Why am I Dizzy?
/WHY AM I DIZZY?
Our inaugural Pro Motion Calgary Blog post written and illustrated by Rachel Lewis, Interim Physiotherapist
Dizziness is a common complaint seen by physical therapists who treat vestibular dysfunction. Our brain relies on both inner ears for information about movement, when there is something obstructing that information relay we can experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea or spinning! It is important to take your dizziness symptoms seriously and seek a physiotherapist for an assessment or seek medical attention to rule out any risk of a potential stroke. As physiotherapists we can help determine where your dizziness is stemming from and how to treat it! So let’s get into the common types of dizziness we see and how we differentiate !
BPPV – Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
BPPV is a common disorder where patients complain that they feel as though the room is spinning around them. This dizziness typically onsets with head movements such as rolling over in bed, or lying down/ sitting up quickly and dissipates within a few minutes with rest. There are a few different types of BPPV and each type presents with differing severity, onset and duration of symptoms. As physiotherapists we provide hands-on assessments to determine which type of BPPV you have and provide specific exercises and maneuvers to treat it. Patients typically see immediate resolution of symptoms after the first or second visit with us! We typically follow up with an exercise and education program to keep symptoms away and ensure you have a toolkit to prevent it in the future!
Recent research has shown that 80% of individuals over the age of 65 years have experienced dizziness and BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is the cause of approximately 50% of dizziness in older adults . But that doesn’t just mean dizziness effects older adults… dizziness can affect children, adolescence and adults of all ages.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is another common disorder of dizziness that presents with fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and ear pressure with episodes of vertigo. These symptoms differ from BPPV as they are typically severe and can last up to 30 minutes -72 hours. This condition is commonly causes by a collection of fluid in the inner ear and can be triggered by improper fluid drainage, allergies, viral infections, migraines, or head traumas. Physiotherapists can work with your family physicians to find the right treatment for you, and prescribe appropriate exercises to keep symptoms at bay.
Vestibular Neuritis
Vestibular neuritis is caused when a nerve stops sending signals from one ear to the brain, this miscommunication causes dizziness, nausea and the spins… usually lasting several days! Acutely it can be difficult to stand or walk and nausea and vomiting can be common. It’s important to note that hearing loss is NOT a symptom of vestibular neuritis, and its typically just a single major event that doesn’t come and go. Vestibular neuritis can improve within a few weeks with appropriate vestibular exercises. Most people will make a full recovery!
Cervicogenic Dizziness
Cervicogenic dizziness refers to symptoms that are being referred from the upper spine whether it’s from ligaments, muscles or nerves. Often times individuals with cervicogenic dizziness complain of stiffness in their necks, muscle tenderness and dizziness with neck rotation. The dizziness here is often not presented as typical vertigo, such as the room spinning around you. Physiotherapists can help by providing exercises, performing hands on manual therapy, mobilisations, postural retraining and retraining of the neck joints position sense.
