A moment of dizziness when getting out of bed in the morning is common, particularly for older adults, but it could indicate a symptom that is often associated with heights, says stairlift and home lift Stannah’s resident GP Dr Punam Krishan. Dr Punam is raising awareness of vertigo where dizziness is a key characteristic – striking suddenly which can make navigating around the house challenging. She says: “There is a significant but little-known difference between dizziness and vertigo. Dizziness is a broad term for feeling woozy or lightheaded, whereas vertigo specifically refers to the false sensation that you – or your surroundings – are spinning. “As a GP, it’s common for people to assume that they’re just experiencing dizziness and many people associate vertigo with heights. “In reality, vertigo is usually related to the inner ear and the body’s balance system. It’s important to think about whether you experience other sensations alongside dizziness, as there’s a possibility it could be vertigo.” Symptoms of vertigo to look out for: A sensation that the room is spinning Nausea Balance issues Headaches “A spinning room is the key characteristic of vertigo. It can be an intense sensation that makes you feel like you’re swaying or that the bed is tipping when you’re laying down which can be debilitating as it can impact your sleep.” “If you’re feeling these powerful sensory movements when you’re rolling over in bed, adjusting your head position or sitting up, it’s likely that you’re experiencing Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Dr Punam says that BPPV is essentially a ‘mechanical problem’ with the ear where tiny calcium crystals become displaced and move into the balance canals, confusing the brain with…
