Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSinus DizzinessAllergy DizzinessOther ReasonsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sinus Dizziness
Allergy Dizziness
Other Reasons
Treatment
Sinus conditions can increase sinus pressure, which affects theEustachian tube(auditory tube). This can disrupt balance and equilibrium, causing dizziness, orvertigo.
This article discusses dizziness related to your sinuses, what causes it, and how it can be treated.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Can a Sinus Infection Cause Dizziness?
Yes, sinus infections can cause dizziness. Sinus infections are associated with a variety of symptoms, many of which can make you feel dizzy, including:
The auditory tube connects themiddle earto the back of the throat. It ventilates the middle ear and allows for the drainage of mucus and debris. If the auditory tube becomes blocked or stops opening and closing properly, it is called auditory tube dysfunction.
Auditory tube dysfunction can create negative pressure in the middle ear, which leads to problems in the vestibular system (the part of the ear that controls balance and equilibrium). When this occurs, you can experiencevertigo.
What Is Vertigo?Vertigois dizziness that can make you feel like the room or world around you is spinning. It often stems from problems with the inner ear.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigois dizziness that can make you feel like the room or world around you is spinning. It often stems from problems with the inner ear.
Sinus infections can cause the auditory tube to become blocked due to inflammation and thick mucus secretions.
People with allergies or frequentsinus infectionscommonly suffer from nasal polyps.If nasal polyps are present, it’s possible that a polyp can actually block or press on the auditory tube and prevent it from functioning properly.
Can Allergies Cause Dizziness?
Allergiesare the underlying cause of many conditions, including chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, and auditory tube dysfunction. Any of these conditions can lead to changes in the middle and inner ear and, subsequently, the vestibular system, resulting in allergy-induced vertigo.
If allergies lead to temporary auditory tube dysfunction and causefluid in the earor amiddle ear infection, resulting vertigo may be temporary and easily treated.
However, long-term untreated problems can lead to more permanent changes in the middle and inner ear, such as a retraction of the eardrum andcholesteatoma, an abnormal collection of skin cells that grow deep in the ear. This can lead to conductive hearing loss, when sounds can’t get through to the middle ear.
What Does Allergy Dizziness Feel Like?Allergy dizziness is sometimes described as a sensation of vertigo, unsteadiness, faintness, or lightheadedness. If you experience dizziness frequently despite using allergy medication, see your healthcare provider for an evaluation to rule out other possible underlying problems.
What Does Allergy Dizziness Feel Like?
Allergy dizziness is sometimes described as a sensation of vertigo, unsteadiness, faintness, or lightheadedness. If you experience dizziness frequently despite using allergy medication, see your healthcare provider for an evaluation to rule out other possible underlying problems.
Other Reasons for Dizziness
There are manycauses of dizziness. But there is a difference between dizziness or feeling light-headed versus actual vertigo.
When you are dizzy or light-headed, you may feel like you are going to pass out. This feeling will typically become worse when you stand up and try to move around and improve when you lie down.
Vertigo, however, can cause you to feel as if the room is spinning or swaying or as if objects are moving around you. Vertigo may cause nausea and often will not improve when you lie down.
Understanding thetypes of dizzinessyou are experiencing can narrow down potential underlying causes.
Potential Causes of Light-Headedness
Potential Causes of Vertigo
How is Dizziness Treated?
Different treatment options are available depending on the underlying cause of your dizziness.
Treatment for Sinus Infections
Symptoms of viral sinus infections may be treated with:
Treatment for Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps may be treated with intranasal or oral corticosteroids to shrink their growth. If the polyps do not respond to corticosteroids, they may need to be surgically removed.
The standard surgical procedure for nasal polyp removal is called functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The procedure removes polyps, clears obstructions, and allows the sinuses to properly drain.
The procedure is done under general anesthetic. The surgeon will use shavers and other special instruments to remove polyps and open the sinuses to allow for drainage.
Nasal Polyp Surgery: Recovery
Treatment for Auditory Tube Dysfunction
Auditory tube dysfunction is often mild and does not last longer than a few days to a week.
For less severe cases of auditory tube dysfunction, a healthcare provider may suggest using an OTC decongestant or antihistamine medication to ease your symptoms. In some cases, these medications may worsen your symptoms. If that happens, stop using them and call your healthcare provider.
More severe or chronic cases may need to be treated with surgery. Your healthcare provider may recommend one of the following surgeries:
The surgery you get will depend on the exact cause of the auditory tube dysfunction.
Treatment for Allergies
How Do You Stop Dizziness from Sinuses?If you have tried several OTC sinus infection treatments and are still feeling dizzy, it’s time to see your healthcare provider. Your provider will evaluate your dizziness more closely to find the exact cause, then offer prescription medicines or specialist procedures to fix it.
How Do You Stop Dizziness from Sinuses?
If you have tried several OTC sinus infection treatments and are still feeling dizzy, it’s time to see your healthcare provider. Your provider will evaluate your dizziness more closely to find the exact cause, then offer prescription medicines or specialist procedures to fix it.
Summary
Sinus dizziness can happen with sinus infections, allergies, or nasal polyps. The nasal and sinus passageways are closely linked to the function of the ear and the vestibular system, the sensory system of the inner ear. Inflammation from nasal polyps or sinus infections can cause dysfunction in the auditory tube, impacting balance and equilibrium. Several underlying conditions can affect the nose, sinuses, and ears simultaneously.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brody-Camp S, Risey J, McCoul E.Vestibular characteristics of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.OTO Open. 2018 Dec;2(4):1-3. doi:10.1177/2473974X18804993Hee-Young Kim.Vertigo due to eustachian tube dysfunction.Archives of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2017;1(1):5. doi:10.24983/scitemed.aohns.2017.00017Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.Midwest Ear Institute.Hearing loss.Alberta.Dizziness: Light-headedness and vertigo.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Sinus infection.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.Penn Medicine.Allergies.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brody-Camp S, Risey J, McCoul E.Vestibular characteristics of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.OTO Open. 2018 Dec;2(4):1-3. doi:10.1177/2473974X18804993Hee-Young Kim.Vertigo due to eustachian tube dysfunction.Archives of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2017;1(1):5. doi:10.24983/scitemed.aohns.2017.00017Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.Midwest Ear Institute.Hearing loss.Alberta.Dizziness: Light-headedness and vertigo.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Sinus infection.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.Penn Medicine.Allergies.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Brody-Camp S, Risey J, McCoul E.Vestibular characteristics of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.OTO Open. 2018 Dec;2(4):1-3. doi:10.1177/2473974X18804993Hee-Young Kim.Vertigo due to eustachian tube dysfunction.Archives of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2017;1(1):5. doi:10.24983/scitemed.aohns.2017.00017Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.Midwest Ear Institute.Hearing loss.Alberta.Dizziness: Light-headedness and vertigo.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Sinus infection.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.Penn Medicine.Allergies.
Brody-Camp S, Risey J, McCoul E.Vestibular characteristics of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.OTO Open. 2018 Dec;2(4):1-3. doi:10.1177/2473974X18804993
Hee-Young Kim.Vertigo due to eustachian tube dysfunction.Archives of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2017;1(1):5. doi:10.24983/scitemed.aohns.2017.00017
Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.
Midwest Ear Institute.Hearing loss.
Alberta.Dizziness: Light-headedness and vertigo.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Sinus infection.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Penn Medicine.Allergies.
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