Dizziness & Vertigo
Therapy May Provide Relief For The “Spins!”
Feeling off balance and dizzy lately?
We’ve all felt dizzy before, as though we can’t concentrate, can’t see straight, and can’t stay upright without swaying or falling over. Many of us have even experienced “tunnel vision,” where your peripheral vision is dark for a few seconds due to dizziness.
Most often this feeling occurs when we get up too quickly. It can definitely be disorienting, but it usually goes away after a few seconds.
However, does the dizziness do more than disorient you for a few seconds after standing up? And does that have an effect on your everyday life? If you’re nodding your head “yes,” chances are you could benefit from seeing a physical therapist to find a long-term solution to your problem.
Dizziness is normal and can affect many things. Vertigo, though, is a little different. Though dizziness is typically synonymous with “lightheadedness,” which produces the illusion of being unsteady, vertigo is typically a reaction to a physiological factor that induces a literal imbalance in your body.
Those experiencing vertigo have reported feeling as if they are “rocking” or “spinning,” even when they are sitting still.
What causes dizziness?
Any of the many causes that may contribute to dizziness include lack of sleep, inadequate diet, over-exercise or physical illness, such as head cold or flu.
Dizziness can also result from anything as basic as standing up too quickly after a prolonged period of rest. Some of the following signs of dizziness may include:
- Balance Loss
- Feeling bleak or faint
- Vision temporarily affected (i.e. tunnel vision)
- Light-headedness or heavy-headedness
The best way to know the source of your dizziness is to visit a doctor. There may be another underlying factor you don’t know about.
You may also look out for these other specific symptoms as well in regards to vertigo:
- Sweating
- Abnormal eye movements
- Arm and leg weakness
- Difficulty with vision and speaking
- Unable to concentrate or stay alert
- Nausea and vomiting
- Double vision
What causes vertigo?
Vertigo is most commonly caused by a disequilibrium in the inner ear, also known as the “vestibular system.”
Your vestibular system helps you maintain equilibrium and center of gravity by sending signals about your movement to your brain. If this is compromised, the required signals will be blocked from your brain, and your movement will be affected.
Many who experience vertigo can feel as though the world is spinning around them, that they can’t focus their vision for extended periods, or that they can’t stand/move properly without feeling like they’re going to fall over. This can be very frightening and stressful to deal with because it interferes with a person’s routine and lifestyle.
Some common causes of vertigo include:
Stroke:
A stroke influences the movement of the whole body. If you have recently had a stroke, you can feel vertigo waves that can last for prolonged periods of time.
Meniere’s disease:
This happens as the fluid builds up in your ear (s). This normally involves “ringing” in the ear and unexpected waves of extreme dizziness that can last for hours. You can also experience temporary hearing loss.
Vestibular neuritis:
This is an inner-ear infection that can cause vertigo.
Migraines:
Migraines may have an effect on the vestibular system, resulting in vertigo episodes that may be associated with a reaction to light or sound. Vision can also be affected.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV):
This is the most common source of vertigo. It happens when tiny calcium crystals in your ears break apart and travel around to various areas of the ear where they are not supposed to be. This can cause sudden spinning (vertigo) and inner-ear discomfort.
Are you ready to get back on your feet today?
Our innovative procedures and diagnostic techniques have gained us a reputation as one of the most effective practices in the treatment of dizziness and vertigo.
If you have any of these conditions, please click here to make an appointment today. We’re going to help you get back on your feet as soon as possible.
