What Time Tells Us About Dizziness

We already know that dizziness comes in all shapes and sizes.  Even the word dizzy can mean so many different things to different people:  spinning, lightheaded, off-balance, rocking or swaying to name a few.  Knowing how you describe your dizziness symptoms is a vital piece of information when trying to diagnose the origin of your symptoms.  Another piece of information that helps health practitioners determine what is causing your dizziness is how long do your symptoms last?  The duration of your dizziness symptoms gives us a huge clue as to what the cause may be.  

When your dizziness lasts seconds to minutes it could be:

• Orthostatic hypotension
• BPPV
• Vestibular paroxysma
• Cardiac

When your dizziness lasts hours it could be:

• Meniere’s Disease
• Secondary endolymphatic hydrops
• Anxiety
• Concussion
• TIA/Stroke
• Migraine
• Cardiac

When your dizziness lasts days to weeks it could be:

• Vestibular neuritis
• Labrynthitis
• Mal de Débarquement syndrome
• Stroke
• PPPD
• Prolonged Concussion Symptoms
• Cervicogenic
• Medication side effect

So, pay attention to how long that dizziness lasts.  It can definitely help your healthcare provider determine the cause of your symptoms!  This list is not inclusive of every condition that could cause your symptoms.  But, dizziness of any kind is not normal.  So, if you are experiencing any dizziness, please be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider, and we are always available to answer your questions here!