DIZZINESS & VERTIGO

DIZZINESS & VERTIGO: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What Are Dizziness and Vertigo?

Dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms that many people experience at some point in their lives. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to different sensations.

Dizziness refers to feelings of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or disorientation. People often describe a floating sensation, weakness, or trouble maintaining balance.
Vertigo represents a specific form of dizziness. A spinning or moving sensation occurs, even while staying still. Inner ear disorders and problems within the vestibular system often trigger vertigo.

At Mir Neurology, specialists focus on identifying the root cause of dizziness and vertigo and provide targeted care to restore balance and daily function.

Causes of Dizziness & Vertigo

Many medical conditions lead to dizziness or vertigo, ranging from inner ear disorders to neurological and cardiovascular issues.

1. Inner Ear Disorders

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): One of the most common causes of vertigo. Small calcium crystals shift inside the inner ear and disrupt balance signals, leading to brief spinning episodes.
Meniere’s Disease: A chronic inner ear disorder marked by vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness.
Vestibular Neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, often linked to viral infections, causing sudden and intense vertigo, nausea, and balance loss.
Labyrinthitis: Inflammation affecting both balance and hearing structures within the inner ear, leading to dizziness, vertigo, and hearing changes.

2. Neurological Causes

Vestibular Migraine:
Migraine-related dizziness with or without headache. Balance disturbances and motion sensitivity often occur.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS):
Damage to nerve pathways within the brain and spinal cord disrupts balance and coordination.
Stroke:
Sudden vertigo, severe imbalance, slurred speech, or weakness require urgent medical evaluation.

3. Cardiovascular Causes

Low Blood Pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension):
A sudden blood pressure drop after standing leads to lightheadedness or faintness.
Heart Arrhythmias:
Irregular heart rhythms reduce blood flow to the brain and trigger dizziness or fainting.

4. Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety and panic attacks can cause feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness. This is typically linked to hyperventilation, which affects the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

5. Medications

Certain medications, particularly those that affect the inner ear or brain function, can cause dizziness or vertigo as a side effect. These may include medications for blood pressure, sedatives, antidepressants, and chemotherapy drugs.

6. Other Causes

Dehydration: Low fluid levels reduce blood flow and cause lightheadedness.
Anemia: Low iron levels reduce oxygen delivery to the brain.
Infections: Viral or bacterial infections affecting balance organs lead to vertigo.

Symptoms of Dizziness & Vertigo

Symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include:

Vertigo – A spinning sensation, either of yourself or the environment.
Lightheadedness – A feeling of faintness or near fainting.
Unsteadiness – Difficulty maintaining balance, especially when standing or walking.
Nausea – Feeling nauseous, which can sometimes lead to vomiting, especially with vertigo.
Tinnitus – Ringing in the ears (common in conditions like Meniere’s disease).
Difficulty walking – A feeling of being “off balance” or uncoordinated.

Diagnosis of Dizziness & Vertigo

To properly diagnose the cause of your dizziness or vertigo, our specialists at Mir Neurology perform a thorough evaluation that may include

1. Medical History Review

We take a detailed history of your symptoms, including when they started, their frequency, triggers, and associated conditions (such as headaches or hearing loss).

2. Physical and Neurological Examination

Our neurologists conduct a comprehensive exam to assess your balance, coordination, and sensory function. This helps identify whether the dizziness or vertigo is related to neurological or inner ear issues.

3. Vestibular Testing

Vestibular testing is often used to evaluate the function of the inner ear and balance system. This may include tests like:

Electronystagmography (ENG) – Measures eye movements that occur during dizziness, which can indicate inner ear problems.
Posturography – Assesses balance control by testing your ability to maintain your posture under different conditions.

4. Imaging Studies

MRI or CT Scan – Imaging may be used to rule out other neurological conditions such as a stroke, tumor, or multiple sclerosis that may be causing dizziness or vertigo.

5. Blood Tests

Blood tests may be conducted to check for underlying conditions like anemia, dehydration, or infections that could be contributing to dizziness.

Treatment Options for Dizziness & Vertigo

Treatment depends on the diagnosed cause. Mir Neurology delivers personalized care plans focused on symptom relief and long-term balance recovery.

1. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

VRT is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on improving balance and reducing dizziness. It involves exercises designed to retrain the brain and help compensate for inner ear dysfunction.

2. Medications

A specialized therapy program using targeted exercises to retrain the brain and improve balance control.

Anti-vertigo medications such as meclizine.
Anti-nausea medications.
Migraine management medications.
Anti-inflammatory therapy for inner ear inflammation.

3. Epley Maneuver

A guided series of head movements is used to reposition displaced inner ear crystals in BPPV, often providing rapid symptom relief.

4. Lifestyle Modifications

Hydration to support circulation.
Low-salt diet for Meniere’s disease symptom control.
Stress reduction techniques to limit anxiety-related dizziness.

5. Surgery

Surgery serves as an option for rare cases involving tumors or structural abnormalities affecting balance.

Living with Dizziness & Vertigo

If dizziness or vertigo is affecting your daily activities, we can help you identify triggers and provide treatments to manage your symptoms effectively. At Mir Neurology, our goal is to help you regain your balance and quality of life. We provide ongoing support and education to help you cope with your condition.

Get Expert Help

Healthcare professional providing expert consultation and treatment for neurological and neuromuscular disorders.

If you or a loved one is experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline, early diagnosis is key to effective management. Consult with our neurology specialists for personalized assessment and care plans.

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Our Locations

Main Office - Cumberland, United States

Our main office is located in Cumberland, United States. Our doctors have office hours at additional locations in the Hagerstown area to better serve our patients.

924 Seton Dr Suite C, Cumberland, MD 21502, United States.

(301) -797-7600