Why Do I Always Feel Dizziness?

From the moment we get used to standing and walking as toddlers, we sort of take the whole balance on our feet thing for granted, and how that process works is very complicated. To stand up, remain standing, and move in any direction, our bodies go through sensory input from the brain, eyes, muscles, joints, and vestibular system. The acts of detecting gravity, linear movement, and rotational movement are all done through the vestibular system working with the other parts of the body and transmitting the information to your brain.

Problems that affect this part of the body can lead to balance issues, including dizziness. If you’re experiencing dizziness, several causes may be at play that can affect long-term issues with balance. To determine why this may be happening, let’s examine more facts about your vestibular system, the things that can lead to dizziness, and how they can be managed.

If you live in the West Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, and you’re struggling with balance problems due to dizziness, Dr. Shivan Amin and his team at Midtown ENT can help.

Understanding your vestibular system

Your ears are on the sides of your head to help with more than just hearing. Your inner ear is where the vestibular system lies, and it consists of five parts: the superior, horizontal, and posterior semicircular canals, and the utricle and saccule otolith organs. Together, they sense your head’s position and transmit the information to your brain to keep your equilibrium functional.

Causes of dizziness

There are several conditions that can affect your vestibular system and throw off your body’s balance:

Acoustic neuroma: a mass that grows slowly and nerves used for hearing and balance

Meniere’s disease: a rare problem that causes vertigo, tinnitus, or a feeling of fullness in the affected ear

Migraine: a history of this illness can cause a type known as vestibular migraines

Vestibular neuritis: an inflammation of the organs in this system that affects your balance

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): small calcium carbonate crystals from other areas of your ear enter your semicircular canals

Treatment options

Treatments will vary depending on the cause, and several surgical and nonsurgical methods exist. BPPV can be managed with exercise, known as the Epley maneuver, and migraines, vestibular neuritis, or Meniere’s disease can be managed with medications. The latter also uses dietary changes and injections of corticosteroids or antibiotics. Acoustic neuromas are managed through radiation therapy or surgery, and some of the other conditions (BPPV and Meniere’s disease) can be surgically treated if necessary.

Dizziness can happen for a lot of reasons, and if it’s connected to your vestibular system, we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. Amin and the team at Midtown ENT today to get help for dizziness or other balance issues.