COVID-19 was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and experts are still unsure of a lot of aspects of the virus. One thing researchers have uncovered is that coronavirus is linked with neurological issues, including dizziness.
What Are the Known Symptoms of Coronavirus?
The CDC lists the following as known symptoms of COVID-19:
Fever/chills
Cough
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Muscle/body aches
Headache
Loss of taste/smell
Sore throat
Congestion/runny nose
Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
A review published in the journal Annals of Neurology lists other symptoms affecting the nervous system, including:
Dizziness
Difficulty concentrating
Seizures
Strokes
Weakness
Researchers assert that those infected may experience neurological symptoms before developing a fever, cough or respiratory problems.
What Causes Dizziness?
Dizziness is a common condition that describes a wide range of symptoms. For example, dizziness may be used as an umbrella term for vertigo (feeling like you or the world around you is moving even when you are standing still), unsteadiness (feeling as though you’re off balance and about to fall) and lightheadedness (feeling faint).
“The probable cause for each of these symptoms depends upon the nature of the complaint and can be equally wide ranging, from medication side effects and dehydration to more serious heart arrhythmias or stroke,” explained Allen Towfigh, M.D., medical director of New York Neurology & Sleep Medicine, P.C.
Does Feeling Dizzy Mean I Have COVID?
If you feel dizzy, it’s important to consider whether you’re prone to dizziness ordinarily. If it’s normal for you to feel dizzy when dehydrated or anxious and you have no other symptoms, you likely don’t need to worry.
However, as Shari Dewan, M.S., M.D., neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, explains, “If symptoms have dramatically changed in caliber—meaning frequency, length, occurring at different times of the day, trying normal treatments without resolve—then you should contact a physician, for imaging may be needed.”
“Dizziness caused by COVID-19 will likely be accompanied by other signs or symptoms to suggest a COVID-19 infection, such as fevers, respiratory illness, or cough,” she concludes.
For more information about treating dizziness or to schedule an appointment with an expert audiologist, call SH Audiology today.
