Dizziness Symptoms From COVID: During or After Virus

Dizziness is a neurological symptom of COVID-19 that occurs as an early or initial symptom of the disease. It sometimes occurs with vertigo, a feeling your surroundings are spinning. Both dizziness and vertigo can present in people with long COVID. 

COVID-19 leads to dizziness for different reasons, including the effects of inflammatory processes, nervous system problems related to COVID-19, and worsening of underlying medical conditions. 

Researchers are still trying to determine the exact number of people who experience dizziness with COVID-19. While there are limited studies, evidence suggests that dizziness and vertigo are neurological symptoms of COVID-19.

This article will cover how COVID-19 causes dizziness, how long it lasts, treatment, causes, and more. 

Describing Dizziness Spells in COVID

When a person is dizzy, they might feel lightheaded, woozy, or disoriented. Dizziness sometimes goes hand-in-hand with vertigo—a feeling that you or the room you are in is spinning. Both symptoms can affect a person's balance. 

Dizziness in COVID-19 might also be linked to other symptoms like vertigo, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and blurred vision. These symptoms might also occur during recovery and in people who experience long COVID, a variety of symptoms lasting weeks, months, or years after infection.

One 2020 JAMA Neurology study looked at neurological symptoms in 214 people hospitalized due to COVID-19. Researchers found that 18.8% experienced dizziness as a symptom. The report's authors further noted that neurological symptoms of COVID-19 were more common in people with severe COVID-19.  

A 2021 Ear, Nose & Throat Journal review of studies described dizziness as a COVID-19 symptom. Across the studies reviewed, the percentage of people who reported dizziness with COVID-19 ranged from 4% to 30%.  

Other Conditions That Cause Dizziness 

Dizziness occurs because of something that affects the body's sense of balance. Any disruption can affect how your central nervous system processes information, leading to dizziness. Your central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. It is your body's central communication hub, receiving, processing, and responding to sensory output.

Various conditions cause dizziness as the primary symptom, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). POTS is characterized by dizziness and heart palpitations when standing. The condition severely increases the heart rate. 

Viral and bacterial infections can trigger POTS, and some researchers believe the coronavirus is one such trigger. Researchers have found many cases of people recovering from COVID-19 who were experiencing POTS-like symptoms, including dizziness, brain fog (difficulty thinking and concentrating), severe fatigue, and increased heart rate. 

Additional causes of dizziness are:

• Neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
• Anxiety disorders
• Side effects of some medications
• Anemia (low numbers of healthy red blood cells)
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Dehydration
• Heart attack or stroke

How Long Does Dizziness Last With COVID?           

Dizziness with COVID-19 might be an early symptom of the infection. It can last for days or weeks. For some people, dizziness may go on for weeks or months due to long COVID.

Short-Term COVID-19 Dizziness

It is not known how long dizziness from COVID-19 will last. Some people who experience it report this symptom dissipates within a few days. For others, dizziness might last longer. 

It might be possible to reduce the length of time if you know the exact cause. If you were dehydrated or felt dehydrated before symptoms started, getting back to a healthy diet and keeping hydrated might help. 

If the fever is causing your dizziness, the dizziness might improve as your fever lessens. If you have dizziness because of COVID-19 exacerbating an underlying medical condition, the dizziness will improve once that condition is managed.  

Long COVID Dizziness

Long COVID refers to a broad set of signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after a person has recovered from COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), long COVID often affects people with severe illnesses.

However, anyone infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can develop long COVID. Unvaccinated people also have a higher risk of developing long COVID.

According to a 2023 National Institutes of Health study, many long COVID symptoms are neurological. This study looked at 12 people with persistent neurological symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection who were found to have differences in immune cell properties and autonomic dysfunction.

Some of the study participants described symptoms that were suggestive of an autonomic disorder. Symptoms included palpitations, gastrointestinal symptoms, and orthostatic dizziness. Orthostatic dizziness is a type of low blood pressure after someone gets up from sitting or lying down. It causes dizziness and, sometimes, fainting. 

The CDC lists dizziness as a symptom of long COVID. It might occur with other neurological symptoms, including:

• Brain fog
• Headache 
• Sleep problems 
• Pins-and-needles sensations 
• Changes in smell or taste
• Depression or anxiety

Additional symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Extreme fatigue or tiredness 
• Shortness of breath 
• Heart palpitations 
• Aches and pains 
• Low-grade fever
• Gastrointestinal (GI) troubles, including diarrhea and constipation 

It is unknown how COVID-19 leads to long COVID or why some people experience prolonged or new symptoms long after the infection has cleared. Both are areas of ongoing research.

