The feeling of spinning whilst being firmly rooted to the ground has got to be one of the most unpleasant sensations in the world.
Whether it’s lack of balance, feeling lightheaded, or even feeling like you’re about to faint, dizziness has a lot to answer for, but did you know it can be related to your hearing health and your vestibular system?
The different types of dizziness
Oh yes, dizziness comes in all shapes and sizes – here’s a rundown of the most common to help you make sense of them…
1. Anxiety
For people who experience anxiety, dizziness is a common ailment. This is most often due to an extreme rush of adrenaline that can occur when feeling a bit panicky or during a full panic attack.
2. Disequilibrium
This is when normally simple actions, such as walking or even standing, are difficult due to unsteadiness.
Patients may experience frequent falls or find themselves leaning to one side while walking. This type of dizziness is often linked to problems within the brain’s cerebellum or a pressure on the spinal cord.
3. A Near Syncope
More commonly referred to as light-headedness, is when a person feels like they are about to faint but actually they don’t. This condition is most commonly caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, and this in turn causes a decrease in blood flow to the brain.
4. Vertigo
The mother of all dizziness. When there’s the sensation that the room or any other surroundings are rapidly spinning about, yet in reality the person is standing or sitting perfectly still, then this is vertigo. The root of the problem is usually narrowed down to a balance problem located within the inner ear.
Vertigo occurs when loose microscopic calcium carbonate crystals, which are normally located in the otolith organs, break free and find their way into the canals. When the crystals encounter the fine hairs, the hairs become stimulated, thus causing a rapid sense of movement.
Did you know VERTIGO is actually a symptom of other conditions and is the most common type of dizziness that is directly linked to your ears?
Understanding Vertigo-related conditions are imperative if you’re to beat it.
There are 3 you should know about…
1. Labyrinthitis or an inner ear infection is usually caused by a virus.
The labyrinth, which is a delicate structure located in the inner ear, basically becomes inflamed.
This can cause vertigo, discharge, a high temperature, pain, and sometimes it can be accompanied by a temporary hearing distortion. The infection usually clears up within a month to six weeks.
2. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
This is another common vertigo-related illness. It can cause a sudden spinning sensation that usually only lasts for a brief time, yet the vertigo can vary in intensity.
Simple everyday actions, such as bending over, reclining, turning over in bed, or getting up, can trigger an episode.
3. Meniere’s Disease is an inner ear condition.
It can cause extreme vertigo, which is often accompanied with nausea, tinnitus, and a sudden temporary change in hearing. While there is no cure, there are medications that can control it, as well as medications to help with the other symptoms.
When your world is spinning, what can you do?
Dizziness is not a condition that you should just live with. Investigating the source and implementing the right treatment can help improve your general wellbeing.
We’re exceptionally skilled at treating patients with extreme symptoms of dizziness; in fact, we’re the experts at it.
