'Lightheadedness' is a common and often unpleasant sensation of
dizziness and/or feeling that one may be about to
faint, which may be transient, recurrent, or occasionally
chronic. In some cases, the individual may feel as though his or her head is weightless. It can be simply an indication of a temporary shortage of
blood or
oxygen to the
brain, low
blood pressure, low
blood sugar, or
anemia. It can also be a symptom of many other conditions, some of them serious, such as
heart disease,
stroke, or bleeding.
Treatment for lightheadedness can include drinking plenty of water or other fluids (unless the lightheadedness is the result of
water intoxication in which case drinking water is quite dangerous), eating something sugary, and lying down or sitting and reducing the elevation of the head relative to the body (for example by positioning the head between the knees).