The Most Common Causes of Vertigo You Should Know About
Have you ever stood up and felt like the room was moving around you? That spinning or swaying sensation is called vertigo, and it can make even simple movements much more unsettling. Understanding vertigo causes can help you find relief, regain balance, and feel more confident in your daily life.
Seven Reasons The World Might Seem to Be Spinning
Vertigo isn’t a disease itself. It’s actually a symptom that can indicate several different underlying conditions. That’s why working with the team at Advanced Physical Therapy to identify the right cause is key to effective treatment.
Let’s explore the most common vertigo causes and what you can do to find steady ground again.
1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most frequent causes of vertigo and the easiest to treat. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear move out of place. When you change head positions, these crystals disturb your balance signals, creating sudden, short bursts of spinning sensations.
What It Feels Like
- Brief, intense vertigo spells when turning your head, rolling over in bed, or looking up
Treatment Techniques
Our PTs can perform gentle head movements called canalith repositioning maneuvers (like the Epley maneuver) to move the crystals back into place.
2. Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis
These conditions occur when the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain, becomes inflamed, often after a viral infection.
What It Feels Like
- Sudden, severe vertigo that may last for hours or days, sometimes with nausea or difficulty focusing
Treatment Techniques
Vestibular therapy can retrain your brain to adapt to the nerve’s reduced signals and restore your sense of balance.
3. Ménière’s Disease
Ménière’s disease is a chronic disorder caused by fluid buildup in the inner ear that disrupts balance and hearing.
What It Feels Like
- Recurrent vertigo episodes, hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and a feeling of fullness in the ear
Treatment Techniques
Vestibular therapy, dietary changes (like reducing salt), and medical management can help control flare-ups and improve stability.
4. Head or Neck Injury
A concussion or whiplash can disrupt the brain’s ability to process balance information from the eyes, inner ears, and muscles, leading to vertigo and other symptoms.
What It Feels Like
- Dizziness, blurred vision, or motion sensitivity that persists after a fall, accident, or sports injury
Treatment Techniques
Our physical therapists will work with you to create a safe, progressive plan to restore balance, reduce dizziness, and manage other symptoms.
5. Migraines
Not all migraines cause headaches. If you get vestibular migraines, dizziness or vertigo may be your primary symptom.
What It Feels Like
- Episodes of dizziness lasting minutes to hours, sometimes with light sensitivity, nausea, or sound sensitivity
Treatment Techniques
Physical therapy combined with migraine management (medication, stress reduction, and lifestyle adjustments) can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
6. Medication Side Effects
Certain medications can affect how your inner ear or brain interprets balance signals. Common culprits include antibiotics, blood pressure drugs, and sedatives.
What It Feels Like
- Persistent unsteadiness or mild spinning sensations, often when starting a new prescription
Treatment Techniques
Talk to your doctor before making any changes. Sometimes adjusting dosage or switching medications can ease symptoms.
7. Circulatory Problems
Reduced blood flow to the brain can cause dizziness that mimics vertigo. This may happen due to low blood pressure, dehydration, or cardiovascular issues.
What It Feels Like
- Lightheadedness or dizziness that occurs when standing up or exerting yourself
Treatment Techniques
Addressing the underlying circulation issue and improving hydration often reduces these symptoms.
Finding Balance Through Physical Therapy
No matter the cause, vertigo can be frustrating. Fortunately, the team at Advanced Physical Therapy is here to help you find the right blend of treatments to address the underlying vertigo causes that affect you.
You don’t have to live with that unnerving spinning sensation. With professional guidance and evidence-based treatment, you can move confidently again.
Contact our Alaska clinic today to schedule your evaluation and discover how physical therapy can help relieve symptoms and restore your balance.