A loss of balance, swimming in your head, the room is spinning -- these are just a few of the ways you may describe dizziness. Feeling dizzy can be a sign of one of several health conditions with varying ranges of severity. Fatigue accompanies dizziness in some cases. Experiencing the two together can impact your daily life, so it's vital that you discuss them with your doctor to find the cause.
Anemia
Being anemic means that you have a low number of red blood cells, reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to your body's tissues. This blood disorder not only makes you feel tired and dizzy, it also can cause an irregular heart rate, breathing problems, headaches, brain dysfunction and cold hands or feet. The most common cause is an iron deficiency, which is often remedied with supplements. Vitamin deficiencies and bone marrow conditions can also cause anemia. Certain chronic diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, can have negative effects on red blood cells as well, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The once-controversial Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is another possible cause of low energy and dizziness. What causes CFS is not known, but some theories point to depression, viral infections, anemia and low blood pressure as possibilities. Other primary symptoms of CFS include exhaustion more than 24 hours following physical or mental exertion, a sore throat, muscle pain, headaches and poor sleep. Swollen or painful lymph nodes under the arms or in the neck are also common. There's no cure for CFS, so treatment is focused on managing symptoms.
Hypotension
Hypotension, or low blood pressure, manifests in several physical symptoms, including fatigue and dizziness. A low blood pressure reading is 90 over 60 or less. Having hypotension isn't always serious, but can cause many health effects, including nausea, blurry vision, thirst, shallow breathing and difficulty with concentration. You may faint if your pressure drops too low or too quickly. Potentially serious causes of low blood pressure include dehydration, diabetes, thyroid disorders and heart diseases. Treatment for hypotension is focused on the root cause of the low blood pressure.
Malnutrition
Being malnourished doesn't necessarily mean you're starving; it can mean you are not getting enough essential nutrients from your diet. In fact, lacking just one vitamin can lead to malnourishment, according to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus. Fatigue, dizziness and weight loss are common symptoms of malnutrition. A medical condition may cause malnutrition in some cases. These include celiac disease, lactose intolerance and cancer. Senior citizens are at higher risk for malnutrition because they are more likely to have medical problems that affect their diet or to lack adequate social support.
