Why is my son suffering dizziness?

Maybe he is not eating enough food before or after playing? Try giving him a few juice boxes to drink before and after a game.

You have to take him to a doctor, BEFORE he plays again. It could be anything from a minor inner ear infection to diabetes to a heart condition. One time wouldn’t bother me. Twice, I certainly would.

Dehydration can cause dizziness. He should drink a decent amount of water a half an hour to an hour before playing and have some water to swig during.

If drinking water doesn’t help the problem and it persists, I would have him see a doctor.

Mr. M is one hundred percent correct. And in fact, hit the nail on the head with my family. My second cousin and I have the same symptom sometimes after lots of running around. For me, I’m always dehydrated and frankly don’t usually run around. My cousin has a heart defect. His situation is about a thousand times more serious than mine.

I would say don’t panic. It being something like fluids or blood sugar is way more common than something scary like a heart defect, but definitely see a doctor.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. We do make sure that he has a water bottle to take with him during practice, etc. @vinifera7, dehydration was the first thing I thought of. What doesn’t make sense is that he played soccer at the beginning of the school year and started basketball shortly before Thanksgiving. Why all of a sudden. Thanks again.

Doctor!!!

My son had dizzy spells and fainting around that age. Dicots told us it had to do with growing fast…... I’ve never been quite sure what growing fast has to do with it but I also remember when my brother was the same age and had the same experience and my mother was told the same thing.
Don’t ha e a clue what this is all about, but it seems to happen at the onset or early on during puberty.

Other causes could have to do with the inner or perhaps he needs glasses. A lot of times kids don’t realize they have vision problems until their eyes get really bad.

@tinyfaery-already has glasses and says it doesn’t affect his vision.

You ask why all of a sudden? Depending upon what it is it may NOT have been all of a sudden. It may be only NOW that the SYMPTOM is problematic enough to get his attention. Also, illnesses and medical problems, more often then not, appear suddenly. We would all wish that wasn’t the case, i.e., that we can get some “early warning”, but that is NOT what usually happens. I recently went to my Ear,Nose and Throat doctor who diagnosed me with allergies. I said “I never had allergies”. He said “You got ‘em now!”

@Mr_M—good point. It is very possible that he has had other symptoms and just hasn’t told us. I’ll talk to him more tonight and see if I can get more info from him. I said “all of a sudden” only because these symptoms just started.

And don’t eliminate the possibility that whatever it is, it’s getting worse. It’s probably nothing but DO check it out. I suffered from bouts of dizziness that would make it impossible to lift my head to shave in the morning. Docs kept treating me for inner ear virus until they found out it was diabetes. I think your son would profit by some blood tests. When was the last time he HAD a fasting blood sugar done?

@Mr_M—Since he’s only 13 I don’t believe he’s ever had a fasting blood sugar done. So that isn’t a bad idea. In talking with him about it more, it seems like it happens when he’s on his way home from practice while he’s walking in the cold. We live in northwestern MN and we’ve had some very cold temps lately.

@Raggedy_Ann It could also have something to do with the rapid switch from hot/sweaty exercise inside to walking in the cold, cold, cold. I walk home from exercise as well, and it sometimes makes me feel sick. This time of year, I generally sit a session out or hang out at the place I take classes for a while to cool down before coming home.

@empresspixie-That’s kind of what I’m thinking. We’re going to continue to watch this for a while and see what happens.

Take him to a DOCTOR! DUMMY!

Well, the problem with the “cold temperature” theory is that it may not have anything to do with that and, instead, have a LOT to do with going from a state of high physical exertion to low. If he’s getting dizzy from THAT, you want him checked.

@dfer-I really don’t appreciate you calling me a dummy. I am a college graduated with a very good job and I am not the type of person who, at the sign of a single symptom, rushes off to see the doctor. I know there are many people like that and that is why our medical insurance premiums are the way they are. This has just started and perhaps it will disappear just as mysteriously as it started. You, perhaps, think that I’m the type of person that ignores my kids when they have problems…well! I’m here to tell you that I’m not. If matters get worse or he starts developing other symptoms I will make the appointment. I like to check other sources so I know what questions I should ask my child so I can better assess and help him to get over this.