What to Do When the Room Starts Spinning

What's Actually Happening: Dizziness vs. Vertigo

People often use the terms dizziness and vertigo interchangeably, but they describe different experiences. Dizziness describes feeling lightheaded, unsteady, or faint. You might feel woozy or like you could pass out, but the room around you stays still. Vertigo is different. With vertigo, you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning or moving, even when you're sitting or lying completely still.

Both sensations involve your balance system, which relies on three sources of information working together: your inner ear detects the position and movement of your head, your eyes tell your brain what you're seeing and where you are in space, and sensory nerves throughout your body report on your position and whether you're standing, sitting, or lying down. Your brain takes all these signals and processes them to keep you balanced and oriented. When something disrupts this system, you feel dizzy or experience vertigo.

Both dizziness and vertigo are symptoms of an underlying issue rather than diseases themselves. Knowing which one you're experiencing can guide your next steps.

Understanding Dizziness

Dizziness is that lightheaded, unsteady feeling that makes you think you might faint. Your surroundings stay still, but you feel off-balance or woozy. You might need to sit down or steady yourself against a wall until the sensation passes.

Several factors can trigger dizziness, but most involve how blood flows through your body or how your body's systems are functioning at that moment.

Blood flow and circulation changes are common culprits. When you stand up too quickly, blood pools temporarily in your legs, leaving less blood available to reach your brain. Dehydration reduces your overall blood volume, which affects circulation throughout your body. Blood pressure that's too high or too low can also cause lightheadedness.

Many medications list dizziness as a side effect. Blood pressure medications, antidepressants, sedatives, and pain relievers can all affect your balance. Changes in your medication or dosage can trigger dizziness even if you've taken the medication before without problems.

Blood sugar fluctuations affect how your brain functions. When your blood sugar drops too low, you may feel dizzy, shaky, or confused. Rapid changes in blood sugar, whether up or down, can produce similar sensations.

Anxiety and stress manifest physically in your body. Hyperventilation during a panic attack changes the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Your body's stress response can create these sensations even without hyperventilation.

Most episodes of dizziness are brief and resolve on their own within minutes. Sitting or lying down, drinking water, or eating something can often help the sensation pass. However, frequent dizziness or episodes that interfere with your daily life deserve medical attention.

Understanding Vertigo

Vertigo creates the sensation that you or the room around you is spinning or moving. Unlike general dizziness, vertigo involves a specific feeling of motion when you're actually still. Some people describe it as being on a boat or a merry-go-round that won't stop.

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness with a distinct cause. While general dizziness often relates to circulation or blood pressure, vertigo typically points to something affecting your inner ear or vestibular system.

Most vertigo comes from inner ear problems. Your inner ear contains tiny organs that detect head position and movement. These organs send constant signals to your brain about where your head is in space. When something disrupts these organs, your brain receives conflicting information. Your inner ear might signal that you're moving while your eyes report that you're sitting still. This mismatch creates the spinning sensation of vertigo.

Other causes can trigger vertigo as well. Migraine-related vertigo can occur with or without a headache, and some people experience vertigo as their primary migraine symptom. Viral infections can inflame the inner ear or the nerve connecting your inner ear to your brain. Other disruptions to your vestibular system, whether from injury or other conditions, can produce vertigo.

Vertigo episodes vary in length. Some last only seconds or minutes, particularly when triggered by specific head movements. Others persist for hours or even days. You might experience vertigo when you roll over in bed, tilt your head back, or change positions. Other times, vertigo strikes without any obvious trigger.

The intensity and duration of vertigo often guide treatment decisions. Brief episodes triggered by position changes respond differently to treatment than prolonged, spontaneous vertigo.

When to Seek Medical Care for Dizziness and Vertigo

Occasional dizziness happens to almost everyone. But certain patterns signal that your dizziness or vertigo needs medical attention.

Some symptoms require emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience:

• Dizziness with chest pain
• Dizziness with severe headache
• Dizziness with slurred speech, facial drooping, or arm weakness
• Vertigo with sudden hearing loss
• Dizziness with loss of consciousness

These symptoms could indicate serious conditions like a heart attack or stroke. Time matters with these conditions, so don't wait.

Other situations call for urgent care rather than emergency services. Visit an urgent care clinic if you experience:

• Persistent dizziness or vertigo with vomiting
• New onset of vertigo that's severe and won't resolve
• Dizziness that keeps you from functioning normally
• You need help now, but your symptoms don't suggest an emergency

Urgent care provides immediate evaluation and treatment when you can't wait for a scheduled appointment.

Schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor when episodes keep recurring, when dizziness happens frequently but isn't severe, or when symptoms interfere with your daily activities over time. Your primary care doctor can investigate underlying causes and develop a treatment plan. Even if you're managing symptoms on your own, medical guidance can improve your quality of life and prevent future episodes.

Trust your judgment about severity. If something feels wrong, it's worth getting checked.

How Your Doctor Helps with Dizziness and Vertigo

When you visit a doctor for dizziness or vertigo, they start by gathering information about your symptoms. They'll ask when symptoms occur, what triggers them, how long they last, and what other symptoms accompany them. Your doctor will review your medications since many common prescriptions list dizziness as a side effect.

The physical exam includes checking your blood pressure, heart rate, and performing neurological checks to assess your balance and coordination. For vertigo specifically, your doctor may perform positional testing, moving your head in specific ways to trigger symptoms and observe your eye movements. These tests help identify inner ear problems.

Treatment for dizziness focuses on addressing the underlying cause. Your doctor might adjust your medications, help manage your blood pressure, or treat dehydration or blood sugar issues. When needed, medications can provide symptom relief while you address the root problem. Lifestyle modifications often help reduce episodes. These include staying hydrated, changing positions more slowly, and adjusting your diet to stabilize blood sugar.

Treatment for vertigo targets the vestibular system directly. For certain types of vertigo caused by inner ear crystals, your doctor can perform specific head and body maneuvers to reposition those crystals. Medications can reduce the spinning sensation and nausea that often accompany vertigo. Persistent cases may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation, a specialized type of physical therapy.

Your primary care doctor plays an important role in managing recurring dizziness or vertigo. They track patterns over time to identify triggers and effective treatments. They manage underlying conditions that contribute to your symptoms and review your medications regularly to minimize side effects. When specialized care is needed, your primary care doctor coordinates referrals to neurologists, ear-nose-throat specialists, or vestibular therapists. Most importantly, they work with you to find what helps.

Whether you're experiencing dizziness or vertigo, help is available. Most causes are treatable or manageable with the right care. Occasional episodes are normal and usually resolve on their own, but you don't have to live with frequent symptoms that interfere with your life.

At MedHelp, our urgent care clinics in Birmingham welcome walk-ins seven days a week for acute episodes that need immediate attention. Our primary care doctors are accepting new patients for ongoing management and recurring concerns. Whether you visit us for urgent care or establish care with one of our primary care doctors, you'll find compassionate providers committed to treating both your body and your spirit.