– Reporter:
How do we know if we have a vestibular disorder?
– Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan:
The vestibular system plays a vital role in balance, spatial orientation, and visual stability. When it becomes impaired, people may experience dizziness, vertigo, nausea, unsteady walking, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating — all of which directly affect daily activities and quality of life.
• Persistent dizziness or vertigo even after rest or common medication.
• Loss of balance, unsteady walking, or a feeling of being pulled to one side.
• Nausea or vomiting associated with dizziness, especially when changing positions.
• Blurred vision, difficulty focusing, or a spinning sensation.
• Headaches, mental fatigue, anxiety, and prolonged exhaustion.
• Ringing in the ears, ear fullness, or temporary hearing changes.
Even if the above signs do not appear, you should still take preventive steps against vestibular disorders rather than wait for them to recur. Your health will definitely improve.
– Reporter:
As far as I know, there are many conditions related to the nervous system and vestibular function. Could you please explain the different types of vestibular disorders, along with their symptoms and signs, so people can better understand and proactively check their health?
– Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan:
There are many types of vestibular disorders. I will share some of the most common ones that people often experience. You should read carefully and compare the symptoms to see whether they apply to you.
Peripheral Vestibular Disorders:
– Symptoms: Spinning dizziness (vertigo), nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, ringing in the ears, ear fullness, or temporary hearing changes.
– Causes: Inner ear infections, labyrinthitis, viral infections, poor blood circulation, or prolonged stress.
– Symptoms: Persistent dizziness, severe balance problems, double vision, slurred speech, limb weakness, severe headaches.
– Causes: Stroke, brain tumors, head injury, or neurological diseases.
– Symptoms: Brief but intense vertigo triggered by head movements such as turning, lying down, or sitting up.
– Causes: Displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear.
– Symptoms: Sudden severe vertigo lasting hours to days, nausea, vomiting, imbalance, without hearing loss.
– Causes: Viral infection.
– Symptoms: Recurrent vertigo attacks, tinnitus, ear fullness, fluctuating hearing loss.
– Causes: Abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear.
– Symptoms: Lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, poor concentration, imbalance.
– Causes: Reduced blood flow to the brain, low blood pressure, or atherosclerosis.
– Symptoms: Dizziness, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue.
– Causes: Chronic stress and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
Central Vestibular Disorders:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo:
Vestibular Disorders due to Poor Brain
Circulation:
Stress-Related and Autonomic Nervous System Vestibular Disorders: