Dizziness and fatigue — often referred to as DFS — light-headedness, fainting, muscle weakness or tiredness can be caused by a wide range of health, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors. While it is perfectly normal to feel dizziness or fatigue when shifting positions quickly or when being overactive, persistent symptoms of being light headed or severely tired are often symptoms of a more serious problem. Some possible health, environment, and lifestyle issues can and may include working long hours with little rest, over exertion, dehydration, anemia, exposure to noxious chemicals or poor air quality, diabetes, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid imbalances, head and muscular disorders.

One of the most common causes of dizziness and fatigue is dehydration. This occurs when someone uses more fluids than are taken into the body or ingests too many diuretics that deplete the body of water. The body responds by lowering the blood pressure and slowing down kidney functions, which can lead to feelings of dizziness and fatigue. It is very important to drink plenty of water daily to reduce the chances of getting dehydrated and experiencing side effects and long-term health issues, particularly if one sweats a lot or has an active lifestyle.

The most obvious causes of dizziness and fatigue are from overexertion from working too many hours or performing extreme exercise routines followed by very little rest or no meals in between. The body needs time to refuel, so proper sleep, nutrition, and hydration are very important to reduce the chances of feeling ill. Feelings of faintness or weakness can often be improved by taking better care of the body by eating vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods, drinking plenty of water, and getting at least eight hours of sleep per night.

Other common causes of dizziness and fatigue include environmental factors such as breathing polluted air saturated with pollutants, living in a home with problems with heating and conditioning systems, and breathing chemical fumes. When any of these factors are present in the environment, it can cause a person to become light headed or pass out. Although all air contaminants cannot be avoided, taking precautions when in the presence of harmful chemicals, making repairs of heating and air equipment, and the using air conditioners and filters can greatly reduce feelings of dizziness and fatigue.

Health issues that affect the blood, nervous, muscular and lymphatic systems can cause persistent feelings of being dizzy, faint, or fatigued. Some of these more common ailments include diabetes, fluctuating blood pressure, anemia, lupus, thyroid and other hormone imbalances, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and strokes. If one suffers from dizziness and fatigue that are ongoing with no obvious cause, it’s important to consult with a qualified medical practitioner to determine if a health problem is present and to obtain medical care.