The pollens are out and hay fever season is upon us.
It is always interesting to me that there is a swell in vestibular problems at this time of year. People often ask if allergies could be the cause of their dizziness. The short answer is: we don’t know for sure.
The literature suggests that allergies could possibly make symptoms worse but it is not clear if they cause the vestibular system to malfunction.
If we look at the anatomy of the nose and ear, the eustachian tube connects between the nose and the middle ear. It is usually air filled and helps us to maintain our pressure gradient; for example when flying or driving up or down a mountain. When we have allergies our nose gets stuffed and the eustachian tube gets blocked. This can change the pressure in the ear complex and can lead to dizziness. A good nasal decongestant, antihistamines and avoiding the allergens, as much as possible, will help get you through this beautiful, but pollen-filled season.
