Vertigo And Tinnitus Management

Vertigo can often originate from the inner ear, which partially explains why it can be related to tinnitus. While the inner ear houses the cells and structures that allow us to hear, it also helps us to maintain balance. Certain cells in the inner ear transmit sound stimuli to the auditory nerve, while other cells help detect your head’s motion and body’s position in relation to gravity.

Furthermore, the vestibular nerve helps carry the signals from the inner ear to the brain regarding your body and head position. It runs next to the auditory nerve, which carries signals related to sound, and they are both branches of the eighth cranial nerve. Vertigo can be caused by damage to the vestibular nerve, or disruption to the cells in the inner ear. This also helps explain how vertigo and tinnitus can be related to one another.

The same things that may cause vertigo can also affect the cells and nerve fibers related to hearing. If the function of the inner ear or auditory nerve cells is impacted, the central nervous system may respond, causing an increase in neural activity which may be perceived as tinnitus by the brain.

In some conditions where symptoms are caused by changes in fluid pressure in the inner ear, such as Meniere’s disease, vertigo and tinnitus may occur at around the same time, as these changes are occurring due to a specific event. Tinnitus may or may not be present after a vertigo episode.

What To Do If You Have Vertigo and Tinnitus

The first important step is to see a physician for evaluation, including a hearing test. While some cases of vertigo will resolve on their own, some conditions may need to be medically treated and managed.

As you can see, vertigo and tinnitus are symptoms that can be caused by many conditions. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend lifestyle and diet changes to reduce your vertigo symptoms, particularly when they think you have Meniere’s disease. These changes may be beneficial in managing tinnitus, particularly if they lead to a reduction of symptoms overall, improved general health, and reduction of stress.

If your tinnitus persists and becomes bothersome, management techniques that promote relaxation and improve coping mechanisms can be helpful. It’s important to manage stress caused by tinnitus, as reducing stress has been shown to help tinnitus symptoms. For more stress-relieving tips and tinnitus treatments, reach out to our team of tinnitus experts!