Vertigo, Dizziness & Balance

As many as 15 percent of Americans experience a problem with balance every year. And dizziness is one of the most common reasons older Americans end up in an emergency room. Dizziness is a general word that may refer to being lightheaded, off balance or faint. Vertigo, on the other hand, means that you feel like you’re moving and spinning even when you’re not.

There are many possible causes for dizziness, vertigo and balance problems, and there are just as many solutions. Your doctor figures out what’s affecting you using latest medical technology.

Maintaining Ear Health and Balance

Your ear health, combined with a generally healthy lifestyle, prevents dizziness and vertigo. Still, it’s possible to have these conditions even if you’re fully healthy. The best steps to take to prevent balance disorders are to:

• Maintain a healthy diet
• Avoid excessive sodium
• Avoid too much caffeine
• Quit or cut down on smoking
• Limit alcohol intake
• Keep regular appointments with your ENT doctor to make sure your inner ears are healthy.
• Eat regular meals, rather than waiting a long time between meals
• Clean your ears regularly and appropriately

Causes of Dizziness and Vertigo

Some dizziness and vertigo is caused by conditions other than ear problems. Your specialist relies on a thorough exam and testing to rule out these other common conditions. These physical problems usually have other symptoms beside dizziness, which helps your doctor identify them. The other conditions that cause vertigo include:

• Dehydration
• Low blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Medications
• Allergies
• Neurological problems
• Heart arrhythmia
• Stroke

The Ears and Vertigo

Your professional is an expert on the different types of vertigo since the ears are almost always involved. The most common inner-ear issues that cause vertigo include:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This condition happens when moving your head or body throws off your inner ear system.
• Labyrinthitis. This is an infection in the inner ear, often related to the flu. It can cause vertigo.
• Meniere’s disease. This cause of vertigo involves hearing loss, but it’s still not well understood.
• Vestibular neuronitis. This is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, causing vertigo.
• Perilymph fistula. This condition refers to a leakage into your inner ear that causes dizziness and vertigo.

Complications and Warning Signs

In most cases, the issues causing dizziness and vertigo aren’t dangerous by themselves. But they’re scary because they interfere with your ability to perform regular daily activities. Dizziness and vertigo affect aspects of your life in a number of ways, including:

• Working in any situation
• Operating machinery
• Remaining independent
• Staying mentally healthy
• Having the ability to be spontaneous
• Increasing anxiety
• Creating interpersonal problems

Consult your doctor at the first sign of dizziness or vertigo. You need an accurate diagnosis before any treatment can commence. Ensure your safety and deal with other symptoms that often occur in conjunction with dizziness and vertigo. These other symptoms include:

• Hearing loss
• Blurred vision
• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Tingling or numbness
• Fever
• New type of headache