Is the Room Spinning? What Your Vertigo May Be Trying to Tell You

If you’ve ever felt like the room was spinning even though you were standing still, you know how unsettling vertigo can be. But not all dizziness is the same, and understanding exactly what you’re experiencing can provide important clues about what may be causing it.

On this week’s Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy, pharmacist Brad White talks with Andy Beltz, Physical Therapist and Therapy Assistant Manager for Aultman Tusc, about vertigo, dizziness, and how physical therapists evaluate these often-frustrating symptoms.

Vertigo Is More Than Just Feeling Dizzy

People often use the words dizziness and vertigo interchangeably, but they can describe very different experiences. During the program, Brad and Andy discuss what may actually be happening when someone says “the room is spinning” and why accurately describing your symptoms can be so important.

For some people, getting answers isn't easy. Vertigo symptoms can be difficult to describe, and patients may struggle for months—or even years—before identifying what's contributing to their dizziness.

Three Important Clues: Triggers, Timing and Nystagmus

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is Andy's discussion of three important tools for understanding vertigo:

• Triggers: What were you doing when the dizziness started?

• Timing: How quickly did it begin, and how long did it last?

• Nystagmus: Are there involuntary movements of the eyes during an episode?

Andy explains why these clues can help healthcare professionals better understand what someone is experiencing and potentially narrow down the source of their symptoms.

What Triggers Your Dizziness?

Something as simple as when and how dizziness occurs can provide useful information.

For example, the show explores the significance of feeling dizzy when rolling over in bed compared with dizziness that appears suddenly and lasts for hours. Brad and Andy also discuss why some people become particularly uncomfortable in visually busy environments such as grocery stores or crowds.

Recognizing these patterns—and being able to describe them clearly to your healthcare provider—may help guide the evaluation.

When Is Vertigo an Emergency?

Although many causes of vertigo may be benign, dizziness shouldn't automatically be dismissed.

Andy has encountered conditions ranging from relatively benign vertigo to potentially life-threatening problems. During the program, Brad asks how clinicians distinguish between them and, importantly, when dizziness should be considered a medical emergency rather than something to simply “wait out.”

That's an especially important reason to seek appropriate medical evaluation rather than assuming every episode of dizziness has the same cause.

What Can You Do During a Vertigo Episode?

The conversation also gets practical.

Brad asks Andy what someone can do while they are actually experiencing vertigo, what patients commonly get wrong when describing dizziness to a healthcare provider, and why getting the correct diagnosis before beginning treatment is so important. They also discuss what to do when testing has come back “normal,” but the dizziness continues.

Another interesting suggestion discussed during the program is paying attention to what happens during an episode. Andy explains what people can track at home and discusses recording their eyes during an episode so their healthcare provider may have additional information to evaluate.

Don't Ignore Persistent Dizziness

Vertigo can be frightening and frustrating—particularly when you don't know why it's happening. Understanding the triggers, timing and other characteristics surrounding an episode can give your healthcare team valuable information.

If dizziness or vertigo is interfering with your daily life, continues to return, or you have been told everything appears normal but still don't feel right, talk with your healthcare provider about the next appropriate step.

Listen to Health Matters

Hear the full conversation with Andy Beltz as Brad explores what causes vertigo, how clinicians evaluate dizziness, when symptoms may require urgent attention, and what patients can do to help their healthcare providers get to the right diagnosis.

Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Search for Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

If you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider.

Thanks for listening today! We’d like to remind our listeners, if you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider. Thanks to our sponsor Aultman Health System. As always, we thank our listeners for joining us on Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy. Have a healthy week and we’ll see you again next Friday right here on News Talk 1480 WHBC.