How Do You Get Rid of Dizziness from a Cold? Simple and Effective Strategies

October 1, 2025 •

4 min read

Dizziness is a less common but distressing symptom of the common cold, often caused by inflammation affecting the inner ear's balance system. If you're wondering, "how do you get rid of dizziness from a cold?", the solution often involves simple home remedies and plenty of rest.

Quick Summary

Manage dizziness and vertigo associated with a cold by focusing on hydration, rest, and avoiding sudden movements. Congestion can impact the inner ear, so relieving sinus pressure is key. Simple remedies and lifestyle adjustments can provide significant relief during recovery.

Key Points

Rest and Hydrate: The most effective strategies are getting plenty of rest and drinking fluids like water and herbal tea to combat fatigue and dehydration.
Relieve Congestion: Sinus and Eustachian tube congestion can cause dizziness; steam inhalation or decongestants can help clear airways and relieve inner ear pressure.
Move Carefully: Avoid sudden head or body movements, which can trigger or worsen dizzy spells. Get up slowly from sitting or lying down.
Use Ginger for Nausea: Ginger is a natural remedy known to calm nausea and dizziness. Try ginger tea or chews to soothe your stomach.
Know Warning Signs: While often mild, severe or persistent dizziness, especially with headache, confusion, or vision changes, warrants immediate medical attention.
Create a Calm Environment: Resting in a quiet, dark room can help minimize sensory input that might exacerbate feelings of vertigo.

Understanding the Connection Between a Cold and Dizziness

While you might typically associate a cold with a runny nose, sore throat, and cough, dizziness can also occur. This symptom is most often a result of the viral infection and the inflammation it causes, particularly around the inner ear. The inner ear contains the vestibular system, which is crucial for maintaining your sense of balance.

When a cold causes significant sinus congestion, it can block the Eustachian tube, a small canal that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. This blockage prevents pressure from equalizing, which can affect your balance and cause dizziness or vertigo. In some cases, a cold can trigger a more specific inner ear condition, such as labyrinthitis or vestibular neuronitis, where the balance nerves become inflamed. Other contributing factors include dehydration from fever, weakness due to illness, and low blood sugar if you're not eating properly.

At-Home Remedies for Dizziness

Managing dizziness from a cold is largely focused on supportive care to help your body heal and to mitigate the symptoms. The following strategies can provide relief:

Stay Hydrated: Dehydration is a primary cause of lightheadedness. Drink plenty of fluids like water, herbal tea, and broth. This helps thin mucus and supports overall recovery.
Get Plenty of Rest: Your body uses energy to fight the infection. Pushing yourself can worsen fatigue and increase the feeling of being lightheaded. Resting allows your immune system to function optimally.
Change Positions Slowly: Avoid sudden movements, which can trigger or intensify a dizzy spell. When getting out of bed, sit up slowly and wait a moment before standing.
Sit or Lie Down: If you feel an episode coming on, sit or lie down immediately. This prevents falls and allows the spinning sensation to subside.
Use Steam Inhalation: The moisture from a hot shower or a bowl of hot water can help loosen congestion and open up the Eustachian tubes, relieving pressure on the inner ear.
Try Ginger: Ginger is a natural anti-nausea remedy that can also help with dizziness. Enjoy some ginger tea or ginger chews.

Medical Options and When to Seek a Doctor's Advice

While most cold-related dizziness resolves on its own, sometimes other options are necessary. Over-the-counter medications can help manage symptoms, but severe or persistent symptoms require medical attention.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Decongestants: If your dizziness is caused by severe nasal congestion blocking the Eustachian tube, decongestants like pseudoephedrine may help relieve pressure.
Antihistamines: Certain antihistamines, such as meclizine (Dramamine Less Drowsy), are effective in treating motion sickness and can help with vertigo.

When to See a Doctor

It's important to differentiate between typical cold-related dizziness and a more serious condition. You should seek medical attention if:

Dizziness is severe, persistent, or worsens over several days.
Dizziness is accompanied by a sudden, severe headache, confusion, or slurred speech.
You experience vision problems, chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, or numbness.
You have hearing loss or a ringing in your ears alongside the dizziness, which could indicate labyrinthitis.

Comparing Home Remedies and Medical Treatments


Treatment Type	Benefits	Considerations	Best For
Home Remedies (Rest, Hydration)	Accessible, gentle, and addresses underlying causes like dehydration and fatigue.	May not provide immediate relief for severe symptoms.	Mild to moderate dizziness; general cold symptom management.
Ginger Tea	Natural, helps with nausea, and can be soothing.	Effects vary between individuals; not a primary treatment for severe cases.	Supporting overall well-being and reducing mild nausea.
Decongestants	Can directly address inner ear pressure caused by sinus congestion.	Not suitable for everyone (e.g., those with high blood pressure); can have side effects.	Dizziness clearly linked to significant congestion.
Antihistamines (e.g., Meclizine)	Specifically targets vertigo and dizziness.	Can cause drowsiness; consult a doctor or pharmacist.	Targeted relief for persistent vertigo or severe spinning sensations.

Creating a Calming Environment

During a dizzy spell, your surroundings can either exacerbate or alleviate your symptoms. To create a supportive space, consider the following:

Reduce sensory input: Lie down in a dark, quiet room to minimize the stimulation that can make vertigo worse.
Keep your eyes focused: When you are up and moving, focus your eyes on a fixed, stable object. This can help reorient your balance system and reduce the spinning feeling.
Avoid triggers: Stay away from bright or flickering lights and loud noises until your symptoms improve.

Conclusion

Dizziness from a cold is a manageable symptom that is usually temporary and resolves as your main illness improves. The most effective strategies revolve around supportive care: prioritizing rest, staying well-hydrated, and moving with caution. Simple home remedies like steam inhalation and ginger tea can also provide comfort and relief. If your symptoms are severe, persist for more than a few days, or are accompanied by more concerning signs like a severe headache or confusion, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional to rule out more serious issues. Understanding the cause and applying these practical steps can help you get through your cold with greater stability and comfort.

For more information on differentiating between different types of dizziness, you can visit the Mayo Clinic's guide on dizziness.

Frequently Asked Questions

A cold can cause dizziness because inflammation and congestion can block the Eustachian tube, which connects your middle ear and affects your balance. Dehydration and fatigue from fighting the virus can also contribute.

The fastest way to alleviate dizziness is to lie down in a dark, quiet room and get plenty of rest. Staying well-hydrated is also crucial, as dehydration often causes lightheadedness.

Yes, some over-the-counter options can help. A decongestant may relieve sinus pressure that affects your inner ear, while certain antihistamines like meclizine can specifically target vertigo symptoms.

You should seek medical attention if the dizziness is severe, persists for more than a few days, or is accompanied by other serious symptoms such as a severe headache, chest pain, confusion, or difficulty walking.

Yes, steam inhalation from a hot shower or bowl of hot water can help loosen mucus and open blocked Eustachian tubes, which can relieve the pressure on your inner ear that causes dizziness.

Staying hydrated is key, so drinking water, herbal teas, and broths is beneficial. Ginger tea is also known to help reduce nausea and dizziness. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen dehydration, is also recommended.

A cold can potentially cause both lightheadedness (a feeling of faintness) and vertigo (a spinning sensation). The type depends on which part of your balance system is most affected by the congestion and inflammation.