What are dizziness and vertigo?
Dizziness occurs when there’s a problem with a part of your bodily system that affects your balance. Your central nervous system and brain, plus your eyes and inner ear, work in harmony to maintain your balance, so if any one of them is damaged or diseased, it can affect your ability to balance and cause dizziness.
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness caused by problems in your inner ear or the part of your brainstem that controls balance. Vertigo gives you a spinning sensation that worsens if you try and move your head. The most common form of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which isn’t serious but can still be distressing.
What are the causes of dizziness and vertigo?
There are numerous causes of dizziness and vertigo, including:
- Meniere’s disease
- Labyrinthitis
- Acoustic neuroma
- A vestibular migraine
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Brain structure malformations
- Stroke
- Hemorrhage in your cerebellum
- Blood clots
- Clogged arteries
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia)
- Dehydration
- Low blood sugar
- Stress or anxiety
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Inner ear or brain tumor
In addition to the above health-related causes, some medications can cause dizziness as well, including:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-seizure medications
- Blood pressure medications
- Sedatives
Antibiotics such as gentamicin and streptomycin may also cause dizziness.
How are the causes of dizziness and vertigo diagnosed?
Diagnosing the cause of your dizziness or vertigo starts with Dr. Ehrhard reviewing your medical history, conducting a physical examination, and discussing your symptoms with you.
He orders any diagnostic tests and medical imaging that he needs to help with the diagnosis before going over his findings and conclusions with you. Because there are so many possible causes for dizziness and vertigo, Dr. Ehrhard may need to use a variety of diagnostic techniques to isolate the precise cause in your case.
You should seek immediate medical attention if in addition to dizziness or vertigo you experience acute symptoms such as chest pain, vomiting, or shortness of breath.
How are dizziness and vertigo treated?
Finding the underlying cause of your dizziness and vertigo is crucial in obtaining the right treatment. Treatment methods Dr. Ehrhard may recommend include:
- Antibiotics to treat infections
- Low-salt diet and medications to control dizziness in Meniere’s disease
- Particle repositioning exercises called the Epley maneuver for BPPV
- Management of chronic health conditions
- Surgery
If your symptoms are due to a more serious condition such as a tumor, the cancer treatment you receive should also resolve dizziness and vertigo.
To find out why you’re experiencing dizziness or vertigo, call the office of Dr. Robert A. Ehrhard, MD, or schedule a consultation online today.
