Question: I would like to know what causes dizziness and what steps can be taken to correct it Dr. Hibberd Responds: As simple a symptom as dizziness is, there are multiple reasons why it could be occurring, from primary disorder of the labyrinth (the vestibular or balance area of the inner ear) which includes infection, inflammation circulatory disorder, trauma, toxin exposure, and various other congenital, genetic and acquired disorders to disorders affecting our brain or its tissues (nerves and spinal cord etc).
Many conditions affect the aforementioned areas, and thus in turn you will find dizziness associated with cardiovascular (heart), pulmonary (lung), renal (kidney), metabolic (hormonal), gastrointestinal (bowel) disorders and so on.
This initially appears overwhelming. It is actually very simple as long as the topic is approached methodically.
Questions to ask your doctor include, Is this a central or peripheral symptom? and Is this a primary disorder, or is this associated with some underlying medical disorder?
Its all in what you mean by dizziness. For example, dizziness described as a spinning of your surroundings points toward the inner ear as the likely source, as does positional change exacerbating your symptoms.
However vertical position change exacerbation may have alternate sources such as cardiovascular or neurological problems. Often the presence of other signs (such as nystagmus a spontaneous rhythmic flicker of eye movement or hearing loss, shortness of breath or fatigue will help focus the evaluation.
Some of the most commonly overlooked sources of dizziness are medication, drug, alcohol and nutritional effects.
In order to correct these signs and symptoms, it is best to know why they are present, are they persistent, what makes them better or worse, and have they occurred before. There are various agents used to counter these uncomfortable effects, but I would recommend you seek professional guidance for proper evaluation before self treating.
Peter Hibberd is a medical doctor with over 28 years of outpatient and hospital-inpatient experience. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He also is a member and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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