Understanding Causes of Dizziness

Dizziness is a word people use for a lot of different sensations — and not all of them come from the inner ear. People often have trouble explaining their dizziness to a provider, so here is a breakdown of how the different types of dizziness are described or felt, and who is the most appropriate type of medical provider to seek out.

If your dizziness feels like spinning, tilting, rocking, or swaying, especially after you’ve moved, that often points toward a vestibular cause — meaning there is a problem with one or both of the inner ears or its connection to the brainstem or brain. This is where physical therapy for vestibular rehab comes in. There are many different types of vestibular conditions, each with their own protocols for treatment. A vestibular physical or occupational therapist can provide you with the right exercises for your condition to reduce your dizziness and improve your balance. Some vestibular disorders require medical treatment, for which an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor or a neurologist will prescribe medications or perform necessary procedures.

Dizziness from heart conditions tends to feel more like lightheadedness, fainting, or blacking out. As people get older, this is commonly experienced when moving from lying to sitting or to standing, or when exerting themselves. For example, if you get dizziness and shortness of breath when climbing stairs, that points to a cardiac cause of dizziness. Your primary care provider can manage your heart conditions, or if needed, a cardiologist will prescribe the right medications and give guidelines for safe levels of exercise.

With low blood sugar, people usually notice shakiness, sweating, hunger, or sudden weakness. This is remedied by eating or drinking to elevate the blood sugar. If this happens to you often, your primary care provider can help you determine the cause and help you establish the right eating patterns or address your medical condition that is causing this.

Some dizziness can also come from medications — especially when multiple medications interact, which can affect balance, blood pressure, or alertness. Again, your primary care provider is your first stop in assessing whether this may be a problem you have and choosing which medications are necessary to keep you healthy.

Cervical dizziness generally feels like a floating or dissociated feeling and may be linked to neck pain, stiffness, or symptoms that change with head or neck position. A physical therapist or chiropractor can assess your particular neck dysfunction and provide treatment to address the underlying issue as well as exercise to reduce your dizziness.

Finally, anxiety-related dizziness often comes with chest tightness, rapid breathing, visual changes like seeing spots, or a sense of being disconnected, and tends to fluctuate with stress levels. Managing your stress and cognitive behavioral therapy, guided by a psychologist, is essential for managing episodes such as these.

Each type of dizziness has different causes — and that means different treatments. If you’re not sure what type you’re dealing with, getting the right assessment is the most important first step.

If you think your dizziness may be from a vestibular condition or coming from your neck, you can reach out via phone at 808-210-4458 or through the contact page to find out if my services are right for you.