Treatment for Vertigo and Dizziness Can Help You Regain Balance and Confidence

The feeling of moving while you’re standing still is a strange sensation. If this happens regularly, you might benefit from treatment for dizziness or vertigo. At ENT NOW – Des Peres, we can diagnose and treat your condition to help you move with confidence as you get back to doing what you love the most.

Why Do These Conditions Make Me Feel Like I’m Spinning?

The brain receives signals from the vestibular system about the position of the head in relation to movement; this is what allows us to maintain our balance. Vertigo and dizziness occur when these systems are disrupted, which results in patients feeling movement that isn’t there.

What Causes Vertigo?

Vertigo is one of the most common causes of dizziness. There are two types of vertigo: peripheral and central.

Man in pink shirt in an office setting holding his head with one hand while propping himself up against a wall with his other arm outstretched.

Peripheral vertigo is most common and relates to an issue with the inner ear. Causes include:

  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): Occurs when calcium deposits in the inner ear become dislodged.
  • Ménière’s disease: Involves excess fluid in the inner ear.
  • Labyrinthitis: Refers to inflammation of the inner ear’s labyrinth and vestibular nerve because of a viral infection.
  • Vestibular neuronitis: Occurs when a viral infection causes the vestibular nerve to be inflamed.

Central vertigo is less frequently diagnosed and results from a problem in the brain. Causes include:

  • Migraines
  • Acoustic neuroma
  • Strokes
  • Tumors
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Alcohol and certain drugs

Do I Have Vertigo?

Anyone can develop vertigo, but it’s more common in patients who are over 50, female, have experienced a head injury, have a family history of it and have been diagnosed with another condition that affects hearing and balance.

Our provider will help you determine if the symptoms you’re experiencing result from vertigo. They’ll take a medical history, perform a physical exam and conduct tests that assess function in the inner ear. We want this process to be comfortable and easy for you, and we’ll answer any questions that might arise.

What Else Causes Dizziness?

Along with vertigo, dizziness can also be the result of:

·       Heart conditions

·       Changes in blood pressure

·       Anxiety disorders

·       Low blood pressure

·       Anemia

What Treatment Options Are Available for Dizziness and Vertigo?

Vertigo might disappear on its own. Our team will determine whether medication or physical therapy will work best for you if it doesn’t.

You Don’t Have to Deal With These Conditions on Your Own

If you think you’re experiencing vertigo, ENT NOW – Des Peres can help you with diagnosis and treatment. Whether your vertigo is short-lived or long-term, we can provide tools that will minimize its impact on your life.