels. People with diabetes often experience this. It can be caused by certain medications, like insulin, or occur from not eating enough during the day.

Hypoglycemia usually comes on suddenly. Besides dizziness and sweating, symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

• Blurry vision 
• Confusion
• Headache
• Hunger 
• Irritability
• Nervousness
• Rapid heart rate 
• Shakiness
• Sleepiness/fatigue
• Weakness
• Nausea

2. Signs of a Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is significantly reduced or blocked. The main symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. Dizziness and cold sweats may also happen. Other symptoms include:

• Discomfort in the back, jaw, neck, or upper abdomen 
• Feeling unusually tired (more common in women)
• Light-headedness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Shortness of breath 

3. Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are sudden, intense bursts of heat felt on the upper body, typically affecting the face, neck, and chest.

When estrogen levels decline during menopause, defined as 12 months without a period, the hypothalamus (a brain area controlling body temperature) becomes more sensitive to temperature changes, leading to hot flashes. 

Hot flashes can last from less than a minute to an hour. They’re associated with symptoms like:

• Dizziness
• Flushing 
• Rapid heart rate 
• Sweating
• Loss of energy or mental focus

4. Panic Attacks

Anxiety often causes dizziness and sweating, especially when anxiety is high. Many people with anxiety and panic disorders feel dizzy and sweaty before or during a panic attack.

A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that lasts for minutes. It can cause symptoms such as:

• Accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Dizziness or weakness
• Chills
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Tingly or numb hands
• Chest pain
• Stomach pain or nausea

When you experience high levels of anxiety, a surge of stress hormones (e.g., adrenaline, cortisol) floods the body. This can affect the vestibular system (sensory system in the inner ear) and cause dizziness. Studies show that people with anxiety disorders have an increased risk of developing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

5. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness when lying down. BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the gravity-sensing area of the inner ear move to the motion-sensing parts of the ear. This can result in brief but intense dizzy spells (vertigo) that make you feel like the room is spinning when your head changes position.

You may also experience sweating during an episode of BPPV.

6. Fainting (Due to Low Blood Pressure)

Fainting (syncope) occurs when you lose consciousness for a brief period. It occurs when your blood pressure drops suddenly, causing a decrease in blood flow to the brain due to an insufficient supply of oxygen. You may feel dizzy and light-headed or break out into a sweat moments before fainting. 

In most cases, fainting is not caused by a serious medical condition. Before you faint, you may experience:

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Feeling cold and clammy
• Nausea
• Vision changes (whiteout or blackout)
• Loss of muscle control/falling

7. Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is feeling unwell when traveling by car, boat, bus, plane, or train. It occurs when your brain gets conflicting signals from your eyes and inner ears about your body’s motion.

Symptoms of motion sickness include:

• Dizziness
• Cold sweats
• Nausea
• Vomiting 

Motion sickness is temporary and usually goes away when the motion stops.

8. Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke

Heat exhaustion results from exposure to high temperatures combined with a lack of hydration. Symptoms include:

Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which is a more serious condition requiring emergency medical care.

9. Dehydration

Dehydration can cause confusion, light-headedness, and dizziness, as well as excessive sweating. As dehydration worsens, you may sweat less.

Other symptoms of dehydration include:

• Severe thirst
• Dry mouth
• Dark urine
• Producing less urine than usual
• Fatigue

10. Vestibular Migraine

Vestibular migraine is a type of migraine headache that is associated with the balance systems of your body. People with this type of migraine can experience an episode of vertigo at any point during a migraine attack.

Some vestibular migraines don’t involve head pain, but may include other common migraine symptoms such as light or sound sensitivity. Sweating, dry mouth, tingling, and blurry vision are some other symptoms of this condition.

Other Possible Causes

Other causes of dizziness with sweating include:

• Medication side effects: Many different medications, as well as medication interactions (drugs that are potentially harmful and unsafe when taken together), can cause dizziness and sweating, as well as other side effects. Always check with your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms after starting a medication.
• Dumping syndrome: Symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea can occur when your body rapidly moves food from your stomach to your duodenum (the first part of your small intestine). Dumping syndrome most commonly affects people who have had part of their gastrointestinal system surgically removed.
• Alcohol withdrawal: Withdrawal occurs when heavy, long-term drinkers stop consuming alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms include dizziness and sweating, as well as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, nightmares, and even tremors, hallucinations, and seizures.

Diagnostic Tests

Your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause of your dizziness and sweating. During your appointment, they will take your medical history, ask about your symptoms (e.g., when they began, and how long they last), and perform a physical exam. 

To provide an accurate diagnosis, your healthcare provider may perform additional tests, such as:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This is a simple test that measures your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity to detect heart conditions. 
• Electronystagmography (ENG): An ENG can be used to conduct several tests that measure the electrical activity of the eyes to detect vestibular system disorders. 
• Syncope test: A tilt-table test is often used to evaluate the cause of unexplained syncope. You will lie flat on a table that changes your position from lying to standing. During the test, you are connected to blood pressure monitors and an ECG to measure your body’s response to the changes in position. 
• Blood tests: Blood draws can help detect any issues with your blood sugar levels, heart health, and hormone levels. 
• Imaging tests: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans and X-rays provide your healthcare provider with detailed pictures of your body’s internal tissues and structures to help detect potential problems.

When to Seek Medical Care

Seek medical care immediately if you experience dizziness and sweating with any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain 
• Confusion 
• Difficulty breathing
• Fainting or lightheadedness
• Headache—particularly if it is sudden and severe
• Irregular pulse 
• Loss of consciousness 
• Loss of hearing or vision
• Numbness in the body (e.g., face, arms, legs)
• Recurrent vomiting 
• Weakness in arms or legs