Vertigo and dizziness are often used interchangeably when talking about a general feeling of being off-balance or moving while standing still. In reality, they’re different conditions with their own set of causes. Being able to identify what you’re actually experiencing is the first step to figuring out which specific approach can best manage your symptoms.
The good news is that issues that are often associated with vertigo and dizziness alike may be able to be treated with vestibular rehabilitation.
Keep reading to learn about the difference between these two conditions, how you can tell what you’re experiencing, and when you should consider seeking out professional help for your condition.
The Differences Between Dizziness & Vertigo
While people may refer to dizziness & vertigo as if it were the same sensation, they are different conditions.
Dizziness is a fairly broad term for feeling unsteady on your feet, lightheaded, or weak. It’s something that can typically be relieved by sitting or lying down. However, it can also be debilitating and disrupt your day.
Vertigo is a more specific feeling. It may feel like you’re spinning or moving when you’re standing still. It can even be severe enough that you get nauseous, vomit, or even fall. When you experience it, you may also have tinnitus, headaches, and balance issues.
What Causes Dizziness and Vertigo?
Becoming dizzy is an unsettling experience, especially when you’re not able to exactly pinpoint the reason behind why it’s happening. That being said, it is something that happens to most people at one point or another. It’s rarely due to something life-threatening. It’s more likely because of dehydration or overheating, drinking alcohol, a side effect of a medication, or even anxiety.
Vertigo, while not as common as generic dizziness, is something that occurs in more adults than you may think. One in five people suffer from it on an occasional basis, though it affects women and people over 40 most.
Vertigo can be caused by everything from certain medications, migraines, hyperventilation, and vestibular dysfunction, which encompasses Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Ménière’s disease, Vestibular neuritis, and vestibular migraines, to more severe conditions like multiple sclerosis, diabetes, stroke, and arrhythmia.
How to Identify If You Have Generic Dizziness Or If It’s Vertigo
It’s important to be able to identify whether you’re experiencing dizziness or vertigo, as the treatment for each condition varies. To be able to label what you’re currently experiencing, you need to know…
- What the feeling actually is
- What is triggering that feeling
As mentioned above, even though you may feel unsteady and unbalanced with both vertigo and general dizziness, the feeling you have with it is different. If you’re experiencing the feeling of the room spinning or moving while you’re staying still, you likely have vertigo.
When Should You Seek Out Help
Feeling dizzy or experiencing vertigo can be a scary feeling. You should immediately seek an emergency room if it’s paired with symptoms like chest pain, sudden severe headache, slurred speech, inability to walk, or vision changes.
If you are consistently having balance issues, vertigo, or dizziness without other troubling symptoms, talk to your doctor about vestibular rehabilitation, as that may be the best option for you.
At Active Physical Therapy in Marquette and Ishpeming, we have a team of physical therapists who can design individualized rehabilitation programs that will treat a whole range of balance issues, including dizziness and vertigo. Find out about all the balance and dizziness issues we treat.