Today we are going to answer a question that I frequently hear (FAQ) from my patients which is, “Why do I get dizzy when I look up?”
The answer to that question is that dizziness with looking up – or what we call “Top Shelf Vertigo” – is a common symptom of the most common inner ear disorder, which is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV.
Some people that I have met who are suffering with BPPV only get dizzy when they look up and as soon as they return their head to level their dizziness goes away.
Often they find that the dizziness comes when they’re putting in eyedrops, taking medications, or when they go to the dentist or the hairdresser, while they are lying back in a reclined position looking up.
BPPV is only one of the things that might cause dizziness when looking up and that requires an evaluation by a Vestibular Physical Therapist.
You can find a Vestibular Doctor or Physical Therapist at the Vestibular Disorders Association.
A Vestibular Provider is specially trained to evaluate your symptoms of dizziness with looking up.
Some other conditions that may also cause dizziness with looking up include problems with your neck, such as cervical spondylosis, or problems with the blood flow to your brain.
All of those things should be able to be assessed by a Vestibular Physical Therapist who may be able to treat you themselves or may need to refer you to someone else that specializes in that particular cause of dizziness.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
I get very dizzy when I look up and can not work over my head.
I feel nauseous when laying on my back concentrating on a task, ie, when working under a car. I have noticed that I now get sea sickness which has been increasing over the years, I have been at sea for 50 years and this only started about twenty years ago and has got increasingly worse over time. I also have hearing loss in the higher frequencies, is this connected?
Hi Gary,
I suggest for you to learn more about BPPV.
You can find a vestibular provider using this article.
This article discusses how BPPV treatment works.
The hearing loss should be evaluated by an ENT or Neurologist.
I hope that helps!
I feel dizzy when I look up what could be the problem?
Hi Joram,
I hope this blog was helpful to you!
This blog discusses common causes of dizziness with head turns as well.
Also, I recently offered a webinar about “Navigating the Healthcare System as a Dizzy Patient.” My presentation is the first one during the first ever Virtual Vestibular Conference for Balance Awareness Week 2020. I discussed how to present this type of problem to your healthcare provider.
You can purchase access to all the webinars that week including mine for $20 at Vestibular.org.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had a very bad episode I woke up and sat up at got dizzy really bad and it lasted for 2.5 weeks
Now I get dizzy when I try to turn in bed and if I lie on my back and try too turn its bad
Then anytime I stand straight and look up the room will spin but it stops when I elevate my head….
What is some suggestions?
Hi Brandon,
You should notify your primary doctor and seek individual medical advice for your situation.
This blog on how to find a vertigo doctor in your area may help.
This blog on BPPV may help as well.
This blog about vestibular physical therapy may help.
This blog about dizziness while lying down and rolling over may help.
This blog on vertigo home remedies may help while you are seeking to find proper care for relief.
I hope you feel better soon!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
When My mom was little she used to passout if she looked out the window and saw the trees swaying. What could cause that
Hi Stevie,
I am not sure. I would probably need more details to create a hypothesis on that particular scenario.
If visual triggers like swaying trees cause dizziness or vertigo, a consult with a Neuro-Optometrist may be helpful.
The website COVD.org has a Doctor Locator tool that may be helpful.
Hi my name is Lorraine. I’ve had episodes of when I look down I get dizzy and nausea. Most of my spells are when I get up in the morning.
Hi Lorraine,
I suggest you check out this blog.
You may want to consult a vestibular physical therapist which you can find using this article.
Best wishes for a full recovery,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have bee to ENT
Vestibular specialist
She ruled out vertigo
Any other ideas
Sever dizziness when looking up
This article may be helpful as I discuss dizziness related to the neck: Dizziness with Head Turns.
You may also want to watch my most popular online video here, because I discuss different possible causes of dizziness.
Best wishes!
I have had this issue for quite sometime. but it’s when I look up with just my eyes, and don’t lift me head at all. my head is straight and I look upward toward the sky or ceiling or whatever, and I get so dizzy that I find myself reaching for something to grab ahold of before I fall over . I have had significant hearing loss over the years and have had treatment for that. and I only have about 30 percent of my hearing in my right ear and 0 percent in my left. my eyes are bad and getting worse and with all that said I have no insurance at all What could this be caused from ? And I just turned 50 in November I would say this has been happening for about 15 years now
Hi Erik,
I am sorry to hear this!
