Why Am I Feeling Dizzy? Common causes of Dizziness and Vertigo
Dizziness is a very common symptom and something many people experience at some stage in their life. For some people it may be a brief sensation that passes quickly, while for others it can become a persistent and disruptive problem.
People often describe dizziness in different ways. You might feel:
Lightheaded
Unsteady on your feet
Like the room is spinning (vertigo)
Nauseous or sick
Off balance when walking
Dizziness can affect your ability to work, drive, exercise or even complete simple daily tasks. In this blog we will look at some of the common causes of dizziness, related to the vestibular (balance) system.
What is the vestibular system?
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and plays a vital role in maintaining your balance and awareness of where your body is in space.
It works closely with:
Your eyes
Your muscles and joints
Your brain
When these systems are working well together, you can move your head and body while remaining stable and balanced. If something disrupts this system, symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, nausea and imbalance can occur.
Common causes of dizziness
There are many potential causes of dizziness. Some of the most common vestibular causes include:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals within the inner ear become displaced. This can cause short bursts of spinning dizziness when you move your head.
People with BPPV often notice symptoms when they roll over in bed, look up, bend down or get in and out of bed.
The good news is that BPPV can often be treated quickly with specific repositioning manoeuvres performed by a vestibular physiotherapist.
Vestibular Migraine
Migraine is a very common neurological condition and for some people it can also cause dizziness or vertigo.
Vestibular migraine can cause:
Episodes of dizziness lasting minutes to hours
Sensitivity to light or noise, visual aura, motion sensitivity during some of these episodes
Difficulty tolerating busy environments
These symptoms can occur with or without a headache.
Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis
These conditions are usually caused by viral infections affecting the inner ear.
Symptoms may include sudden severe vertigo, nausea and vomiting, difficulty walking and sensitivity to head movements.
Concussion or Head Injury
Following a concussion or head injury it is common to experience dizziness. This may occur due to disruption to the vestibular system, visual system, or the way the brain processes balance information.
Symptoms can include:
Dizziness
Balance problems
Difficulty concentrating
Visual sensitivity
Vestibular rehabilitation can be very helpful in addressing these symptoms.
When should you seek help for dizziness?
If dizziness is persistent, recurrent, affecting your balance or interfering with daily activities…it is worth having it assessed.
Determining the underlying cause of dizziness is important as treatment will vary depending on the diagnosis.
How can vestibular physiotherapy help?
Vestibular physiotherapy involves a detailed assessment of the systems involved in balance including:
Vestibular (inner ear) function
Eye movements
Balance and walking
Neck movement and function
Once the cause of your symptoms has been identified, treatment may include:
Onward referrals to your GP or other specialists if necessary.
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
Balance retraining
Repositioning manoeuvres for BPPV
Gradual exposure to movements that trigger symptoms
Contact The Rehab Team to arrange an appointment if you are located in Papamoa, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga or surrounding areas. Our knowledgeable Neurological Physiotherapists have experience in vestibular assessment and treatment . We are a mobile service, seeing you in your own home or rest home.
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