Vertigo and Dizziness

What does vertigo feel like?

November 23, 2021 by Focal Physiotherapy Leave a Comment

What does vertigo feel like? It’s a sensation that you might not be able to identify until it happens. Vertigo is when you feel as though you are moving, but really aren’t. This feeling of dizziness and nausea can happen for a variety of reasons, including vertigo from an inner ear infection, vertigo Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or from standing up too quickly after sitting for some time. In this article we’ll discuss what vertigo feels like and how vertigo differs from other types of dizziness!

The vertigo itself can feel like a lot of different things. It might be that your room is spinning or that you are moving, even though you aren’t. For some vertigo sufferers they have reported feeling as though the floor beneath them was slanted and being unable to stand up without holding onto something for support because their vision felt as though it was off balance. Other vertigo sufferers report feeling as though they are sliding forward and backwards or side to side. Regardless, vertigo is an extremely unpleasant feeling.
What causes vertigo?

Vertigo can be caused by a number of different things, including:

Meniere’s disease
an inner ear infection such as labyrinthitis or otitis media
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
side effects from medication you might take for other conditions.

The most common cause is BPPV. This vertigo is caused by loose calcium carbonate crystals in your inner ear.

How do you treat vertigo?

You can help alleviate BPPV with some simple exercises that will allow the crystals to fall into place and stop causing vertigo. These are known as the Epley Manoeuvre, named after Dr. John Epley.

There are also things that vertigo sufferers can do to help prevent the vertigo from coming back. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy can help you re-train your body to adjust for vertigo and find balance.

When should I see a doctor?

Getting vertigo investigated is important, as there can be (rare) serious causes of vertigo. If vertigo becomes persistent you should see your GP, especially if it is accompanied by hearing loss, tinnitus or neurological signs like difficulty speaking, loss of sensation (numbness), or weakness. So see your GP in the first instance, then get help with vestibular physiotherapy. Give us a call now on 03 9034 7735 to see how we can help you, or click to book an appointment online.

What Causes Dizziness When Lying Down?

September 20, 2021 by Focal Physiotherapy Leave a Comment

What causes dizziness when lying down, can be a number of factors. Potential causes can be a fluctuation in your blood pressure when you are on your back, a condition know as benign paroxysmal position vertigo or an infection of your inner ear.

Blood pressure and dizziness

When you are lying down your blood pressure drops slightly as the need to fight the effects of gravity reduces. However, too much of a drop in the blood pressure with lying down, could make you feel dizzy. If you are taking blood pressure medication, it might that your medication is too strong and dropping your blood pressure too much. If you are feeling dizzy or really lightheaded, it might be worth it to visit the GP to have you blood pressure checked. Be sure to check with your doctor before changing your medication.

Benign paroxysmal position vertigo

Benign paroxysmal position vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo people experience. In BPPV, loose crystals in the inner ear move about causing you to feel dizzy, because it disrupts balance. Although BPPV may only cause temporary symptoms, feelings of dizziness can persist.

People commonly feel the vertigo with BPPV when they roll over in bed, especially first thing in the morning. Thankfully BPPV can generally be easily and effectively treated with a treatment know as the Epley manoeuvre. We can apply the Epley manoeuvre for you.

Labyrinthitis or Vestibular Neuritis

Labyrinthitis, or vestibular neuritis, is inflammation of the part of the inner ear that senses movement. With labyrinthitis the sensations of spinning and dizziness are caused by an infection (generally by a virus) of the labyrinth or vestibular nerve. Acute labyrinthitis occurs suddenly and lasts for a few weeks, it can resolve on its own, but may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Often the first symptoms you will feel will be vertigo and dizziness when lying down.

Getting help

So it’s important to exclude medical causes of dizziness when lying down, such as blood pressure issues. Be sure to contact your doctor for advice on that front. Two common ear related causes that prompt people to ask “What causes dizziness when lying down?” include benign paroxysmal position vertigo or an infection of your inner ear. Thankfully treatment is available to help with both of these. Give us a call now on 03 9034 7735 to see how we can help you, or click to book an appointment online.

Can Vertigo Cause Anxiety?

September 7, 2021 by Focal Physiotherapy Leave a Comment

Vertigo is a symptom where you feel that the world around them seems to be spinning or moving. Vertigo can vary from a mild attack through to a severe attack where you may be unable to face doing everyday tasks. So asking whether “can vertigo cause anxiety” is a fair question.

Mild vertigo attacks can develop suddenly and just last for a few seconds, leaving a barely noticeable dizziness which doesn’t raise any red flags. However, for severe vertigo sufferers, their symptoms may be constant over several hours or days. Other symptoms associated to vertigo may include dizziness, anxiety, loss of balance, and malaise – a general feeling of unwellness.

What are anxiety and dizziness?

Feeling a bit anxious is a common thing. You may be worried about an interview or a big exam. If it’s a bit more severe you may lose your appetite, and feel a bit moody. Such low grade anxiety is normal and nothing too much to worry about. However, medically diagnosed anxiety is the feeling of unease, including fear, which could be quite severe.

Dizziness however, can be defined as a range of sensations where you might feel weak, woozy, and lightheaded. Often people call vertigo dizziness though the two are not the same thing. Frequent dizziness attacks can be sometimes misdiagnosed as vertigo.

The link between vertigo and anxiety

Vertigo is really a symptom of other medical conditions, rather than a diagnosis as such. Underlying causes can include viral infections of your inner ear (Vestibular Neuritis), fluid build-up in the inner ear (Meniere’s Disease), or lose crystals in the inner ear (BPPV). Regardless of the cause though, vertigo can be extremely distressing, and over a prolonged period of time is can result in anxiety.

Interestingly there’s also research suggesting that anxiety can cause vertigo and dizziness for some people, so it’s kind of a two way street! Furthermore, elevated levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, may impact neural information transmission from the vestibular system to the brain. Stress hormones disrupt nerve channel connections and neurotransmission in the brain, changing the way your brain functions.

How to treat vertigo and dizziness

Several medical approaches, including physical therapy, medical prescriptions, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes can help vertigo and therefore may theoretically help the anxiety produced by the vertigo.

1. Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is usually the standard treatment for vestibular (vertigo) disorders, such as Meniere’s disease, BPPV, and vestibular migraines. Exercises targeted to the eyes, head, walking, and balance can help reduce the severity of vertigo and dizziness frequency of attacks.

2. Medications

Sometimes your doctor will also prescribe medications to help with both vertigo and anxiety. Be sure to discuss your treatment options with them.

3. Psychotherapy

Techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) have a long history of success in treating anxiety disorders. Increasing the self-awareness of anxiety while learning coping skills may help reduce symptoms of chronic vertigo.

4. Lifestyle changes

Relaxation techniques can be an essential part of managing daily stress levels. You may find that regularly practicing yoga, meditation, and gentle exercises to curb everyday stress and anxiety symptoms helps.

Final Thoughts

So if you’re experiencing vertigo and/or dizziness, call us now to get help. Rather than suffering, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get relief. Call on 03 9034 7735 or click to book an appointment online.

References:

Meli A, Zimatore G, Badaracco C, De Angelis E, Tufarelli D. Effects of vestibular rehabilitation therapy on emotional aspects in chronic vestibular patients. J Psychosom Res. 2007 Aug;63(2):185-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.02.007. PMID: 17662755.