Did you wake up with vertigo? You are not alone. In this blog, we will discuss three possible causes of acute vertigo and what to do. Is it an Emergency? If you have acute vertigo, the first step is to decide if you need emergency care. You can contact your personal doctor to determine if your acute vertigo requires emergency care. In this blog, I discuss criteria to go to an emergency room for vertigo care. BPPV The most common inner ear cause of vertigo is BPPV. This is a condition where calcium carbonate crystals become dislodged and displaced inside your inner ear. Most people who wake up ..read more

Vertigo or dizziness after having a baby is a common complaint. Many doctors think of blood pressure, blood sugar, sleep deprivation, dehydration, and hormones as common causes of vertigo after having a baby. In this blog, I’ll discuss three common causes of vertigo after having a baby no one is talking about. BPPV BPPV is the most common inner ear cause of dizziness and vertigo. This condition occurs when crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and displaced into a semi-circular canal. Idiopathic BPPV is common in women experiencing hormonal changes, such as pregnancy and menopause. I’ve ..read more

Q. Does Diagnostic Testing help to identify Cervical Vertigo? In many cases, a hands-on exam is sufficient to get started with treatment for cervical vertigo. My testing methods and root cause analysis are very specific to determine if dizziness and vertigo is related to the neck, either directly or indirectly. I use basic and advanced physical exam techniques for the cervical spine for differential diagnosis of cervical, vestibular, visual, and CNS related dizziness symptoms. My focus is on identifying and resolving impairments and functional limitations, as well as reducing symptoms and maxi ..read more

Many of my patients complain of vertigo at the hair salon, especially while getting their hair shampooed. In this article, I will discuss three possible reasons for vertigo at the hair salon. I always recommend notifying your primary care provider about any vertigo at the salon. They may want to order special tests or make specialty referrals. BPPV Can Cause Vertigo at the Hair Salon One of the most common causes of vertigo at the hair salon is BPPV. This condition is caused when dislodged crystals in your inner ear become displaced. When you lean back into the shampoo bowl at the hair salon ..read more

Dizziness while standing can have various root causes. The key information that will help your healthcare providers determine the root cause is the duration of the symptoms. When you stand up, how long does the dizziness last? In this article, I will share ten possible causes of dizziness while standing and what to do about it. Medication Side Effects Side effects from medications or possible drug interactions can cause or worsen dizziness while standing. What to Do You can ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of your medications might be causing your symptoms. They will review your medicatio ..read more

Some people feel dizzy in the morning. In this article, I will discuss a few possible reasons for dizziness in the morning and what to do. Possible Reasons for Dizziness in the Morning Reason 1: BPPV BPPV is the most common vestibular cause of dizziness and vertigo. People with BPPV usually feel worse in the morning. Symptoms can vary from dizziness to vertigo, nausea and imbalance. People with BPPV usually have eye fluttering or nystagmus when the vertigo is activated by lying down, rolling over bed, or getting up out of bed. However, symptomatic BPPV can occur without spinning and without a ..read more

Having sensitivity to light is a common symptom that my vertigo patients report. They often ask: Why do bright light or sunlight makes me feel more dizzy or nauseous? Why do LEDs or fluorescent lighting trigger symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, or nausea? Why do flashing or flickering lights affect my balance, cause dizziness, or trigger a headache? Why do I feel worse as soon as I turn on the light switch or step outside into the sunlight? Why do I want to close my eyes when the lights come on? Feeling sensitive to light is also called light sensitivity, and technically called photophobia. S ..read more

Vestibular System Function and Dysfunction The human vestibular system has four primary functions. Thereby, vestibular dysfunction causes four primary problems. In this blog, I will discuss four functions of the vestibular system. For each function, I will describe the associated dysfunction when something has gone wrong. Steady Upright Posture The vestibular system allows vertebrates – including humans, to orient themselves upright considering the pull of gravity. Another term for a steady upright posture is postural stability. This postural stability driven by vestibular system function occu ..read more

BPPV has a high recurrence rate and is mostly idiopathic (no known cause). There is no current general consensus among researchers or clinicians about recurrent BPPV risk factors. Therefore, risk factors for recurrent BPPV is a very important topic! I’ve recently written a blog article to review three research publications about bppv recurrence. After discussing the content of that blog article with my vestibular PT colleagues, I have decided to review a few more research articles on this very important topic. In this blog, I will review the results of three more research publications about r ..read more

COVID related dizziness is a huge epidemic. Since the era of COVID began in early 2020, my private physical therapy practice has never been more busy. I’ve seen a huge uptick in new cases of dizziness and vertigo, especially in young people. I’ll share some of my observations in this blog and things I’ve learned, but I am certain we will all need to continue to learn more about this condition over time. I am definitely not claiming to be an expert on the topic of COVID related dizziness, but I feel compelled to share my observations since I am seeing so many new patients with similar issues ..read more