3 Must-Know Causes of Vertigo and Dizziness

Is your world literally spinning around? Vertigo is a condition that creates the sensation that the room is spinning around you, or conversely, that you are spinning around the room. You want to seek medical attention immediately; it’s impossible to concentrate or accomplish a task while you’re having this type of sensation. 

Dr. Nilesh Patel, MD, board-certified otolaryngologist, is trained in diagnosing and treating vertigo. Following are common causes of vertigo caused by ear disorders, along with information on how we treat your symptoms. 

Vertigo symptoms 

Vertigo is characterized by a spinning sensation, but you may also have other symptoms: 

• Feeling dizzy
• Inability to hear in one or both ears
• Unstable balance
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea

If you have any of these symptoms, call our office for a same-day appointment. We reserve time for this type of emergency office visit. 

Types of vertigo

There are two types of vertigo: peripheral and central. Central vertigo is caused by a problem in the brain. If Dr. Patel suspects you have this type of vertigo, he refers you to a neurologist for further testing and treatment. 

Dr. Patel diagnoses and treats peripheral vertigo. Your inner ear is the source of peripheral vertigo. Inflammation, swelling, or disease can disrupt a portion of your inner ear, which regulates your balance. 

Causes of peripheral vertigo

Following are three causes of peripheral vertigo. 

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Does turning your head to the side make you feel nauseous and start your head spinning? You likely have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Your inner ear has tiny crystals which detect movement and help control your balance. If they form a clump or move out of position, your ear sends a message to your brain that you’ve moving, although you’re not. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common form of this type of vertigo. 

Dr. Patel maneuvers your head in different positions to reposition the crystals trapped in your ear canal. He also shows you how to do it at home. He prescribes anti-nausea medication to help control your symptoms if you need it.

Labyrinthitis

Do you have vertigo along with a cold or the flu? Perhaps you also have ringing in your ears or it’s suddenly hard to hear people talk. You may have labyrinthitis, also called vestibular neuritis. It’s an inner ear infection. 

If you have an inner ear bacterial infection, we prescribe an antibiotic. Depending on your circumstance, we may also administer a steroid to calm inflammation and an anti-nausea medication to quell your nausea. 

Meniere's disease

Meniere’s disease also causes vertigo, intermittent hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and a feeling that your ear is full of fluid. 

Although there is no cure, we have a range of treatments for Meniere’s disease. We may provide a special antihistamine that helps control motion sickness. We might include a medication to increase blood flow to your inner ear to help bring nutrients to the site. We may prescribe a tranquilizer to calm the spinning sensation. Diuretics reduce fluids and may reduce fluid in your ear. 

Call the Midtown, New York, offices of Nilesh Patel, MD, to request a same-day appointment if you’re experiencing vertigo or dizziness.