Meniere’s disease is caused by the build-up of fluid in the inner ear and a change in pressure in the ear. Vertigo can also be a secondary effect of Meniere’s disease. BPPV may be associated with aging, but there is no known cause. This a situation whereby loose debris/calcium in the inner affects the balance receptors, this can result in a feeling of vertigo. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)īenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo. The following are some of the most common causes of vertigo or dizziness.

Vertigo is caused when the inner ear sends false signals to your brain that conflicts with the information your eyes and sensory nerves are sending to the brain. The information then processed in the brain to maintain your sense of balance and body position in relation to your surroundings. The brain uses the sensory information sent from four sensory systems, which are: You may vomit or feel nauseated, and you may also find it difficult to walk or stand, or even lose your balance and fall if vertigo is very severe. It’s mostly caused by inner ear, brain or heart conditions or the use of some medications. In vertigo, you may feel as if you are spinning, falling or tilting.ĭizziness is the feeling of being unstable. Technically, this condition is known as vertigo. When to Seek Medical Attention for Dizziness and Lightheadednessĭizziness is defined as the situation whereby you feel that you or everything around you is moving or spinning while in reality, you and everything around you is still.Difference between Dizziness and Lightheadedness.Similarities between Dizziness and Lightheadedness.

Anxiety and migraines can also trigger the feeling of dizziness.As a side-effect of certain medication, you may be taking.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).So, you differentiate the two correctly can help your doctor to come up with the list of the possible cause of the problems which will lead to the right diagnosis and treatment. In comparison, the light-headedness occurs when the brain is not getting enough blood and oxygen, which can be caused by dehydration and hyperventilation. Vertigo is mostly caused by neurological or inner ear problem when the brain is getting false information from the inner ear on the head and body position in relation to gravity. One needs to be able to differentiate between vertigo and lightheadedness, (or dizziness from lightheadedness) because they are not the same.Īlthough both of them can be symptoms of serious hidden medical conditions and can cause imbalance and make you fall, both are different symptoms, with different causes that require different treatments. A lot of people use these terms interchangeably. Most times, when people complain about feeling dizzy, actually they may be referring to either vertigo or lightheadedness. Dizziness and lightheadedness are not illnesses, and yet they are one of the common reasons why we visit the doctor.

Vertigo vs dizziness