What is Dizziness?
Dizziness is a term people use to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, lightheaded, weak, or off balance. The feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is more accurately called vertigo.
Dizziness is one of the most common reasons adults see a doctor. Frequent or persistent episodes of dizziness can have a serious impact on your life. But dizziness rarely means you have a life-threatening condition.
Types of Dizziness
There are two main types of dizziness: peripheral and central. The difference between the two is what causes them.
- Peripheral Dizziness: This is the most common type of dizziness. It occurs due to problems with the inner ear or vestibular nerves in the brain. These structures help you keep your balance. One cause of peripheral vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — an inner ear disorder. BPPV causes dizziness when you move your head in a certain way, such as tilting it back.
- Central vertigo: This less common type of vertigo stems from a problem in the brain, such as a stroke or infection. It causes more serious symptoms, such as difficulty walking.
Symptoms of vertigo
Dizziness often occurs when the position of your head changes.
People with vertigo often describe the sensation as:
- Turning
- Tilting
- Swaying
- Losing balance
- Pulling in one direction
Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abnormal or jerking eye movements (nystagmus)
- Headache
- Sweating
- Ringing in the ears or hearing loss
- Feeling of fullness in the ears
- Double vision
- Difficulty swallowing
- Slurred speech
- Weakness in the arms and legs
- Difficulty moving the face
Causes of vertigo
Vertigo is often caused by problems in the inner ear. Some of the most common causes include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This inner ear disorder occurs when small calcium deposits (ducts) become dislodged from their normal position and build up in the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements to help you maintain balance. BPPV can occur for no apparent reason and may get worse as you get older.
- Meniere’s disease: This inner ear disorder can be caused by fluid buildup and pressure changes in the ear. It can cause episodes of vertigo along with ringing in the ears and hearing loss.
- Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis: This inner ear problem is often associated with viral infections such as chickenpox, measles, or hepatitis. The infection causes inflammation of the nerves that help the brain maintain balance
- Dizziness and a spinning sensation can be symptoms of stress and anxiety: The same areas of the brain may be involved in creating feelings of anxiety and vertigo. Stress is also a risk factor for labyrinthitis, a cause of vertigo.
Dizziness can also be caused by:
- Head or neck injuries
- Brain problems, such as strokes or tumors
- Certain medications that damage the ear, including some antibiotics, heart medications, and anti-inflammatories
- Migraines
- Ear infections
- Acoustic neuroma, a noncancerous tumor in the ear
- Stroke
- Dehydration
- Irregular heartbeat
- Ear surgery
- Low blood pressure
- Diseases such as multiple sclerosis or diabetes
- Otosclerosis, an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear
Treatment of vertigo
Treatment for dizziness depends on the underlying cause.
There are several different treatments, which may include:
- Postural adjustments.
- Anti-vertigo medications.
- Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (anti-vertigo exercises).
- Surgery.
