Educational reference
About this symptom
Light-headedness, unsteadiness or a sense of being about to faint is a common feature of panic attacks and a frequent source of fear during them.
It is closely tied to breathing. Rapid, shallow breathing during intense fear lowers carbon dioxide in the blood, which narrows blood vessels slightly and produces light-headedness, sometimes with tingling or blurred vision. The sensation can feel like fainting is imminent.
In practice, fainting during a panic attack is uncommon. Fainting usually follows a drop in blood pressure, whereas during panic blood pressure typically rises. Knowing this often reduces the fear, which is why it is commonly covered in treatment.
Dizziness has many other causes, including inner-ear conditions, low blood pressure, dehydration, anaemia, low blood sugar, and some medications. Dizziness that is persistent, occurs without fear, or comes with hearing changes, headache or weakness should be assessed by a health professional.