Other Conditions That Cause Dizziness

There are many other conditions that cause dizziness. Below are some that we know of. Remember I am not a doctor but this is information I've picked up over the years that I thought was relevant to my site.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

This is one of the most common causes of dizziness and one of the easiest to diagnose and treat. It is best characterized by true vertigo and geotropic nystagmus that occur a few seconds after specific head movements, such as rolling over in bed, bending over, or looking upward. The vertigo usually lasts no more than a minute. Both the vertigo and nystagmus tend to lessen in severity with repetitions of the evoking movement. the symptoms are most often experienced when patients lie down, which distinguishes BPPV from orthostatic hypotension. BPPV may be recurrent. Links to more information on BPPV:

More info on BPPV

Autoimmune Inner Disease (AIED)

AIED consists of a syndrome progressive hearing loss and/or dizziness which is caused by antibodies or immune cells which are attacking the inner ear. The classic picture is reduction of hearing accompanied by tinnitus (ringing, hissing or roaring) which occurs over a few months. Variants are bilateral attacks of hearing loss and tinnitus which resemble Menieres Disease, and attacks of dizziness accompanied by abnormal blood tests for antibodies. About 50% of patients with AIED have balance symptoms. The immune system is complex and there are several ways that it can damage the inner ear.

AIED is rare, probably accounting for less than 1% of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness. The precise incident is controversial. About 16% of persons with bilateral Menieres Disease and 6% of persons with Menieres Disease of any variety may be due to immune dysfunction. Below are some links to more info on AIED.

More info on AIED

Vestibular Neuronitis

An upper respiratory tract infection usually precedes vestibular neuronitis. During accute attacks, antivertiginous medications are used to relieve the vertigo. Promethazine (Phenergan) is sometimes used to quesll the nausea and vomiting in vertiginous episodes. Tricycle antidepressants can be tried in resistant cases

More info on Vetibular Neuronitis

Viral Labrynthitis

This disorder mimics vestibular neuronitis, but hearing loss also occurs. Viral labrynthitis, like vestibular neuronitis, resolves slowly over weeks to months. Some resolution of hearing occurs concomitantly with the resolution of dizziness.

More info on Viral Labrynthitis

Migraine-Associated Vertigo

Migraine is a disease characterized by periodic headaches, but patients often experience other symptoms, including dizziness. In some patients, dizziness can be the only symptom. Since the 19th century, repeated references have been made to the clinical association of migraine and dizziness.

Vertigo is also a known symptom of basilar artery migraine, which is a special form of migraine. Vertigo as well as chronic nonspecific symptoms of vestibular system dysfunction, can be related to all forms of migraine.

The manifestations of migraine associated vertigo are quite varied and may include episodic true vertigo, positional vertigo, constant imbalance, and/or movement-associated dysequilibrium. Symptoms can occur prior to the onset of headache, during a headache, or as is most common, during a headache-free interval. As such, many patients who experience migraines have vertigo or dizziness as the main symptom rather than headache.

Migraine headaches are recurrent headaches often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity separated by symptom-free intervals. The headaches typically have a throbbing quality, are relieved after sleep, and may be accompanied by visual symptoms, dizziness or vertigo. Patients often have a family history of migraine without aura (common migraine 90% of cases) and migraine with aura (classic case).

Basilar migraine, also known as Bickerstaff syndrom (1961), is an important variant of migraine with aura. Bickerstaff syndrome consists of 2 or more symptoms (ie. vertigo, tinnitus, decreased hearing, ataxia, dysarthia, visual symptoms in both eyes, and decreased level of consciousness) following by a throbbing headache.

Acoustic Neuroma

This benign tumor of the eighth cranial nerve typically causes gradually progressive imbalance and hearing loss on the affected side. Asymmetric hearing would be considered suspicious and should be evaluated with either a show complete or marked relief of vertigo in over 90 percent of cases. Vestibular neurectomy or labrynthectomy should completely relieve vertigo attacks, because each of these procedures totally eliminates vestibular input from the operative ear. The loss of all vestibular function on one side can easily be compensated for by an intact labrynth on the opposite side. When the hearing is worth preserving, the procedure of choice is vestibular neurectomy via the middle fossa or the posterior fossa.

More info on Acoustic Neuromas

Perilymph Fistula

This condition is a tear or defect in one or both of the small, think membranes between the middle and inner ears. These membranes, the oval window and the round window, separate the middle ear from the fluid-filled inner ear. The changes in air pressure that occur in the middle ear (for example when your ears pop in an airplaine) normally do not affect your inner ear.

