{"id":14514,"date":"2020-03-31T07:47:48","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T07:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14514"},"modified":"2021-05-07T13:12:06","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T13:12:06","slug":"14-common-causes-of-vertigo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-vertigo\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Vertigo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you feel that the room is spinning, or that you are spinning and the room is staying still, you may be suffering from vertigo. Those who have seen the famous Alfred Hitchcock film, Vertigo <\/em>may recall the police detective whose fate was sealed because he suffered from vertigo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the character seemed to suffer from anxiety and fear of heights rather than a spinning sensation that can occur unexpectedly, which is what vertigo is. In addition, vertigo is not a condition but is a symptom of an underlying problem, such as an inner ear infection, dehydration or interference with brain functioning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of vertigo–central and peripheral. The latter deals with main issues in the inner ear, whereas central vertigo, can stem from a variety of problems. It is important to see a physician to determine the underlying cause of the spinning sensation if you are suffering from vertigo. 
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1. Sleep Deprivation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of us have had the experience of pulling an all-nighter to complete a project or to study for an exam. It is unusual for many people to go more than a night without sleeping, but in cases of extreme sleep deprivation, a person may undergo an altered state. This may include strange thoughts, a dreamlike state, and vertigo<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In more extreme cases, someone who is severely sleep-deprived may start to hallucinate. It isn\u2019t only after going days without sleep that a person could develop vertigo, but also if one is consistently lacking in sleep and getting less than four hours of sleep a night. This may cause someone to feel irritable and unable to concentrate. In addition, they could feel that the room is spinning. This may come and go or it may last for hours or days until he or she finally gets some sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Changes in Barometric Pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The changes of the seasons can be splendid and beautiful to many people, but others can suffer from the changes in temperature and air pressure. In the winter to spring, when the weather gets warmer, the pressure lightens up and can create feelings of dizziness <\/a>and vertigo. People who are sensitive to these changes often suffer from other conditions with the changes in air pressure. They may have migraines or have vestibular problems that affect the structure of the inner ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These problems can also happen in the fall when the weather gets colder and the air pressure gets higher. Many people choose to wait it out until the seasons fully change, but those who find that their symptoms keep them from functioning should talk to a doctor and see if there is some medication that can alleviate the symptoms of vertigo. However, many cases are mild and do not require medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Dehydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many problems that seem to have a severe underlying cause may be due to a preventable issue–dehydration. When the body is not given enough liquids, a number of things can result. A person who is dehydrated <\/a>can suffer from headaches, nausea, dizziness, disorientation, and vertigo. It is important to get enough liquids, not just in the summertime when the heat increases sweat and encourages the loss of fluids from the body, but also in the winter, when indoor heating units can rob the body of moisture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In severe cases of dehydration, a person may need to receive liquid infusions at a hospital, but usually, the problem can be treated at home with electrolyte mixtures you can buy at your local pharmacy. You may find that the vertigo does not disappear right away, but with consistent hydration, the dizziness will most likely disappear. The best way to prevent vertigo caused by dehydration is to make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Stroke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although most cases of vertigo do not have a stroke <\/a>as their root cause and most stroke patients do not necessarily suffer from vertigo, there is a link in many cases. A stroke that specifically happens at the brain stem or a cerebellar stroke is the type of stroke most likely to lead to vertigo. Strokes occur as the result of a blockage in the blood vessels or thrombosis. As a result, blood cannot get to the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it is starved of oxygen, a stroke may occur that can cause temporary or permanent damage and can inhibit one\u2019s ability to speak and walk. When there is a blockage to certain parts of the brain, dizziness and vertigo might result. Vertigo is often a symptom of mini-strokes that are brief and do not have lasting effects. In this case, vertigo may last only a few minutes or a few hours at the most. 
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5. Viral Meningitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Viral meningitis<\/a> is an infection and inflammation of the brain caused by a virus. It can leave patients incapacitated and is accompanied by severe headaches and other symptoms. One of the first signs of viral meningitis is a stiff neck, difficulty turning and extreme fever. People may feel as if they are suffering from a serious bout of the flu, only to discover that they have developed meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition, since it is viral, is very contagious and takes a long time to recover from. If the inflammation spreads to the ears, an ear infection may develop, and one could suffer from vertigo. The pain associated with this condition is caused by a swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. If you have meningitis, it is important to spend most of the time in bed. If you must walk around, you may feel dizzy or experience vertigo. 
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6. Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vertigo is caused by a wide variety of conditions, and stress <\/a>is also on the list. However, the use of the term \u201cstress\u201d can seem a bit vague since our lives are filled with all kinds of stress: work pressure, emotional issues, upheavals such as moving or losing a family member, and the list goes on. Other medical problems can also cause significant stress, and sometimes it is hard to tell whether the vertigo is triggered by the ailment or by stress over the ailment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing for sure is that stress inhibits the immune system, and people suffering from meningitis, for example, may suffer from vertigo if the infection spreads to the ear, so limiting stress can keep a condition from worsening and leading to vertigo. In Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s film Vertigo, <\/em>the feeling of dizziness and loss of control in the main character is triggered by his being in the same situation again and experiencing anxiety. 
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7. Acute Labyrinthitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like many other causes of vertigo, acute labyrinthitis <\/a>is a condition affecting the inner ear. The inner ear, or the vestibular system, helps us keep our balance and perception of space, and once this is interfered with, one can feel dizzy or sense that the room is spinning. Acute labyrinthitis is an infection in the inner ear that is characterized by nausea, dizziness, and vertigo. It is different from many other types of vertigo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this condition, the sufferer feels as if he is in motion when he is not. Other types of vertigo may make it seem as if the world is spinning and the person is not. The condition usually lasts a few weeks and often goes away on its own, but if it persists for 3 weeks or more, it is important to see a doctor.  Medicines to treat the infection can make this condition go away, and with it, the vertigo. 
