Why do my vestibular symptoms get worse when I have a cold or the flu?
If you have experienced BPPV, vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, or have chronic dizziness, you might have noticed that anytime you are sick, especially with a respiratory illness, your symptoms get worse.
BUT WHY?
Direct viral inflammation of the vestibular system
Viruses can either cause or trigger a vestibular disorder through inflammation of the vestibular nerve or the surrounding structures. The inner ear’s fluid system is very sensitive. When inflammation occurs, it can disrupt that fluid balance and change the signals being sent from the vestibular system to the brain.
If you are already sensitive, this added inflammation can increase dizziness and imbalance.
Pressure changes in the ear
Viruses can also lead to symptoms including nasal congestion, sinus pressure, and fluid in the ear. This results in altered pressure across the eardrum and inner ear, which can worsen dizziness in a vestibular system that is not functioning at full capacity.
This is different than nerve inflammation, and is more about mechanical pressure changes in an already sensitive system.
Illness is a migraine trigger
When you are sick, you often have disrupted sleep, are moving less, don’t hydrate or eat as well, and have extra immune molecules and stress hormones circulating throughout the body – all of which can trigger a migraine.
You might not even have a headache, but could experience dizziness, imbalance, motion sensitivity, among other symptoms.
Autonomic nervous system disruption
Your autonomic nervous system controls your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, stress responses, and circulation to the brain and inner ear. Your vestibular system relies on these all being consistent.
When you are sick, you might experience dehydration, poor sleep, fever, and fatigue.
For someone with a vestibular issue, these small changes can result in feeling more dizzy, unsteady, and “foggy” – even if nothing has actually changed in the inner ear.
The good news
Most of the time, these episodes of worsening symptoms are temporary and improve as your body recovers from the viral illness without additional treatment.
If you do have lasting symptoms after a recent illness – there are ways we can help so please reach out!