8 Possible Causes of Vertigo and Dizziness and What To Do Next

Life can feel unbalanced for many reasons, but when it’s literally unbalanced because of dizziness and vertigo, your world can feel somewhat unstable.

If you’re less sure on your feet because of ongoing issues with dizziness and vertigo, you’re making a good first step in reading this blog. 

Below, board-certified neurologist Dr. Paul Gill and our team at Gill Neuroscience outline a few of the main culprits behind dizziness and vertigo and what steps you should take.

Inner ear infections

The leading cause of dizziness and vertigo are inner ear infections (otitis interna), namely labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. Your inner ear, along with your brain, is in charge of your vestibular system, which is the system that provides balance and spatial orientation information.

More specifically, this sensory system works with your eyes and your muscles to help you navigate the world around you.

When there’s infection or inflammation in your inner ear, among the first side effects are dizziness and vertigo.

Stroke

Each year, nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke, and survivors often struggle with balance issues due to damage in the part of the brain that oversees balance and spatial orientation.

Diabetes

If you’re one of the more than 40 million Americans who have diabetes, you’re more vulnerable to issues with dizziness. This is due to unregulated glucose levels in your blood. When these levels are too high or too low, you can struggle with balance.

Migraines

Another common reason people experience dizziness and vertigo is due to migraines, which affect more than 39 million Americans.

Stress and depression

Mental health can also play a role when it comes to dizziness and vertigo. For example, panic attacks often come with vertigo. And one study found that chronic dizziness was associated with higher levels of stress and depression.

Multiple sclerosis

This neurological condition counts dizziness and vertigo among its many side effects. When you have multiple sclerosis, your body attacks the linings of your peripheral nerves, disrupting the communication between your body and your brain, which can lead to balance problems.

Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure is also called hypotension. If your blood pressure is low, you can experience frequent attacks of dizziness and vertigo, especially when you get up quickly. 

Brain tumors or infections

If you have a tumor or infection in your brain that involves areas responsible for your balance, you can experience dizziness and vertigo.

This list is meant to illustrate the wide range of health issues that can lead to chronic dizziness and vertigo, and it’s far from complete. From certain medications to sexually transmitted infections, there are many different roads to balance issues.

To get more definitive answers, your next step is to sit down with a neurologist who's well-versed in issues that can lead to dizziness and vertigo, such as our own Dr. Gill.

To set that up, please feel free to call our Houston, Texas, office at 832-912-7777, or use our online form to request an appointment.