What Might Cause My Vertigo to Suddenly Flare Up?
Are your vertigo flare-ups getting difficult to manage? An ENT specialist can help you uncover the root cause of your vertigo episodes and find solutions for vertigo management.
If you often experience dizziness, or it seems like your surroundings start spinning, you could have vertigo. This can be dangerous if it happens when you’re standing, moving, or driving, and it can be no less frustrating if you’re sitting or lying down.
Several things can cause vertigo, so it’s important to see a specialist to narrow down the source of your issue. At ENT of New Orleans, with locations in Marrero and New Orleans East, Louisiana, our experienced health specialists can find the source of your dizziness and treat the cause.
Most causes of vertigo are ear-related. The inner ear tracks the direction of your body and head movements as they relate to gravity and sends this information to your brain for analysis to help you maintain balance and motion.
If you have any disease, fluid, or inflammation in your inner ear, the nerves can start sending disrupted or confused signals. This can cause dizziness, a feeling of floating, a feeling that the room is spinning, and disorientation. Here are some of the most common causes of inner ear issues:
In a majority of cases, chronic ear-related vertigo is caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Tiny calcium crystals known as canaliths can build up inside your inner ear canal and form clumps. The usual treatment is to manually manipulate the head to change the positions of the crystals, which usually resolves the dizziness.
Acute vertigo is often caused by an infection that is causing inflammation in your inner ear. When inflamed tissues press on the nerves, this can disrupt the signals that help your brain determine balance. Taking antibiotics is the usual treatment for vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis, which are the two most common ear infections.
Vertigo accompanied by ringing in the ears — also known as tinnitus — can be caused by Meniere's disease. This condition causes a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, resulting in vertigo and tinnitus symptoms. Treatment options include medication and physical therapy.
Other balance issues can develop due to:
If you think you may have vertigo, book an appointment online or over the phone with ENT of New Orleans today.