I don’t know what this is caused from, since I have not examined you in person.
But it sounds like you are having this dizziness issue while gazing up with your eyes only and keeping your head level.
Therefore, I suggest you consult with a neuro-optometrist if you have not already.
You can search to find a neuro-optometry doctor at COVD.org.
Hopefully that helps!
If not, then you may want to consult a vestibular PT. You can use this article to search for providers.
If you have not already, you may also want to see a neurologist and/ or ENT to identify any potential underlying medical conditions that need medical management by a doctor.
My wife passes out if she looks up without moving her head or from left to right rapidly. She has been to a neuro optometrist, neurologist and cardiologist at Vanderbilt. None of them have an answer.
Hi Jeffrey,
That sounds scary!
It sounds like you have taken many appropriate steps towards finding answers.
I suggest you consult with my trusted vestibular physical therapy colleague at Vanderbilt named Cathey Norton, DPT, NCS.
She works at Vanderbilt physical therapy clinic coordinating their Neurologic residency program and also is an Assistant Professor at the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Belmont University.
I think she might be very helpful for you as she is very experienced and knowledgable in this area.
This page has her contact information, if you scroll down all the way to the bottom of the page.
You may need to get a doctor’s referral to schedule with her. You can ask her how to get an appointment with her.
Please tell Cathey I recommended for you to see her and give her my best regards!
I get dizzy when looking up, bending over and standing up and rolling over to change positions when in bed. I have good blood pressure and try hard to eat a balanced diet. I have a constant ringing in my ears. This has been going on for a few years and at times is so loud that I cannot understand what people are saying. I have to work on a computer about 7 hrs a day and also have stiffness in my neck and eye strain as a result. I am 65 and worried about this.
Hi there,
I can understand why you would be worried!
I have three suggestions for you – three action steps.
Check out your ergonomics of your desk set up.
Consult a Vestibular Physical Therapist.
Consult an Orthopedic Manual Therapist.
I hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
What about an ENT Doctor? Ear, nose and throat Doctor. I’m 67 years old and had an appointment at the VA here in Gainesville, Florida. Not only was I getting dizzy when looking up at the sky, but the right side of my face just below the ear lobe swelled to the point that I had to pay them an emergency visit at 2 am! She (the Doctor) knew exactly what was wrong with me. She pulled out a medium to large ball of wax buildup out of my right ear, and I could hear again and the swelling disappeared! She showed me how to clean out the wax at least twice per week. I owe her my life!
I get very light headed and feel as though I could faint when I look up. But this only occurs if I look up while I am standing and am also reaching up (eg. Cleaning a ceiling or wiping cobwebs from up high) then I am fine when I stop reaching and looking up.
Hi Lily,
I am glad you found this article since you are having dizziness with looking up!
This blog may help you learn more about the different causes of dizziness with head motion.
This blog discusses more on the most common inner ear cause of dizziness looking up.
This blog can help you find a Vestibular Provider.
I hope you find answers and get relief soon!
Kind regards,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve been suffering this since I was born. I am 29 now and this explains why. Thanks very much for the nice blog.
I had a bad fall and struck the back of my head resulting in a hospital stay with a concussion. I did have a serious problem with one ear that felt plugged or muffled although my the we has since corrected, I continue to suffer with dizziness, especially when look up.
Hi Mary Ann,
You may want to find a vestibular physical therapist to assess you and treat any BPPV.
You can use this article to search for a provider.
BPPV is common after a fall with a hit on the back of the head. That may be the missing link for you.
Best wishes!
I have BPPV and was treated by an expert who rotated my head and body around for a few weeks and after severe dizziness, eye movement and vomiting she was able to move “the crystals” into the correct place. Then she couldn’t get it to reoccur again. Problem solved.
Until yesterday when I was laying on a table in a doctors office and *click* the eye movements and severe spinning began again. This is so debilitating – don’t have much hope there is a cure for it.
