Many people experience dizziness from time to time, which is normal and usually not cause for concern. See a doctor if the dizziness is severe, gets progressively worse, is associated with hearing loss, or occurs after taking a specific medication. Additionally, see a doctor if you suddenly feel dizzy when you have never before experienced dizziness. Otolaryngologists treat problems of the inner ear, head, nose, throat, and neck, such as dizziness. Dr. William Bond is your doctor of otolaryngology in Washington, D.C., for the diagnosis and treatment of dizziness.

Causes of Dizziness

The inner ear helps you maintain a sense of balance. Signals sent from the inner ear to the brain let your brain know about your body’s orientation or positioning at any given time, as well as whether you are still or in motion. The feeling of being dizzy occurs when the signal from the inner ear misfires or gets blocked before reaching the brain. Several factors and conditions can interfere with the inner ear’s ability to send signals to the brain and, subsequently, cause dizziness. Causes of dizziness include:

• Vertigo
• Anxiety
• Poor circulation
• Certain neurological diseases

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness often accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Causes of vertigo include:

• Skull fractures
• Inner ear injuries
• Viral infections
• Migraines
• Meniere’s Disease
• Benign positional vertigo

Treatments for Dizziness

There are several treatments for dizziness. The best treatment for your dizziness will depend on what is causing it. A doctor at a Washington, D.C., otolaryngology practice can diagnose the cause of your dizziness and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Treatments for dizziness include various exercises for balance, as well as antihistamines, antibiotics, and other medications.

There are several possible causes of dizziness. Based on the specific cause of your dizziness, your otolaryngologist can recommend an appropriate treatment. For treatment of your dizziness, schedule an appointment with Dr. Bond, your doctor of otolaryngology in Washington, D.C., by calling the office at (202) 726-7770.

Dizziness can result from a number of external factors, ranging from dehydration and hunger to severe anxiety and panic attacks. The false sensation of dizziness, which makes it feel like a person's surroundings are spinning when they are actually still, is known as vertigo. Because the inner ear helps to regulate balance, a problem or injury to the inner can interfere with the signals the brain receives regarding the body's location relative to its surroundings. This can cause a sense of extreme disorientation and dizziness, even when the person is standing completely still in the middle of an empty room. Problems with the ear are diagnosed and treated by an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT).

Regular Dizziness or Vertigo? What You Need to Know

Everyone experiences a bout of dizziness from time to time, which is completely normal. Prolonged and frequent dizziness that is accompanied by other symptoms typically results from an underlying cause. An ENT can determine whether dizziness is caused by an injury or malfunction in the inner ear.

What Do the Ears Have to Do With Motion and Balance?

The human ear consists of three parts - the inner, middle and outer ear. The brain receives signals and input from the sensory system, which helps it to process information regarding a person's surroundings and fixed point in space in relation to gravity and motion. The inner ear contains sensors that work in conjunction with the eyes and sensory nerves to help the brain accurately process the signals and create a full picture detailing where we are at any given moment. A problem in the inner ear is like a short circuit that disturbs the brain's ability to accurately assess a person's surroundings, resulting in the feeling that the room or surrounding objects are spinning because the information the inner ear is sending the brain does not match with what the eyes and sensory nerves are processing.

What Causes Vertigo?

Infections and fluid buildup in the ear can cause vertigo and interfere with hearing. Migraine sufferers can also experience vertigo as part of their symptoms. The most common form of vertigo is caused by rapid head movements, like standing up too quickly from a seated position, or from trauma to the head. Contact an ENT specialist for persistent dizziness to determine whether treatment is necessary and to prevent complications like hearing impairment or loss.

Dizziness can be a worrying and even scary symptom, especially if you do not know the cause. If you experience dizziness, your ear, nose, and throat doctor can help you get to the root of the problem and determine what, if any, the underlying conditions are causing your dizziness. Learn more about diagnosing dizziness and what it means to you with Dr. William R. Bond Jr. in Washington, DC.

What causes my dizziness? 
Many factors can cause dizziness though some are more common than others. Vertigo, dizziness and motion sickness are all commonly related back to a patient’s balance. When the balance is thrown off, the body experiences dizziness. This can relate back to inner ear disorders, circulation, anxiety, migraine headaches, infection or injury, anxiety, or even allergies.

