Causes of Dizziness
Dizziness can be attributed to various issues related to the brain, central nervous system, or inner ear. Below is a summary of key problems and disorders that can lead to dizziness:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – the most common cause of dizziness.
- Inner ear inflammation, which includes conditions such as labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.
- Ménière’s disease.
- Acoustic neuroma.
- Reduced blood flow to the base of the brain.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Brain injuries or neck trauma.
- Migraine headaches.
- Diabetes-related complications, such as arteriosclerosis.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy, which can lead to dizziness due to fluctuating hormone levels and decreased blood sugar levels.
- Anxiety or panic attacks.
Types of Dizziness
Dizziness can be categorized into two main types, described as follows:
- Peripheral Dizziness: The most common form, caused by issues in the inner ear or vestibular nerve.
- Centrally-induced Dizziness: This type is due to dysfunction in the brain, particularly in an area known as the cerebellum.
Symptoms of Dizziness
Individuals experiencing dizziness often report feeling it especially when changing the position of their head. Generally, the symptoms accompanying dizziness can last anywhere from a few minutes up to several hours or more. The symptoms commonly associated with dizziness include:
- Loss of balance.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Nystagmus – involuntary eye movement.
- Headaches.
- Increased sweating.
- Ringing in the ears or hearing loss.
- Double vision.
- Difficulties with swallowing.
- Facial paralysis.
- Slurred speech.
- Weakness in the limbs.