4 Reasons Why It Feels Like The Room Is Spinning

So you’re starting to feel sick of feeling dizzy? Well, can’t really blame you there.

The terrible feeling of feeling like the room is spinning around you is what is known in the medical circles as vertigo or dizziness. It’s not a symptom that you should take lightly. There are so many different causes of dizziness, but there are some that are more common than others.

Keep in reading if you’re unaware of the four most common reasons behind the feeling of vertigo, we’ll be breaking them down one by one.

1. The Room Is Spinning: How’s Your Inner Ear?

One of the most common perpetrators of vertigo and dizziness tend to be traced back to inner ear problems that are acting up.

In the simplest of terms, you need to know that your sense of balance depends on the combined input from different parts of your sensory system. One of those components is your inner ear and its mechanisms.

Your inner ear is responsible for detecting gravity, as well as back-and-forth types of motion. Vertigo tends to operate by giving you a false sense of your surroundings. For example, making it seem like the room is spinning or moving around, when in fact it isn’t doing so.

When it comes to inner ear disorders, problems start occurring when your brain receives signals from your inner ear that doesn’t match what your eyes and other sensory nerves are receiving. In response, your brain sort of fritzes out to try and sort out the conflicting signal it’s getting.

Here are some of the common inner ear disorders that you should keep in mind:

• Infection: a viral infection of the vestibular nerve can cause intense and constant vertigo
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This condition will lead to a brief (but intense) sensation of spinning or moving. It can be triggered by a rapid change in head movement.
• Migraine: Folks who experience migraines might deal with episodes of vertigo or dizziness as well.
• Meniere’s disease: It’s a disorder that involves the excessive buildup of fluid in your inner ear, which can cause episodes of vertigo that can last for several hours.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to suffer through vertigo alone until you go see a medical professional. There are steps you can take if you want to minimize vertigo at home.

2. Are You on Dizzying Medication?

Unfortunately, some medications have moderate to severe dizziness as a primary side-effect. Therefore, it’s crucial to check your labels, as well as keeping your medical provider up-to-date if you’re suffering from dizziness due to prescribed medication.

They can give you solid recommendations about how to handle any bouts of dizziness, or even switch your medication.

Some medications are well-known for having dizziness as a side-effect, like antihistamines, benzodiazepines, and even anticholinergics. These medications can unintentionally suppress your vestibular system, which can lead to a sense of vertigo or dizziness.

Moreover, there are also aminoglycosides antibiotics, such as gentamicin or tobramycin, that can have a severe toxic effect on the inner ear and can lead to permanent vertigo.

Other drugs that can also negatively affect the vestibular system are salicylates like aspirin, quinine, certain chemotherapies, and even loop diuretics like furosemide.

Of course, this isn’t a full list of the medications that you need to keep an eye on (not even close), but they should give you a concrete starting point for your research.

3. Do You Have Blood Circulation Problems?

One of the causes of dizziness or feeling off-balance can be traced back to issues with your blood circulation. If your brain isn’t getting enough oxygenated blood, it can make you feel rather faint.

This can manifest in two different ways. First, it can be due to a drop in your blood pressure. It has to be dramatic in nature, as well as affecting -specifically- your systolic blood pressure. Also, if your bout of dizziness tends to happen when you sit up or stand up too quickly, it’s a condition called orthostatic hypotension.

Second, it can be due to poor blood circulation. If you’re suffering from conditions like cardiomyopathy, or even heart arrhythmia, transient ischemic attack, or a heart attack, all of those will cause a feeling of dizziness due to the lack of blood flow reaching your brain or your inner ear.

4. Are You Suffering From Fluctuations in Blood Sugar?

If you already know that you suffer from diabetes, then it might be the main cause of your feelings of dizziness or vertigo.

Hypoglycemia

It can be hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar that’s less than 70 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia comes with a lot of symptoms, one of which is dizziness due to the lack of essential glucose reaching the brain.

The dizziness might show up if you’re taking too much insulin, you aren’t eating enough carbohydrates, or even doing unplanned physical activity that caused your blood sugar to drop. Thankfully, dizziness due to lack of glucose has an easy fix. Simply take glucose pills, gels, or even eat a meal heavy in carbs. You’ll find that your dizziness went away soon after.

Hyperglycemia

On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia. Unlike hypoglycemia, which starves the brain from necessary sugars, hyperglycemia causes severe levels of dehydration which can lead to your feeling of dizziness.

The common treatment for hyperglycemia is taking diabetes medication, staying hydrated, as well as cutting down on the amount of sugars and carbohydrates in your diet.

Ready to Take Care of Yourself and Your Health?

Feeling like the room is spinning around you is such a distressing experience.

However, there is no need to panic. We know that it’s rather unpleasant. But hopefully, by learning all about the main four causes behind dizziness and the sensation of vertigo, you’re better informed about what might be the cause of your discomfort.

Yet, there’s still so much for you to learn when it comes to beginning a health journey. So make sure to check out our health section for additional tips and tricks that will have you changing your routines for the better.