Diagnosing Dizziness 
If you experience dizziness in conjunction with a high fever, a head injury, continued vomiting, chest pain, or fainting, you should seek immediate emergency medical attention. If you think your dizziness comes as a side effect from medication, notice hearing loss, or have never had a dizzy spell before, you should contact your doctor.

Diagnosing your dizziness will include a physical examination and a myriad of questions about your health, lifestyle and family and medical history. Your doctor may also use CT scans or MRIs to further aid in the diagnostic process. After pinpointing the underlying condition, treatment can begin to help quell your symptoms.

Dizziness Treatments in Washington, DC 
Treating dizziness varies from patient to patient based on their diagnosis. A large part of treating this condition lies in preventing it from occurring in the first place. Avoiding standing or sitting too quickly, tobacco and alcohol, stress and turning your head too quickly can help prevent dizziness. Treating conditions tied to dizziness also help eliminate this symptom.

For more information on dizziness and its treatments, please contact Dr. William R. Bond Jr. in Washington, DC. Call (202) 726-7770 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Bond today!

Find out what might be to blame for your dizziness.

At some point in many people’s lives, they may experience moments of dizziness or lightheadedness. In fact, many people may notice that if they get up too quickly, that they may experience a temporary bout of dizziness. However, if your dizziness tends to be persistent and isn’t the result of medication or dehydration, then it might be the time you talked to your Washington DC otolaryngologist Dr. William R. Bond, Jr.

How does dizziness occur?

The inner ear is designed for both hearing and for helping keep you balanced. Certain structures in the ear are also responsible for telling the brain your body’s position and orientation in space. However, there are some conditions and problems that cause misfires in your brain. Besides dizziness, some people may also experience sensitivity to noise, headaches, nausea or motion sickness.

Why might dizziness be a serious concern?

While not all bouts of dizziness are cause for concern, persistent problems with lightheadedness may be a symptom of another health problem like high or low blood pressure, heart problems, a metabolic disorder, stroke or even a tumor. Therefore, you should always play it safe and visit your ENT doctor in Washington DC to determine the cause of your dizziness.

What are some common causes of dizziness?

Here are just some of the reasons why you may be experiencing dizziness:

• Inner ear inflammation: Inflammation in either one or both of the inner ears can cause dizziness.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): A condition that causes dizziness when moving the head. This condition usually goes away on its own after a few days.
• Acoustic Neuroma: A benign growth that grows on the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain.
• Meniere’s Disease: This condition causes long bouts of dizziness lasting anywhere from a half hour to an hour or more. Other symptoms of this condition include ringing in the ears or hearing loss. While there is no cure for this problem, certain medications can be used to reduce symptoms.

These are only some of the issues that can cause dizziness, so it’s always important to get an ENT consultation in Washington DC to determine the cause of your dizziness. If you are feeling lightheaded often then it’s time you called our office today to schedule an appointment.

A persistent feeling of dizziness can be alarming, but its causes are usually identified and treated easily.

Dr. William Bond commonly hears concerns about dizziness, that feeling of being lightheaded or unsteady, from his patients. In fact, it is one of the most common symptoms that people feel warrant a trip to the doctor's office. Though it may seem like a distressing neurological symptom, modern testing and advancements in medicine at your District of Columbia otolaryngologist's can usually identify the reasons behind dizziness and treat it accordingly.

Dizziness 101

True dizziness is the feeling a person gets before fainting. People can sometimes use the term "dizzy" to describe two other distinct feelings: vertigo and disequilibrium. Vertigo produces a spinning sensation, while disequilibrium gives the impression of imbalance or unsteadiness. Oftentimes these feelings are accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, and pressure or feeling of fullness in the head. Dizziness, therefore, has become a catch-all term to describe these uncomfortable sensations.

Why dizziness happens

Many times, dizziness is due to a problem within the inner ear. This portion of your ear is constantly relaying messages to the brain about your movement and orientation. When it malfunctions, however, the brain cannot interpret the messages and that feeling of spinning or clumsiness occurs.

Inner ear problems can commonly occur as a result of an ear infection, side effects from antibiotics, a benign tumor, or a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, in which tiny crystals inside the ear become displaced. All of these problems can easily be diagnosed and treated at an otolaryngologist's office.

Less likely causes for dizziness might be dehydration, heart-related issues or a problem within central nervous system, so it is imperative that you make an appointment with your Washington ENT if you are experiencing frequent episodes of dizziness.