When a fistula is present, changes in the middle ear pressure will directly affect the inner ear, stimulating the balance and/or hearing structures within and causing typical symptoms. The symptoms of perilymph fistula may include dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, nausea, and vomiting. Some people experience ringing or fullness in the ears, and many notice a hearing loss. Most people with fistulas find theat their symptoms get worse with changes in altitude (elevators, airplanes, travel over mountain passes) or air pressure (weather changes), as well as with exertion or activity.

Head trauma is the most common cause of fistulas, usually involving a direct blow to the head or in some cases a "whiplash" injury. Fistulas may also develop following rapid or profound changes in intracranial or atmospheric pressure, such as may occur with scuba diving, aerobatic maneuvers in airplanes, weightlifting or childbirth. Fistulas may be present from birth or may result from chronic, severe ear infections. Rarely, they appear to occur spontaneously. They may occur in one or both ears.

The only positive way the diagnosis can be performed is by performing a tympanotomy (operation) and directly view the area of the suspected fistula. If a fluid (perilymph) leak is seen, a perilymph fistula is assumed to be present.

In many cases, a fistula will heal itself if your activity is markedly restricted. In such cases, strict bed rest may be recommended to give the fistula a chance to close. If your symptoms are severe and have not responded to conservative treatment (bed rest), or if you have a progressive hearing loss, surgical repair of the fistulas may be required. This procedure involves placing a graft over the fistual defect in the oval and/or round window.

People with fistulas should avoid lifting, straining or bending over, or any activity that would "increase the pressure in your head", as all of these will make your symptoms worse and prevent the fistual from healing. you will also want to avoid air pressure changes (using elevators, travelling in the mountains or flying in airplanes) as these changes will tend to make your symptoms worse.

Chiari Malformation

Is a very rare structural condition affecting the cerebellum. Essentially there is extra cerebellum crowding the outlet of the brain stem/spinal cord from the skull on its way to the spinal canal. This crowding will commonly lead to severe headaches, neck pain, loss of balance or dizziness, tingling in the arms and legs, stiffness, vision problems such as vision loss or blurring, swallowing or choking problems. The only way to diagnose Chiari is by having an MRI. Below are some more links for information on this condition:

Chiari Malformation

Chiari Symptoms Gender Related

CFS Flow & Chiari Malformation

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

TMJ refers to the jaw joint. They are small joints in front of each ear that attach the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull. They allow you to perform such functions as opening and closing your mouth, chewing, speaking, swallowing etc.

This disorder is manifested by pain in the jaw area and associated muscles and limitations in the ability to make the normal movements of speech, facial expression, eating, chewing and swallowing. Conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as arthritis and trauma, also affect the TMJ joint.

Medical research has not yet defined all the causes of the various TMJ diseases/disorders. Some patients report having TMJ symptoms following dental procedures, the insertion of a breathing tube prior to surgery, trauma, or oral habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth. Conditions that occur in other joints in the body, such as arthritis can also aggravate TMJ pain and dysfunction.

Currently there are no scientifically proven tests available to diagnose TMJ. Doctors take note of symptoms to rule out other causes for your symptoms. If your doctor does not diagnose a medical condition, and you are referred to a dentist, it is suggested that you obtain several independent opinions to confirm your diagnosis prior to committing to any irreversible form of treatment.

Symptoms of TMJ include: facial pain, pain in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues, including the ear; jaw locking open or closed, limited opening or inability to open the mouth comfortably; headaches, bit that feels uncomfortable, "off" or as if it is continually changing, neck, shoulder and back pain, dizziness and swelling on the side of the face.

Otosclerosis

Is a common cause of hearing impairment and is hereditary and can also cause dizziness and off balance symptoms. I know a couple of people who were diagnosed with it early in life and it led to MM.

When Cochlear Otosclerosis spreads to the inner ear a sensorineural hearing impairment may result due to interface with the nerve function. Once this nerve impairment develops it may be permanent. On occasion the otosclerosis may spread to the balance canals and may cause dizziness or imbalance.

Click here for more info on Otosclerosis

Hypoglycemia

Refers to low blood sugar, or technically a lower than normal blood glucose level. Symptoms are generally related to the body's effort to raise the blood glucose level back to where it should be. These symptoms are really just the manifestations of adrenaline (epinephrine) release, which is the chief signal the body uses to mobilise stored glucose into the bloodstream. The most noticable adrenaline effects are nervousness or shakiness, light-headness or dizziness, increased heart rate and urgent sense of hunger. Headache is sometimes a symptom of hypoglycemia.