Dizziness is a common symptom that can be caused by many different things that are benign or indicative of an underlying neurological disorder. If you are dizzy, you are not only experiencing a troublesome symptom – it has many repercussions. When dizzy, you pose a safety risk not only to yourself but also to others, which is why it is important to have yourself checked by a doctor, especially if you’ve had a worrying bout of dizziness or if they have become more frequent.
Here, we will discuss dizziness, how to tell if what you’re experiencing is dizziness, and what neurological conditions cause dizziness as a symptom.
Are My Symptoms Due to Dizziness?
A lot of people believe they are dizzy if they feel like their surroundings are spinning, tilting, or falling even when they are standing still. What they are describing is called vertigo, which is different from dizziness. Dizziness is a feeling of having trouble keeping your balance and coordinating your movements. It can be accompanied by other symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, vomiting, sweating, headache, or blurred vision. If you experience any of these symptoms along with dizziness, or if you are experiencing more frequent bouts of dizziness, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any serious underlying conditions.
What Are The Possible Medical Conditions that Cause Dizziness?
Dizziness is a common symptom of a number of medical conditions, including neurological disorders. Below are some of the potential causes of dizziness:
- Migraine headaches are a type of headache that may cause you to become dizzy. One reason is that migraines can cause changes in the blood vessels in the brain, which can lead to reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain. This can result in feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
- Cluster headaches are another type of headache that can cause dizziness and other symptoms such as pain behind the eyes and sensitivity to light. One possibility is that the pain from the headache puts pressure on nerves or blood vessels in the head, which can lead to dizziness, or that cluster headaches increase sensitivity to light and sound, which can make you feel dizzy.
- Meniere’s disease is a condition of the inner ear that can cause vertigo, as well as hearing loss and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. The condition results in an abnormal build-up of fluid in the inner ear, which can disrupt the normal balance and movement of fluid within the ear, which can lead to a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness.
- BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is a condition of the inner ear that can cause brief episodes of dizziness when you move your head in certain positions. The inner ear is responsible for balance, and when it is not functioning properly due to tiny crystals being dislodged from the inner ear, it can lead to difficulty maintaining your balance.
- Vestibular neuritis is a condition that affects the vestibular nerve, which is responsible for sending balance information from the inner ear to the brain. When this nerve becomes inflamed, it can cause dizziness and other symptoms of imbalance.
- Labyrinthitis is caused by inflammation or infection that affects the structures in the ear that are responsible for hearing and balance, which leads to dizziness and vertigo.
- A stroke can also cause dizziness. A stroke can damage the parts of the brain responsible for balance and cause problems with blood flow to the brain.
Dizziness Treatment in Farmington Hills, MI
The board-certified neurologists at Associates in Neurology are highly qualified in treating patients suffering from dizziness due to a neurological disorder. We use highly advanced diagnostic methods to find out the underlying cause of your symptoms and create comprehensive treatment plans to improve your quality of life. To schedule an appointment with our top neurology doctors in Southeast Michigan, call our neurology clinic today at (248) 478-5512 or use our convenient online request form.