Anxiety Can Make Dizziness and Tinnitus Worse: Understanding the Connection

Experts warn that when you notice these symptoms, it is essential to investigate them to find the real cause. Learn more!

A anxiety It can cause a lot of damage to your quality of life, affecting your mental health, sleep, and concentration, and even causing worsening health problems such as dizziness and tinnitus.

“The psychiatric pathologies that are most associated with dizziness and ringing in the ears certainly derive from anxiety, with various disorders, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Syndrome. Furthermore, depression also tends to be more prevalent in these patients,” says Dr. Nathalia Prudencioan ENT specialist who specializes in vertigo and tinnitus.

However, we cannot say that anxiety alone is the cause of these symptoms. Therefore, when they occur, the best thing to do is to consult a doctor to find out the real cause.

“To the emotions They are also an expression of our physiology and we already know that overload from work, study and relationships, for example, can have negative effects on health. In the case of dizziness and tinnitus, we must identify the real cause to treat dizziness and tinnitus assertively”, he warns.

Dr. Nathália explains that it is a two-way street: Anxiety can make dizziness and tinnitus worse, while people with these symptoms left untreated may have compromised mental health.

What is the relationship between anxiety and dizziness?

Chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional overload can act as triggers or worsen the perception of vertigo.

“This occurs especially in patients with chronic diseases that cause dizziness, such as PPPT (phobic vertigo), vestibular migraine, and Ménière’s disease,” she says.

“The changes we observe during an anxiety attack, such as restlessness, apprehension, palpitations and rapid breathing, are due to a large release of adrenaline in the body. In some cases, increased heart rate and hyperventilation can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause dizziness OR feeling of dizziness during the crisis“, adds the ENT specialist.

However, according to her, persistent dizziness It may indicate some abnormality in the vestibular system or associated hormonal and metabolic problems.

And how does anxiety affect tinnitus?

Doctor Nathália reveals that the ringing in the ear may contribute to the onset or worsening of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

On the other hand, he also points out that, during times of greater stress or emotional demand, people tend to pay more attention to sound and its impact on everyday life.

“It is not the emotional factors that, by themselves, trigger this condition. In most cases, there are other factors involved and the emotional issue ends up acting as a trigger for the appearance of tinnitus in the ears of the patient, who already had other reasons for having it.”

Infections, blocked earwax, labyrinth disorders, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), certain medications, and vascular changes are among the possible causes of ringing in the ears.

In stressful situations, those with TMD may experience an increase clenching of teeth AND muscle contractures near the ear, which makes the tinnitus worse.

“People with a bad bite, who suffer from bruxism or who have had dental work done can also have ringing in their ears for the same reason,” she adds.

“When we analyze the relationship between ringing in the ears and anxiety, what concerns us most is the impact of the symptom on the mental health of the patient and not the other way around. Most people who suffer from tinnitus tend to get used to the symptom and do not notice it as a major nuisance,” emphasizes the specialist.

What to do?

To get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, dizziness and ringing in the ears should be examined by an ENT doctor or otoneurologist.

“There are different treatments, depending on the cause, that can improve the symptoms. In case of anxiety, psychological support can also help and reduce the burden of this aggravating factor”, concludes Prudencio.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.