Dizziness and Imbalance

Feelings of dizziness and imbalance can be alarming. As many as half of all adults will be concerned enough about feeling dizzy to see a physician. In most cases, feeling dizzy is not indicative of a larger issue. Dizziness and imbalance will typically present in one of the following ways:

Vertigo

Vertigo creates a feeling as though the room is spinning or as if a person is floating. Typically, this feeling is a symptom of an issue with the inner ear.

Lightheadedness

Some individuals may describe this sensation as feeling faint. Lightheadedness is typically due to low blood pressure.

Confusion

 Confusion may be due to a number of issues including low blood sugar. When confused, a person can feel unsteady, resulting in feeling dizzy.

Imbalance

 A person who is dizzy may feel as though they are not on level ground and may have difficulty maintaining balance

Causes of dizziness vary by individual. Common causes of dizziness include

Ear infection or inflammation of the inner ear

The inner ear is important in order to maintain balance. When the ear becomes infected or inflamed, maintaining balance can be difficult. Inner ear issues are often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, and hearing loss.

BPPV

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo occurs due to changes in the position of the head. It is most often experienced in bed after sitting up or turning over.

Migraine

Some individuals with migraines experience an aura prior to the onset of the headache. In some cases, the aura may present itself as dizziness and may last for an extended period of time before the headache begins.

Other issues

Feelings of dizziness are typically not an indication of an issue with the brain. However, in some cases dizziness may be one of the symptoms of a larger issue.

If you’re concerned about your feelings of dizziness or if you have been unable to get a diagnosis and relief, contact a member of Cayman Neurology and Pain Management team today.

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