How Are Dizziness and Vertigo Different?

Posted on by Goodyear Office

When you stand up too quickly and feel suddenly lightheaded, are you experiencing dizziness or vertigo? Although the two terms are different, people often use them interchangeably. Let’s take a look at what each means and when they necessitate help from one of our balance specialists.

Understanding Dizziness

Young woman with vertigo holding her head.

Dizziness is a feeling of disorientation. You might feel woozy, lightheaded or like you’re about to lose your balance. When you’re dizzy, you’ll likely feel inclined to sit or lie down. Your balance depends on information from your eyes, ears, tissues and central nervous system. When something disrupts those factors, your ability to maintain balance shrinks, and you’re more prone to dizziness. A few things that can cause dizziness include:

  • Inner ear infections
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Vestibular neuritis
  • Persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD)
  • Anemia
  • Acoustic neuroma
  • Concussion
  • Neurological disorders
  • Dehydration
  • Low blood sugar
  • Stress and anxiety

Understanding Vertigo

Vertigo is another symptom that often presents alongside dizziness. The symptom creates a sensation that the room is spinning, making you feel dizzy and off-balance. In addition to dizziness, you might experience one or more of the following symptoms with vertigo:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Poor balance
  • Hearing loss or tinnitus
  • Headaches

Peripheral vertigo stems from issues in the hearing or balance parts of your inner ear. Central vertigo, less common than peripheral,[1] stems from issues in the brain, like infection, traumatic brain injuries and stroke.

Telling the Difference

The biggest difference between vertigo and dizziness is that vertigo causes a specific sensation that the room is spinning; dizziness is a more generalized feeling of disorientation. Our experts at Goodyear Office can conduct balance testing to identify the cause behind your symptoms. Testing might include an ear exam or a hearing test to identify issues related to hearing loss or ear disorders.

If we can’t find an ear-related cause for your dizziness or vertigo, we may recommend that you schedule an appointment with a doctor or neurologist for a CT scan or MRI.

Following your diagnosis, our balance experts can treat or help you manage the underlying cause if it’s ENT-related, and teach you balance-improving maneuvers to keep you steadier on your feet.

[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Vertigo: What it is, causes, signs & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21769-vertigo