Have you ever felt dizzy? Have you changed your daily activities because of dizziness? Do you know someone that experiences frequent dizziness? This information is for you.

There are three main balance systems, your eyes (vision), your inner ear (vestibular) and your neck (cervical). These systems have enormous communication between each other to keep you upright and to tell you where you are in the world. A problem with one or more of these systems can cause dizziness.

There are different types of dizziness. One type is where the room is spinning. This is commonly called vertigo and is most likely coming from an inner ear problem. The other is where you do not know your place in the room. You might feel that you are spinning. This dizziness can come from a neck problem.

Other associated symptoms are ringing in the ears (tinnitus), headaches, neck pain, especially at the base of your skull, nausea, trouble focusing or reading, double vision, a feeling of being ‘drunk’ or just ‘off,’ and fatigue.

Who is at risk?

You are at risk if you have a past history of whiplash or concussion, if you have a family history of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV, if you have had a previous episode of vertigo or dizziness, and if you are over 50 years of age, although it can occur in any age group.

Questions to ask

• Do quick movements of your head make you dizzy?
• Do driving and/or grocery shopping make you dizzy?
• Does bending over cause dizziness?
• Is walking in crowds difficult?
• Do you have neck pain and/or headaches?

If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions there is hope. A detailed evaluation of these symptoms can give answers to the cause of your symptoms and responds well to specific treatments.