Vertigo and dizziness in Summerland

What are vertigo and dizziness?

Vertigo is a spinning or moving feeling. Dizziness is a wider word.

With vertigo, you or the room feel like they are spinning or tilting. Dizziness can also mean feeling light-headed, unsteady or faint. They aren't the same, so I ask which one you mean. A spell can last a few seconds or a few hours. Dizziness often goes away on its own, but some causes need a doctor first.

Some common causes

• BPPV. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involves the inner ear. It brings short spells of spinning when your head changes position, such as rolling over in bed. It often settles by itself over several weeks, but it can come back.
• Your neck. Your neck is sometimes part of the picture too, so I assess it alongside.
• Inner ear infections and other ear problems. Labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis and Ménière's disease can also cause vertigo. They're diagnosed and managed with your doctor.
• Other health causes. Migraine, low blood pressure, dehydration, some medicines, heart rhythm problems and, rarely, a stroke can make you dizzy. These need your doctor.

Common signs

Dizziness means different things to different people. These are some of the ways it shows up.

• Spinning when you change position. A spinning feeling when you roll over in bed, lie back or look up.
• Unsteady more than spinning. Feeling off balance or light-headed rather than spun around. Tell me which words fit.
• A sore neck as well. A stiff or painful neck that comes with the dizziness. Read more on the neck pain page.
• Headaches as well. Headaches that come with the dizziness. A sudden, severe headache belongs on the emergency list below. Read more on the headaches and migraines page.
• Dizziness after a knock. Dizziness after a collision, a fall or a blow to the head needs medical care first. See the whiplash page for neck injuries.

When to get help

How I assess dizziness

1. 1
   We talk first. You tell me what the dizziness feels like, when it started, how long a spell lasts and what sets it off. I also ask about your health and any medications.
2. 2
   I check for anything that needs urgent care. Any warning sign means a doctor or the emergency department first. If the picture doesn't fit what I treat, I say so and suggest you see your doctor.
3. 3
   I do positional tests and check your neck. Where appropriate, I move your head into set positions and watch your eyes. These can bring on dizziness for a short time, and I explain each one first. I also check how your neck moves.
4. 4
   We agree on a plan, or a referral. I go over what the tests showed, in plain words. If care fits and you agree, it can begin. If something needs your doctor first, I tell you and we hold off on treatment.

A first visit for dizziness takes about 40 minutes, and a follow-up about 20. If a test makes you feel unwell, tell me and I'll stop. You can decline any test or technique.

Treatment options

What I may use depends on the assessment. If the cause looks like BPPV, I may use repositioning manoeuvres. If your neck seems involved, I may use neck care, exercises and advice for daily life. Some dizziness needs your doctor, and I tell you which.

What you can do at home

These steps make dizzy spells safer to get through. Before your visit and between visits:

• Sit or lie down as soon as you feel dizzy, and wait until it passes.
• Get up slowly. Sit on the edge of the bed for a moment before you stand, and turn on a light if you get up at night.
• Move your head slowly and carefully during daily tasks, and squat rather than bend to pick things up.
• Don't drive, climb ladders or use tools while you're dizzy.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Keep a note of each spell: when it happened, how long it lasted and what set it off. Bring it to your visit.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any medicine you take could be making you dizzy.
• Tell me if the spells change. You can text me, but I'm with patients for much of the day. Any warning sign above means medical help first, not a message to me.

Common questions