Dizziness and light-headedness: what tests can reveal

A dizzy spell can be difficult to describe. You might feel as though the room is moving, feel unsteady on your feet or experience a brief sense that you're about to faint.

Light-headedness is slightly different. It can feel as though you might pass out, particularly when standing up quickly. Some people also describe feeling weak, woozy or disconnected for a moment.

Occasional dizziness can have a straightforward explanation, such as standing up too quickly, not drinking enough or missing a meal. But if it's happening regularly, lasting longer than usual or becoming part of your everyday life, it's worth looking at what might be behind it.

There are several possible causes, from blood pressure and blood sugar to iron levels, thyroid function, dehydration and medication. The right checks depend on what else you're experiencing.

Dizziness and light-headedness aren't quite the same

People often use the words interchangeably, but they can describe different sensations.

Dizziness can involve:

• Feeling that you or your surroundings are moving

• Feeling off balance or unsteady

• A spinning sensation, sometimes called vertigo

• Feeling as though you're being pulled in one direction Light-headedness is more likely to feel like:

• You might faint or lose consciousness

• A sudden weakness or wooziness

• Feeling faint when you stand up

• A temporary feeling that you're not quite yourself Being able to describe the sensation can help a healthcare professional work out which causes are more likely and whether further investigation is needed.

Blood pressure can provide an important clue

A change in blood pressure can sometimes contribute to feeling light-headed, particularly when you move from sitting or lying down to standing.

Blood pressure that drops when you stand is known as postural or orthostatic hypotension. It can cause dizziness, weakness or feeling faint.

Dehydration, some medicines and certain health conditions can all contribute.

High blood pressure is a little different. It usually doesn't cause noticeable symptoms, which is why having it measured is important even when you feel well.

A blood pressure check is quick and straightforward and is routinely included in many health assessments.

Blood sugar and dizziness

Your brain needs a steady supply of glucose to function properly. If blood sugar falls too low, you may feel shaky, sweaty, weak, hungry, confused or light-headed.

Low blood sugar is most commonly an issue for people taking certain medicines for diabetes, although there are other possible causes.

High blood sugar can also affect how you feel. Type 2 diabetes can develop gradually and some people have few noticeable symptoms.

An HbA1c blood test provides an indication of your average blood glucose levels over the previous two to three months. It's commonly used to check for type 2 diabetes and identify people whose blood sugar is higher than the healthy range.

Bluecrest includes diabetes testing in selected health assessments, depending on the package.

Iron levels and anaemia

Feeling light-headed alongside low energy, weakness, headaches or breathlessness can sometimes be associated with iron deficiency anaemia.

Iron is needed to make haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. If your iron levels become too low, you may develop anaemia.

A ferritin blood test measures your body's stored iron. It's one of the tests that can help identify low iron stores.

Bluecrest data shows that iron-related findings are relatively common among people tested, with iron deficiency around seven times more common in women than men in its data.

A low ferritin result doesn't automatically explain dizziness. Results need to be considered alongside your symptoms and wider health picture.

Thyroid function can affect how you feel

Your thyroid produces hormones that influence many of the body's processes, including energy use, heart rate and temperature regulation.

An underactive thyroid can be associated with symptoms such as feeling unusually tired, feeling cold, weight gain and difficulty concentrating. An overactive thyroid can cause symptoms including a faster heartbeat, feeling hot, weight loss and changes in sleep.

Dizziness isn't specific to thyroid problems, but if you're experiencing several symptoms together, thyroid function may be one factor worth checking.

A thyroid function test measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). Bluecrest's test doesn't measure T3.

Hydration, medication and everyday factors

Not every episode of dizziness points to an underlying health problem.

You may feel light-headed after exercising, particularly if you've lost a lot of fluid through sweating. Alcohol can also contribute to dehydration. Skipping meals or suddenly standing up can have a similar effect.

Medication is another factor worth considering. Some medicines can affect blood pressure or balance and may make dizziness more likely.

If you've recently started taking medicine or changed your dose and have noticed a change in how you feel, speak to your GP or pharmacist. Don't stop prescribed medication without professional advice.

Keeping a note of when your symptoms occur can also be surprisingly useful. For example, do they happen after standing up, before meals, during exercise or at a particular time of day?

When dizziness needs medical attention

Most episodes of dizziness aren't caused by something serious. However, a new or persistent change is worth discussing with a healthcare professional, especially if it's affecting your daily life.

It's important to seek medical advice if dizziness is accompanied by symptoms such as:

• Fainting or repeated near-fainting
• New weakness or numbness
• Difficulty speaking
• A severe or unusual headache
• Chest pain
• Significant changes in your heartbeat
• New problems with your vision
• Difficulty walking or keeping your balance If symptoms are sudden and severe, particularly if you develop signs of a stroke such as facial weakness, arm weakness or speech difficulties, call 999.

A private health assessment shouldn't be used instead of seeking medical attention for new or severe symptoms.

What can a Bluecrest Health Assessment tell you?

If dizziness or light-headedness is part of a wider change in how you're feeling, looking at several health markers together can provide useful context.

A Bluecrest Health Assessment can include blood pressure, BMI and waist circumference alongside blood tests covering areas such as cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function, kidney function and iron, depending on the package you choose.

Results are presented using a straightforward green, amber and red flag system, so you can quickly see which areas are within the expected range and which may be worth paying attention to.

A Health Assessment isn't designed to diagnose the cause of dizziness. It can, however, give you information about several aspects of your health that may be useful to discuss with your GP or another healthcare professional.

Book a Bluecrest Health Assessment.