QUICK LINKS ABOUT DIZZINESS
NB! If you have other symptoms in addition to dizziness - such as numbness in the face or body, weakness in the arm or leg or difficulty expressing yourself verbally, you MUST call 113! These may be symptoms of more serious conditions, such as a stroke or drip.
Dizziness from the neck / cervicogenic dizziness
The neck consists of seven vertebrae and the cushions/disc between the vertebrae, as well as a number of muscles, tendons and ligaments, which move and protect our neck. Within these structures are many receptors that send signals to the brain and inner ear about how we move our neck. When these signals don't work properly, we can experience dizziness. Some examples of how these signals can be disrupted or interrupted can be due to reduced movement between the vertebrae in the neck, punctured cushions / discs in the neck (prolapse), wear and tear and whiplash. This type of dizziness can be both rotational and tilting.
Inner ear / vestibular apparatus
The inner ear (right and left side) consists of 6 archways, 4 otoliths and 2 cochleae. In relation to dizziness, we will focus on the archway otoliths. Crystal sickness/benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is perhaps the most common cause of vertigo and originates from one or more of the 6 archways. This vertigo is usually rotational and motion specific. Dizziness from the otoliths gives a more constant tilting/nautical dizziness sensation.
Blood circulation
Oxygen is transported through the body with the help of our blood circulation. Symptoms of dizziness stemming from blood circulation can be the feeling of fainting when standing up from a lying to a sitting position, or from sitting to standing. These symptoms are often related to changes in the autonomic nervous system and may be a drop in blood pressure or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Eye motor function and visual disturbances
Our eyes map our surroundings so that we can navigate our way around the world. That's why it's important that our eye motor function works optimally. It is not always easy to know that you have problems with eye motor function, unless you have nystagmus, ocular flutter and oscillopsia. Minor visual disturbances such as reduced gaze fixation, choppy pursuits or reduced responsiveness and accuracy with saccades (rapid jumping movements) can result in brain fog, unsteadiness, fatigue, foggy/blurred vision and dizziness.