Is dizziness a familiar and common occurrence in your day? Yes, that unsettling sensation disrupts your every step and bugs you even when you stay put. Do you also experience bouts of vertigo and dizziness when lying down? Do you know what is a trigger for vertigo? This symptom also comes with other accompanying symptoms that make every attack worse. Usually, vertigo and dizziness are a result of balance disorders. Today, we will focus on three common culprits for your dizzy spells: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Labyrinthitis, and Meniere's disease that can help you find out which might be behind those dizzying moments you dread.

What is a trigger for vertigo?

1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Did you know that there are tiny crystals in your inner ear that help keep you balanced? These tiny crystals are called otoconia, and sometimes they misbehave and cause trouble. When they get stuck or go out of whack, you might experience vertigo. Yes, that spinning sensation that sometimes throws you off balance and also jerks your eye movements. The good news is with some professional help, these crystals can be put back in place, and you'll feel better in no time.

Unlike other ear conditions like Meniere's or Labyrinthitis, BPPV doesn't mess with your hearing. So, no ringing in the ears or feeling of pressure, just a good ol' case of vertigo, which you can resolve with proper care.

2. Labyrinthitis or inner ear infection

Imagine the labyrinth, the delicate membrane encasing your inner ear, becoming inflamed or swollen. When this happens, you might experience a whirlwind of classic symptoms: constant vertigo, hearing loss, ear ringing (tinnitus), bouts of nausea and vomiting, and those funky, jerking eye movements called nystagmus.

Usually, this inner ear chaos is triggered by a recent viral infection, like the common cold or middle ear infection. Sometimes, though rarely, it can be caused by more severe infections like meningitis or mumps.

Now, how does this labyrinthitis thing affect your hearing? When your ear is all fired up, you might have trouble hearing, especially higher-pitched sounds, and those ears could start ringing like a tiny bell choir. But don't worry too much - with timely treatment. These changes are often temporary. In some cases, hearing loss and tinnitus might linger around for the long haul or even become permanent. So, best to catch it early and get the help you need!

3. Meniere's Disease

Meniere's disease shares some symptoms with labyrinthitis, like hearing loss, ear ringing, and dizziness, but infection does not cause it, so the diagnosis and management approach are different. While erratic eye jerking can still happen, it's not as common as in labyrinthitis.

How can you tell if it's Meniere's and not Labyrinthitis or BPPV? People with Labyrinthitis usually have a recent cold or infection as a trigger, but with Meniere's, there's no apparent recent cause. Meniere's also tends to come and go, with intermittent episodes, while Labyrinthitis hits intensely for a few days and then gradually improves, especially with medication. As for BPPV, the dizzying spells only occur when you make sudden head movements unlike in Meniere’s where an attack can happen at any point.

Meniere's affects your hearing, too; as a familiar sensation, you may notice that your ears are clogged. Over time, it can lead to low-frequency hearing loss, making it harder to hear things like male voices or thunder, though it can affect any pitch. While the dizziness may get better with time, the hearing loss might get worse or become permanent in the long run.

BPPV, Meniere’s, Labyrinthtis, and Upper Cervical Spine Misalignment: What’s the Connection?

One often overlooked culprit for vertigo and dizziness and trigger of vestibular disorders is upper cervical misalignment. This refers to a condition where the vertebrae in your upper neck become out of alignment. This misalignment can disrupt the standard nerve signals and blood flow to the inner ear, leading to recurring bouts of vertigo and balance problems. But this can be resolved with Upper Cervical Care, a method wherein gentle chiropractic adjustments are applied on the affected bones to realign the spine, leading to lasting relief.

 If you've been experiencing unexplained dizziness or vertigo, it's essential to consider getting your spine alignment checked by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor near you to restore balance and regain your quality of life.