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8. Meniere\u2019s disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meniere\u2019s disease is a condition affecting the inner ear that can cause hearing loss, tinnitus<\/a>, dizziness, and vertigo. It usually happens in only one ear, so the hearing loss is not complete. People of any age or gender can develop this condition, but Meniere\u2019s disease is most common among young adults. Vertigo can be quite dramatic for those with this condition and can last for prolonged periods, but usually not more than an entire day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vertigo is one of the first and most striking symptoms of the onset of Meniere\u2019s disease. Hearing loss can also occur intermittently, but many people permanently lose the ability to hear in one ear. The ear may also become swollen and painful. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears may occur and disrupt one\u2019s ability to function. There are medications that can relieve symptoms of dizziness and vertigo. However, many effects of this problem can be more permanent. 
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9. Motion Sickness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people think motion sickness and vertigo are the same thing, but actually, vertigo can result from motion sickness, which as the name suggests, has motion as its cause. If you ride in a car or a boat and feel you are off-balance, have vertigo and nausea, you may be suffering from motion sickness. Vertigo is one of the most telltale symptoms of this problem, to the point where many people see them as interchangeable. When you ride in a car or a boat your vestibular system<\/a> may be more vulnerable to becoming confused than people without motion sickness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and is made of a network of canals containing fluid that is affected by movement. The nerves around these canals send messages to the brain. When this system is disrupted because of movement from a boat or a car, motion sickness and vertigo can result. 
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10. Moving into certain positions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who have a feeling of dizziness or vertigo when moving into a specific position, such as tilting their heads up or down or lying flat on their backs may suffer from a condition known as BPPV or Benign, Paroxysmal, Positional Vertigo. BBPV is the leading cause of vertigo and can last for a few minutes to hours. It can happen just a couple of times or it can become chronic. It is called benign <\/a>because it does not lead to more severe health problems than just the vertigo itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vertigo comes on suddenly and happens when you place your body in certain positions. BBPV can happen when the inner ear, which has carbonate crystals in the balance organs, becomes blocked when the crystals get stuck somewhere in the inner ear. This can interfere with the ability to communicate to the brain information about motion and can make a person experience symptoms of vertigo. 
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11. Calcium Deposits in the Inner Ear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ear is a complex organ that governs two main functions in the body. One function is, of course, hearing and the other function is balance and perception of motion. In the balance areas of the ear that is a gelatin-type substance that contains calcium <\/a>carbonate crystals. These crystals are supposed to stay in place, but unfortunately, some crystals can become separated and can confuse the messages the vestibular system sends to the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the sensory and vestibular systems are so finely tuned, any disruption can have dramatic effects, so the slightest movement can seem like the world is shaking or spinning. This results in vertigo. Many people who suffer from calcium deposits in the inner ear are over the age of 60 since ear crystals tend to get dislodged as people age. Athletes may also be prone to have a problem with ear crystals if they engage in sports that cause injury to the head. 
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12. Vestibular Neuronitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vestibular Neuronitis is an inflammation <\/a>of the nerve of the inner ear that can disrupt communication from the ear to the brain about motion and balance. After a few days, the inflammation may subside, but vertigo and dizziness may continue for weeks or months afterward. This condition is also accompanied by dizziness, nausea and cognitive disturbances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vestibular Neuronitis can arise from other conditions, such as measles, rubella, chickenpox, mumps, flu, and shingles. The condition can be treated by dealing with the underlying problem with antibiotics and antiviral medications. In addition to medication, a doctor may prescribe certain exercises to help strengthen the vestibular system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the vestibular nerve is inflamed it is important to make sure it is dealt with before the infection becomes more severe and can lead to permanent problems. In most cases, the condition can go away rather quickly, but sometimes it can linger. 
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13. Perilymph Fistula<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perilymph Fistula <\/a>develops when there is a tear in the membrane in the middle ear that allows fluid to leak into the inner ear. Air pressure changes that often affect the middle ear do not reach the inner ear unless there is a significant disruption, such as the leaking of fluid. In addition, the fluid in the ear is linked to the fluid that surrounds the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When there is a leakage, some of this fluid is depleted and can affect the brain. Symptoms may range from a mild headache to more severe symptoms. The ear may feel full or swollen. Headaches, dizziness is also present in addition to full-blown vertigo. One may become more sensitive to air pressure changes because of the presence of fluid. Some of the most common causes of leakage of fluid into the inner ear are head injuries, such as those that can cause the sudden turning of the head or the neck. 
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14. Brain Tumor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A person who experiences vertigo should not jump to the conclusion that he or she has a brain tumor<\/a>, but dizziness and vertigo can be a symptom of this serious problem. More often than not, vertigo is a result of malfunctioning of the inner ear, but in some cases, brain problems can cause disorientation and a feeling that the room is spinning. The first symptoms of brain tumors are usually severe headaches, irregularities in vision and nausea, but nausea, vertigo and dizziness can also be present. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When vertigo is caused by a problem in the ear, the vestibular system is disrupted and sends confusing signals to the brain, but if there is a brain tumor, the brain can misinterpret normal signals and can cause vertigo. Whatever the cause, if you are experiencing vertigo repeatedly, it is important to see a physician to rule out a serious problem.
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