Can Stress Cause Vertigo? How Anxiety and Stress Impact Balance

Written By: State Street Assisted Living

Can stress cause vertigo? The answer is yes.

Stress has diverse effects on our bodies and mind. It can make you unfocused and forgetful or have a stomach ache and nausea, and in rare cases, it leads to vertigo.

Anxiety and stress elevate hormones that affect your balance, causing vertigo. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, around 15-20% of the adult population in the United States experience vertigo and dizziness. This can lead to falls, especially in older adults.

Let's discuss the connection between stress, dizziness, and balance issues and tips to manage the symptoms.

What Triggers Vertigo?

Vertigo has various causes and triggers; however, it's mainly caused by balance issues in the inner ear. These result from inner ear infections, irregular head movements, or inflammation of the vestibular nerve.

With vertigo, you get a false feeling that your surroundings are falling or spinning. This phenomenon explains why people with vertigo often feel dizzy.

Assisted living in Dover, DE can help you deal with the triggers of vertigo. Dover, Delaware provides easy access to major cities and the beach, making it ideal for seniors for seniors to live.

Can Stress Cause Vertigo?

Stress is among the common vertigo causes. When stressed, our bodies produce cortisol or adrenaline hormones that interfere with the inner ear, which is responsible for spatial orientation and balance.

Some physical signs of stress can also trigger vertigo. For instance, muscle tension in the back, shoulders, and head can cause migraines and headaches. This, in turn, affects blood flow to the brain, leading to dizziness.

Vertigo resulting from stress can last from a few seconds to a couple of hours, depending on the individual.

Anxiety and Vertigo

Feelings of anxiety elevate stress hormones and negatively affect the vestibular system. According to reports by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, the probability of anxious patients getting vertigo was 4.65 times that of non-anxious patients.

Most symptoms of stress are similar to those of anxiety. These symptoms include:

Headaches
Tense muscles
Increased adrenaline

Sometimes, when we're feeling anxious, our bodies become hyperreactive. This happening can make you feel dizzy, shaky, restless, lightheaded, and off-balance. These symptoms are likely to cause vertigo when intense.

Another connection between anxiety and balance issues is when an overwhelming amount of stress causes your body and mind to shut down. Occasionally, you may experience a substantial rise in stress hormones followed by an immediate drop. This situation can make you feel disassociated from reality, leading to intense symptoms that may cause vertigo.

When faced with a trigger of your anxiety, you may experience sudden vertigo. For example, social anxiety may make you feel dizzy in a crowded room.

In most cases, vertigo caused by anxiety may not last for days. However, in events such as sexual assault or a traumatic car accident, you may have intense physical reactions and vertigo that lasts longer than usual.

Managing Stress-Related Vertigo

If you're experiencing a vertigo attack, lie still in a dark, quiet room to reduce the spinning sensation and ease nausea symptoms. Additionally, avoid situations that induce anxiety and stress, as these may worsen your vertigo symptoms.

Assisted living in Dover, DE, provides comprehensive support and care for older adults experiencing stress and dizziness. This way, you're assured of peace of mind and quality of life to help manage stress-related vertigo.

Below are some of the ways to prevent vertigo caused by stress.

Relaxation and Mindfulness Techniques

Activities like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation can reduce stress and anxiety. They go a long way in improving senior health and balance.

In addition, activities like swimming and walking can enhance circulation, regulate cortisol levels, and strengthen the vestibular system.

Assisted Living Dover, Delaware, has professionally-led fitness programs for seniors. Staying active keeps you healthy and engaged and manages stress-related vertigo.

Regular Sleep Schedule

Not getting enough sleep is likely to worsen vertigo symptoms. Ensure you get around seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep daily to avoid stress.

Social Interaction

Meet with friends and family and talk to them about things stressing you. Further, create some time to pursue your hobbies or walk around in nature.

At Senior Living Dover, we have a wide variety of exciting classes, outings, and programs that you can choose from. Take part in these activities to build your social life and avoid feeling lonely and stressed.

Balanced Diet

Eating a healthy diet plays a significant role in alleviating feelings of stress and anxiety. Older adults should maintain a balanced diet of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. In addition, take lots of water during the day, as dehydration can worsen or trigger symptoms of vertigo.

Furthermore, limit your intake of the following:

Tobacco
Alcohol
Sugary drinks
Caffeine
Unhealthy fats
Processed foods

While staying at an assisted living in Dover, Delaware, you're assured of chef-prepared dining filled with healthy options.

Take Precautions to Prevent Falls

Move out of a chair or bed slowly to prevent feeling dizzy due to a sudden change in balance. Your home should have good lighting and well-fitted rugs to avoid tripping. You can use a walker or cane to help with your balance if necessary.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy helps to strengthen your joints. Balance therapy, head position movements, and talk therapy can help improve symptoms of vertigo caused by stress and anxiety.

If you're still experiencing vertigo after applying the above methods to manage stress, it's time to seek help from a medical professional. Your primary care physician will provide the required medication to help you regain your normal functioning.

If you experience the following symptoms, visit a doctor immediately:

Ringing in the ears of hearing loss
Loss of coordination or difficulty walking
Vomiting or nausea
Long periods of vertigo without improvement

Manage Vertigo Symptoms By Staying at an Assisted Living Dover

Can stress cause vertigo? Anxiety and stress elevate stress hormones that affect the function of your vestibular system, which is responsible for controlling balance. Vertigo is common in older adults, but there are various ways to manage it.

At State Street Assisted Living, we provide support that helps our residents lead a fulfilling and active lifestyle. We have on-site wellness and health programs to promote older adults' emotional, physical, and social well-being.