6 Causes of Vertigo That You Never Realized Existed

People who say they feel dizzy mean different things. While there is no actual medical definition of dizziness, four types are commonly recognized. Lightheadedness is the sensation that a person feels he or she might faint. People who experience disequilibrium have difficulty walking; they are unsteady or feel about to fall. Even fearful, depressed, or worried individuals use the word dizzy to describe their sensations. And then there is vertigo: the feeling that people or their surroundings are spinning when they are stationary. This type is common; vertigo accounts for approximately half of complaints of dizziness.

Anyone who has spun around and suddenly stops knows what vertigo feels like. However, when it occurs under ordinary circumstances, it indicates an abnormality of the vestibular system. Located in the inner ear, this is the control center of a person’s sense of balance. Two common causes are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, in which moving the head results in a spinning sensation, and acute labyrinthitis, when the ear’s balance mechanisms become inflamed (usually brought on by a virus). However, there are a number of causes of vertigo that many people have never heard of. Here are six conditions that may bring on that spinning sensation.

1 - Perilymphatic Fistula

Lifting heavy objects, an injury to the head, or difficulties caused by air pressure changes (think scuba diving) can result in an atypical connection between areas of the ear that should not be joined together. Sneezing, coughing, straining, and extreme noises can make symptoms worse. Resting while keeping the head raised and avoiding any kind of straining are the standard treatment. Surgical repair might be called for if the vertigo does not improve with these less invasive remedies.

2 - Acoustic Neuroma

This is a benign tumor affecting the inner ear vestibulocochlear nerve, which travels from the inner ear to the brain. The nerve has two functions. It sends sound messages and also information about balance. These tumors are slow-growing and do not enter the brain, although they can press on it.

Initial symptoms are frequently subtle, and may include, in addition to vertigo, a gradual hearing loss affecting one ear, often along with ringing or a sensation of fullness. There may be gradual changes in taste, facial numbness, hoarseness, headaches, balance problems, confusion, and other symptoms. Two varieties exist: a rare inherited form, and the much more common sporadic type. Even though doctors do not know the causes, people who experience exposure to hefty amounts of radiation (particularly to the neck and head) are at risk.

3 - Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

Autoimmune diseases—in which people’s immune systems mistakenly assume harmless substances and parts of the body are hostile invaders. Even though many patients have disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, the inner ear is also a target. Symptoms include vertigo, fullness, ringing in the ears, balance problems, and a worsening loss of hearing. Middle-aged women are slightly more prone to the condition.

4 - Meniere’s Disease

In the inner ear is a sac floating in fluid. Within this sac, there is a different type of fluid. This disorder is believed to be the result of an imbalance of these two liquids; there is an excessive amount inside the sac. Meniere’s usually begins between age 30 and 50. Like other inner ear disorders, symptoms are vertigo, ringing, and a loss of hearing. Hearing aids, physical therapy to correct balance problems, and medications that treat motion sickness can all improve the lives of people with the disease.

5 - Vestibular Paroxysmia

Attacks of vertigo may be over in seconds but return frequently throughout the day. While some believe this is because of a blood vessel applying pressure on a nerve, others are skeptical because there is too little data in support of the theory. (Almost a third of people without this problem have this blood vessel phenomenon.) Whatever the reason, there are two possible courses of treatment: surgery to relieve the pressure and a small dose of the anti-seizure medicine. Since there is not much agreement on the cause, medication is the preferred treatment.

6 - Vertebrobasilar Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

This health issue is one that does not involve the inner ear. Instead, arteries that send blood to the brain stem and up to the back portion of the brain may be blocked temporarily by a clot. If this happens, cells are starved of oxygen. The clot may dissolve and symptoms disappear, meaning that the transient ischemic attack has occurred. However, if the blood clot stays, a full-fledged stroke is the result.

Since balance centers are located in the brainstem, vertigo is a major symptom. However, other brain stem functions—movement and breathing, among them—are more vital. Symptoms of a TIA are a warning sign of possible more serious problems.