Treatment to Manage COVID Dizzy Spells 

Your dizziness should improve as your COVID-19 symptoms improve. In addition, treatments you take to manage symptoms like headache and fever can also help to reduce dizziness. If you have severe symptoms of COVID-19 or are considered at high risk for disease complications, your healthcare provider might prescribe an antiviral medication to help treat the condition. 

Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications can offer relief if you feel incredibly dizzy or have dizziness and vertigo. OTC options for dizzy spells and vertigo include Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) and Bonine (meclizine). Ask your healthcare provider if these medications are safe for based on your health history.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe a longer-term treatment for severe or ongoing dizziness. For example, Zyprexa (olanzapine) is a prescription drug prescribed to people who experience dizziness linked to a neurological problem. It is an antipsychotic drug with a calming effect.

Dizziness can be managed with self-care steps, with or without COVID. The following activities might help ease dizzy spells:

• Sit or lie down: As soon as you start to feel dizzy, stop what you are doing to sit or lie down.
• Move carefully and slowly: If you have persistent dizziness or dizziness accompanied by vertigo, you will want to move around slowly and carefully. Consider using a cane for support.
• Get plenty of fluids: You might not feel like taking in liquids while sick, but staying hydrated will reduce dizziness. Try to at least drink water while you recover. 
• Rest: If you are dizzy and not feeling your best, consider staying home and resting to recover much quicker. You will also want to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you are experiencing dizziness or vertigo. 
• Epley maneuver: Consider this exercise if you are experiencing vertigo with your dizziness. It is good to consult a healthcare provider to advise whether this maneuver is safe for you and to get instructions.
  

Why Does COVID-19 Cause Dizziness?

Dizziness is often present with other neurological symptoms in COVID-19, which fall into three categories. Dizziness falls into the category of central nervous system manifestations, along with headache, impaired consciousness, acute cerebrovascular disease, ataxia, and seizures.

Loss of taste and smell are other neurological symptoms of COVID-19, but these are peripheral nervous symptoms. Skeletal and muscular injury manifestations are the third category. 

There is some speculation that dizziness might be a symptom of other conditions, such as high blood pressure, anemia, and hypoglycemia, that coexist in people with COVID-19. Another possible theory is that dizziness occurs because the virus invades nerve tissue and causes inflammation and other symptoms like migraines. 

When to Get COVID Tested

Guidance for COVID-19 testing comes from the CDC. Before the CDC updated its recommendations in March 2024, it recommended testing right away if you had symptoms related to COVID-19. With that update, the CDC began recommending testing primarily to help you decide your next steps for prevention and treatment, especially if you are at risk for severe illness or will be around someone who is.

You can test at home using a rapid antigen test, which you can buy at your local pharmacy. Contact a healthcare provider for testing if you have more severe symptoms or are considered at high risk. If you test positive, your healthcare provider can provide treatment options based on your unique health situation. If you don't have symptoms and test positive, the CDC recommends taking precautions for the next five days after receiving the positive result.

Ongoing Symptoms That Warrant a Provider Visit 

If you have persistent dizziness or dizziness accompanied by vertigo, you should consult a healthcare provider. Medical professionals can recommend some OTC options to manage these symptoms as you recover. 

If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 after you have recovered, you should let your healthcare provider know. These might be signs of long COVID, and your healthcare provider can recommend treatments to ease symptoms and help you to feel better.

Most people with COVID-19 can recover at home with rest and OTC remedies to manage symptoms. Some others, however, might experience more severe symptoms of the condition. 

More severe symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical attention include:

• Shortness of breath or breathing troubles
• Chest pain or pressure 
• Sudden loss of speech or movement 
• Severe confusion 
• Inability to wake up or stay awake 
• Pale, gray-, or blue-colored lips, skin, or nail beds

You should seek immediate medical attention for these symptoms by calling 911 or heading to your local emergency department. 

Summary 

Dizziness is a neurological symptom of COVID-19, affecting about one-fourth of infected people. It is often an early disease symptom and might occur with vertigo, the feeling that your surroundings are spinning. Both dizziness and vertigo can also present in long COVID.

Researchers have different theories on why people experience dizziness with COVID-19 and long COVID, and the research is ongoing. If you experience dizziness with COVID-19, things you can do to manage it include taking OTC medicines like dimenhydrinate and meclizine, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.

Dizziness isn't considered a serious symptom of COVID-19. Still, it is a good idea to avoid driving and operating heavy machinery if you are experiencing persistent dizziness or if you have vertigo.

Consult a healthcare provider for ongoing symptoms of COVID-19. You should seek emergency care for severe symptoms of COVID-19, including shortness of breath, breathing problems, severe confusion, or sudden loss of speech or movement.