We’ve all had the sensation of being dizzy – as if you can’t focus, can’t see straight, can’t stand upright without swaying or falling. You may even experience “tunnel vision,” where your peripheral vision goes dark for a few seconds.
Dizziness is a very common condition. Vertigo, on the other hand, is not quite the same.
While dizziness is often used interchangeably with "lightheadedness," which gives the impression of being unsteady, vertigo is almost always linked to a physical condition that produces an actual imbalance in your body.
Dizziness: Causes and Symptoms
Just a few of the many factors that can lead to dizziness include lack of sleep, poor nutrition, overexertion, or a physical ailment, such as a head cold or the flu.
Dizziness can also occur from something as simple as standing up too quickly after an extended period of rest. Some accompanying symptoms to dizziness may include:
Loss of balance
Lightheadedness or heavy-headedness
Momentarily impaired vision (i.e. tunnel vision)
Feeling woozy or faint
Vertigo: Causes and Symptoms
Vertigo is most commonly caused by an imbalance in the inner ear, also known as the “vestibular system.” Your vestibular system helps you maintain your balance and center of gravity by sending messages to your brain regarding your movement.
When this is impaired, the necessary messages become blocked from your brain, and your movement becomes affected. You may feel as if the world is spinning around you, you can’t focus your vision for prolonged periods of time, or you can’t stand/move properly without feeling like you are going to topple over.
Some common causes of vertigo include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This is the most common cause of vertigo. It occurs when the tiny calcium crystals located in your ears break apart and move around to different parts of the ear, where they are not supposed to be. This can cause sudden spinning sensations (vertigo) and inner-ear discomfort.
Meniere’s disease. This occurs when fluid builds up in your ear(s). This typically includes “ringing” in your ear and sudden waves of intense dizziness that may last for hours. You may also experience momentary hearing losses.
Vestibular neuritis. This is an inner-ear infection that can cause vertigo.
Migraines. Migraines can impact your vestibular system, thus causing episodes of vertigo which may be coupled with a sensitivity to light or sound. Vision may also be impaired.
Some accompanying symptoms to vertigo may also include:
Inability to focus or remain alert
Double vision
Nausea or vomiting
Arm or leg weakness
Difficulty seeing or speaking
Sweating
Abnormal eye movements
Get back on your feet with physical therapy:
Both dizziness and vertigo can hinder your daily life, limiting your ability to perform even the simplest of tasks. Luckily, no matter what the cause may be, physical therapy for dizziness and vertigo can help.
Vestibular rehabilitation includes treatments such as the Epley maneuver and Cawthorne head exercises.
The Epley maneuver allows for canalith repositioning, in order to move the broken calcium crystals in patients experiencing BBPV. Cawthorne head exercises focus on decreasing nerve sensitivity and reducing the effects of vertigo. In addition to those treatments, physical therapists will also provide you with a personalized treatment plan that works for your specific condition.
Physical therapists can help restore peace of mind and comfort back into your life so that you’re able to feel confident as you go about even the simplest tasks.
