Vertigo and Dizziness

You might be experiencing vertigo and/or dizziness if you feel:

• lightheaded

• off balance, like you’re unsteady on your feet

• faint

• like the room or world around you is spinning (this is vertigo)

• feeling or being sick

There are a wide variety of reasons why you might feel vertigo and dizziness.

Common reasons include:

• stress or anxiety – especially if you are breathing rapidly (hyperventilating) 

• low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) – which is common in people with diabetes

• dehydration or heat exhaustion 

• drinking too much alcohol (either binge drinking or long-term alcohol misuse)

• taking certain types of prescription medicine – like antidepressants, blood pressure medication, or progesterone in contraceptive pills and HRT

• taking illegal drugs

Underlying health conditions that can cause vertigo and dizziness include:

• a sudden fall in blood pressure when you sit or stand up quickly (postural hypotension)

• low blood pressure

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where certain head movements trigger vertigo

• migraine

• iron deficiency anaemia

• motion sickness

• inner ear infections called labyrinthitis or vestibular neuronitis

• a longer-term condition called persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD)

• Ménière’s disease, a condition that affects your ears

• having a problem with your heart rhythm – like the fast, irregular heartbeat in atrial fibrillation 

• carbon monoxide poisoning

• concussion after a blow to the head

Less common causes of vertigo include brain conditions:

• a stroke

• multiple sclerosis

• brain tumours

Diagnosing vertigo and dizziness – and most importantly, their underlying causes –  usually involves an initial consultation where our ear, nose and throat specialist will: 

1. Take a medical history to understand your health.

2. Get a full understanding of your symptoms and how they affect you – for example, what they are, what makes them worse or better, any specific triggers, and how they affect your daily life, such as sleeping and working.

3. Examine your ears, head and neck.

4. Review any previous notes or scans.

5. Talk through their initial findings and what will happen next.

6. They may recommend blood tests, an ear exam, hearing and balance tests, or scans such as an MRI.

There are some basic lifestyle tips that can help you avoid these feelings – but if your symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition, treating that is the best preventative measure.

Things that may help you avoid vertigo and dizziness include:

• staying well hydrated

• eating regular meals

• avoiding binge drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs

• making sure you get enough iron – this is particularly important for women having periods, especially if they’re heavy

• recognising and managing stress with regular activity, deep breathing and taking time to relax

• avoiding fairground rides or dance moves that spin you around for a long time

Vertigo and dizziness can cause falls, which may result in bone fractures (broken bones) or other injuries. Vertigo and dizziness can also interfere with your quality of life and hinder your ability to drive, go to work or socialise.

Health complications will depend on the underlying cause of your vertigo and dizziness, which is why getting a personalised diagnosis and treatment plan is key.

There will be different treatment options depending on your specific health issues. It may be that treating an underlying condition is key to reducing your vertigo and dizziness.

Treatments specifically designed to target vertigo and dizziness symptoms include:

• medication, known as vestibular suppressants, that can be used short-term

• simple head exercises done with your consultant, such as the Epley’s or Brandt-Daroff exercises that can help to ease symptoms

• exercises your consultant can teach you to do at home, such as stretching, strengthening, eye movement control and marching on the spot

• surgical options if there’s an underlying issue, such as a neck or head injury

At Welbeck, our neurology specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.