Stuffy nose brings dizziness and headache. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

For the past five years, I have been getting a stuffy nose and itchy eyes. On top of these symptoms every time I get a stuffy nose, I get lightheadedness, dizziness, stomach upset, diarrhea, and headache. I also noticed that when this happens, if I move just my eyes to the left or right, I get this literal pulse of dizziness and I can also feel a buzz in my ears and they feel full. These symptoms come all at the same time and are non-stop for about two to three days and it is during all seasons. A stuffy nose is always an indicator that I am going to get all of the other symptoms. Right now, I am on my second day of this type of episode. I have been to numerous doctors and other specialists, and I have had MRI, CT scans and x-rays, but no one has ever been able to give me a diagnosis or treatment that works. I have tried dozens of medications that either do not work at all or only work for about a month. I am desperate for help at this point. I just cannot take this anymore. It makes it impossible for me to do anything, work, school, travel, and I am even starting to lose weight. Do you have any idea what could be going on and how I can fix it? I am currently on Venlafaxine, Simvastatin, Vyfemla, Flonase Propionate Nasal Spray, and Afrin.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your nasal symptoms are more suggestive of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The dizzy feeling and associated changes are more suggestive of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). There is no direct relation between both symptoms, but an allergic exacerbation may aggravate BPPV. For allergy, the treatment of choice is skin prick test and immunotherapy. Please contact an allergy specialist. That is the only way to cure an allergy, with everything else symptoms may exacerbate on and off. BPPV is a condition that may not show any findings on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography). Treatment of choice is vestibular rehabilitation exercise and maneuvers like Dix-hall pike and Epley,s. Antivertigo medicines are mainly supportive only. In your case, you have to get both the conditions treated simultaneously. I hope this helps.