Hi Doug,
I am sorry to hear this news!
Unfortunately, BPPV does have a fairly high rate of recurrence.
The good news for you is that you already have a provider who is competent to successfully treat you.
This blog and this blog may be helpful as you learn more about BPPV recurrence.
The goal is to get any recurrence of BPPV treated asap, so you can get your life back right away!
In the meantime, this article with home remedies may be helpful.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I also experience dizziness when looking up. And yes, I have had bouts of vertigo for over 10 years. But, what I question is, can this also be related to heart issues? I have had a heart attack, and have an ejection fraction of 30%..
Hi Trish,
Yes, dizziness can be from heart issues. I suggest that you closely follow the treatment plan given by your cardiologist.
You may also need to see a vestibular provider. You can use this blog to find someone near you.
You may also want to get your neck assessed by a provider on this directory.
I hope you find answers and relief soon!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Have been diagnosed with PPPD – have had 2 appointments with vestibular physio who has now told me to do eye exercises with sheets of line and left me to do that.
Had a bad day today – when I look up or down I’m lightheaded ? Can you help
Hi Jennifer,
I suggest for you to notify your vestibular physio of how you are feeling and re-direct your questions to that provider.
Since I have not evaluated you in person, I really cannot speculate on the answer.
In general, it is common to feel worse symptoms after completing vestibular exercises.
I would recommend for you to maintain close communication with your vestibular physio, so you can receive individual medical advice from someone who has assessed you in person.
I hope you get some relief soon!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I get dizzy anytime I look up. It does not make the room spin horizontal. It makes it spin vertical.
What could cause this?
Also I have very bad hearing.
Hi Gene,
You may benefit from finding a vestibular physical therapist.
This article may help you find someone locally.
This article may help also.
I hope you feel better soon!
I get very dizzy if I look up too quickly, but when I return my head and sight line to a normal forward position afterwards it takes up to several minutes before I am back to normal.
During this time before everything goes back to normal I am very dizzy and light headed to the point where I cannot walk straight or see very clearly and I get a little nauseous.
Wasn’t born with it. I am now 57 and I’ve had this for about 12 years.
Noticed it while playing baseball looking up at a fly ball. I couldn’t catch it because I was disoriented.
Thanks
Hi Mark,
This article may be helpful.
This article may also be useful to you.
I suggest consulting both a vestibular physical therapist and an orthopedic physical therapist.
I hope you feel better soon!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have tachycardia my heart rate can go up to 200 for no reason and if I look up I will get do dizzy that I feel like I’m going to faint . I also have migraines so bad that they will make me sick and I have right eye pain with it.
Hi Tina,
I am sorry to hear this!
I definitely suggest you talk to your doctor about all this.
This article may help you also.
Upper cervical issues can contribute to a lot of what you described.
I hope you feel better soon!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
When I look up at tall buildings I feel like I’m gonna faint
Hey there. Just curious. Top shelf vertigo is dizziness when looking up. But when doing vertigo maneuvers to fix the issue, they ask you if it’s the “right side” or the “left side” that making you dizzy. Which side is the issue if your dizziness is caused by looking up? Thanks
Hi V,
Top shelf vertigo can be caused by BPPV or cervical issues.
If the top shelf vertigo is a symptom of BPPV, that symptom is not specific to either side.
Therefore, top shelf vertigo can be caused by BPPV on the right side or the left side.
My suggestion is to seek an exam by a vestibular professional.
You can use this blog to search for a provider in your area.
Best wishes!
Hi, I drive a forklift at work and over the past few months feel very light headed and faint when putting a pallet in the rack which is just over 7 meters high, it’s very concerning as I can’t afford to drop these pallets. What could cause this?
Hi Steve,
It is a good idea to notify your primary doctor since this is a new symptom. Your doctor may want to order tests or make referrals for you.
Generally speaking, symptoms of dizziness when looking up (that came out of nowhere) may be from a vestibular problem or a neck problem.
You can find a provider who can assess your vestibular system using this article.
Learn more about it here.
You can search for a manual therapist for your neck using this directory.
Learn more about it here.
I hope that helps!
I hope you find answers and relief soon.