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What Causes Dizziness While Looking Up And Down?

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Posted on Sat, 28 Mar 2015
Question: why do I keep having dizy spells when I turn my head look up or down
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Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There might be conditions in neck spine, brain or inner ear

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Hoping that you are comfortable right now.

Dizziness can be due to many reasons and can happen due to decreased blood flow from heart to brain. When it happens, the blood flowing through the vessels from heart to brain might have a reduced flow. These are by the carotid and vertebral arteries on either sides. This can also happen due to momentary reduction in blood flow through the carotid arteries due to the pressure of a cervical rib or degenerative changes in the cervical spine, when you look up, down or turn your head.

A clinical examination by the neurologist is essential to know the investigations to be further done for you. While bony cervical ribs or degenerative changes in cervical spine can be seen on X ray, a brain scan and other investigations to study the flow of blood to the brain might also be required as a part of evaluation.

There are also many other causes of dizziness within the brain like a small stroke like episode or any infection.

Dizziness can also occur due to problems in the inner ear and balance mechanism of the body. The inner ear contains hail cells and endolymph fluid which get disturbed with head movements and causes dizziness. To know if the inner ear is responsible for your dizziness, additional tests like videonystagmography might be required after consulting the ENT specialist. This test studies the eye movements with turning of the head and to what extent i t causes dizziness.

Wishing her a quick recovery.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Vivek Chail

Radiologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 6874 Questions

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What Causes Dizziness While Looking Up And Down?

Brief Answer: There might be conditions in neck spine, brain or inner ear Detailed Answer: Hi XXXX Thanks for writing in to us. I have read through your query in detail. Hoping that you are comfortable right now. Dizziness can be due to many reasons and can happen due to decreased blood flow from heart to brain. When it happens, the blood flowing through the vessels from heart to brain might have a reduced flow. These are by the carotid and vertebral arteries on either sides. This can also happen due to momentary reduction in blood flow through the carotid arteries due to the pressure of a cervical rib or degenerative changes in the cervical spine, when you look up, down or turn your head. A clinical examination by the neurologist is essential to know the investigations to be further done for you. While bony cervical ribs or degenerative changes in cervical spine can be seen on X ray, a brain scan and other investigations to study the flow of blood to the brain might also be required as a part of evaluation. There are also many other causes of dizziness within the brain like a small stroke like episode or any infection. Dizziness can also occur due to problems in the inner ear and balance mechanism of the body. The inner ear contains hail cells and endolymph fluid which get disturbed with head movements and causes dizziness. To know if the inner ear is responsible for your dizziness, additional tests like videonystagmography might be required after consulting the ENT specialist. This test studies the eye movements with turning of the head and to what extent i t causes dizziness. Wishing her a quick recovery. Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements. Hope your query is answered. Do write back if you have any doubts. Regards, Dr.Vivek