About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery North American Skull Base Society American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001 Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 9/21/2007 Subject: Dizziness and Stress
Question Hello,
I've had periods of a few weeks at a time in which I was persistently dizzy,lightheaded and exhausted. When I am stressed, it's markedly worse.
When it first appeared I thought that I'd hurt myself badly (falling from a horse) or damaged my liver (I'd just traveled though Russia). Later, when this reappeared after climbing a mountain, I thought I'd hurt myself again.
But after the most recent episode, I belatedly took myself to the hospital where most normal causes of dizziness were ruled out. They suggested "vessel spasms" which seemed to mean that something is restricting bloodflow to my head, making me dizzy. This would produce the persistent dizziness I'd encountered.
I made the stress connection as: if I spoke to my family and vented my frustration at being incapacitated, I'd feel better then next day. And when bad things happened, I'd get worse. It makes sence to me that if something is tensing up and squeezing my arteries, it would be worse when I was stressed. And before getting initially sick, I was probably pretty run down. It's my connection though. Not a doctors.
I should mention that headaches appeared in the most recent re-occurrence, generally when I was active.
My question is, why did stress suddenly start to manifest itself like this, and will this stress/dizziness connection disappear with time?
Many Thanks,
Alastair Ball
p.s. I am male, 26 and generally in good shape.
Answer Dizziness can come from many sources--the inner ear, distorted positional information from the legs, visual problems. The brain is the integration center and has to put everything together.
Stress can definitely worsen dizziness.
You should be evaluated by an ENT physician and perhaps a neurologist as well to determine the source of your dizziness. Some sources such as migraine-associated vertigo can be somewhat difficult to diagnose, but a careful history and physical examination can help determine the cause.
