Is feeling dizzy the same as having vertigo?
No. Vertigo is just one specific form of dizziness. You can feel dizzy without having vertigo symptoms. If you feel dizzy, it simply means lightheaded or unsteady. Patients often feel dizzy before they faint and this can be secondary to a strong emotion, standing for a long time, standing up too quickly from sitting position. Dizziness and fainting are very common and in most cases not serious. However, if your symptoms are prolonged then you should get in touch with your family doctor to discuss about the diagnosis. Other conditions can also make patients feel dizzy, for example, problem with rhythm of your heart, thyroid gland problems, side effects of some drugs, and other conditions including serious ones related to the brain. Vertigo is just one specific type of dizziness which is usually caused by problems with inner ears.
