5 Factors that Fuel Vertigo

Vertigo, a type of dizziness, can strike you anywhere at any time. The sensation that the world is spinning around you, or that you’re about to faint, can last from a few seconds to days at a time. 

Occasional bouts of dizziness due to sudden movements — such as standing up quickly after a hot bath, or jumping off a treadmill before you’ve cooled down — may not be worrisome. But if you suffer multiple attacks of dizziness or vertigo, it may put you in danger of falling or other accidents. 

At Advanced Medical Care in Forest Hills, Queens and Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, our neurology team can determine the source of your vertigo and treat it. You may have an inner ear disorder or another underlying medical condition that causes dizziness and lightheadedness.

If you’re susceptible to vertigo, you should also pay attention to habits and lifestyle choices that may trigger an episode. Here are five factors that may fuel a bout of vertigo.

1. You’re dehydrated

Like the rest of your body, your brain needs water to function optimally. Water makes up about 75% of your brain’s mass. Water helps your brain cells transmit electrical signals and communicate more efficiently with one another. Researchers have found that people perform better on cognitive tests when they’re hydrated.

Lack of water also lowers blood volume and pressure. When your blood pressure is too low, your brain doesn’t get the blood it needs, which can make you feel light-headed. 

Be sure to drink healthy fluids such as water throughout the day, and eat plenty of moisture-rich vegetables. If you’re chronically dehydrated and suffer from vertigo, you may benefit from intravenous (IV) hydration, which also restores your mineral balance.

2. You’ve moved your head too quickly

Vertigo is most often caused by an inner ear condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). About 20% of people who undergo evaluations for dizziness have BPPV. 

If you have BPPV or another inner ear disorder, including an infection, simply tipping your head backward can cause dizziness. With BPPV, tiny calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia detach from the inner ear and move into the ear canals instead, inducing a feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning.

You may experience this shifting and spinning during even the simplest of movements. If you have vertigo, beware that the following may make you dizzy:

• Tipping your head back
• Moving your head quickly from side to side
• Getting out of bed
• Standing up from sitting

Try to move slowly, and be sure you have sturdy furniture or grab bars to help you maintain your balance.

3. You’re under stress

Under a tremendous amount of emotional stress, you may develop anxiety. Anxiety can cause you to hold your breath or hyperventilate. Either of those two actions could trigger dizziness.

You may benefit from learning deep breathing techniques to keep your calm under pressure. When faced with stress, you work on slowing your breathing and becoming aware of it, rather than holding it as a fear response. 

A common stressful event that can initiate vertigo is travel, especially when you cross time zones. The circadian confusion your body experiences due to jet lag can cause dizziness.

You might also feel lightheaded or nauseated when you’re in a moving vehicle, such as a car. The constantly shifting surface of a boat can make you feel dizzy, as can the transition back to stable land.

4. Your blood sugar is low

People with Type 1 diabetes often suffer episodes of vertigo due to hypoglycemia. However, anyone may experience dizziness if their blood glucose levels plummet too low.

Glucose is the primary fuel for your brain. If you’ve taken too much insulin, your blood glucose levels dip low and cause symptoms such as:

• Trembling
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Chills
• Extreme hunger
• Irritability
• Pale skin
• Tingling or numbness

If you have diabetes and experience symptoms of hypoglycemia, eat something with glucose in it right away. Severe hypoglycemia can be life-threatening.

5. Your medications are to blame

When you come for a vertigo evaluation, one of the things we ask you about is the medications and supplements you’re taking. Some medications have vertigo as a side effect. We may work with your prescribing doctor to alter the dose or find an alternative.

Blood pressure medications are most likely to cause dizziness. We work with your cardiologist to help you find the right medication to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level while minimizing vertigo.

Don’t ignore vertigo; find out what’s causing it and get the treatment you need to stay stable and safe. Contact Advanced Medical Care today to schedule an appointment with our experienced team.