Why Am I Always Dizzy? Understanding Vertigo, Balance Disorders, and Brain Health

Almost everyone is familiar with what it feels like to be dizzy. The room appears to spin, and you might have trouble staying upright. You can expect to feel dizzy after twirling on your feet or riding a carousel, but what does dizziness mean if you feel it all the time? 

If you experience dizziness constantly, our multidisciplinary team at Delaware NeuroRehab in Dover, Newark, and Lewes, Delaware can test your inner ear and central nervous system to find out why. Individualized neurorehabilitation can improve your steadiness and balance. 

Dizziness can be a sign of vertigo, a sensation that 40% of people in the United States experience at some point. 

What vertigo feels like

Vertigo involves dizziness along with other symptoms and sensations. When you experience vertigo, you feel like the room is moving around you even when you’re standing still. When vertigo is intense, it can make you feel nauseous or even throw up. 

Vertigo can cause other symptoms such as:

• Trouble walking
• Unusual eye movements
• Blurry vision
• Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
• Unsteadiness and falling
• Visual disturbances

It’s important to be as specific as possible when describing your symptoms to healthcare providers so they can recommend tests that can provide accurate answers. 

What vertigo says about your brain health

Vertigo has many possible causes that originate in the brain, including a few that are easier to manage. A review of your medical history and a physical examination may determine that your frequent or ongoing vertigo comes from:

• Migraine
• Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
• Concussions or other brain injuries
• The effects of drugs or alcohol
• Blood vessel diseases
• Brain tumor

When vertigo originates in the central nervous system (which includes your brain and spinal cord), it’s called central vertigo. 

Balance problems and the inner ear

Experiencing vertigo all the time might not indicate a problem involving your brain. Vertigo can also be a sign of balance problems, which originate in the inner ear. 

Your inner ear includes a collection of structures called the vestibular system. This system helps keep you balanced and upright without feeling dizzy. The vestibular system works with your eyes and muscles to sense movement and gravity. 

Some examples of vestibular disorders that cause vertigo are:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV happens when tiny calcium deposits get stuck in the vestibular system and stop it from working properly. This results in short vertigo attacks that happen when you move your head, especially when lying down or bending over. 

Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease occurs when fluids in the inner ear are out of balance. This causes dizziness, ear pressure issues, and tinnitus. 

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis, often caused by a viral or bacterial ear infection, is inflammation in the inner ear that affects the vestibular system. 

How neurorehabilitation can help 

Once you know what causes your frequent dizziness or vertigo, our Delaware NeuroRehab team can treat it to prevent or reduce future vertigo episodes. We may recommend head repositioning maneuvers, medications, or neurorehabilitation to restore your balance.

Call your nearest Delaware NeuroRehab or request an appointment online to find out why you’re always dizzy and get an individualized treatment plan.