Can Swimming Cause Vertigo?

The official trailer for the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film “Vertigo” opens with a visit to a dictionary to describe this peculiar sensation. The definition supplied reads: “VERTIGO: ver’-ti-go—A feeling of dizziness… a swimming in the head… figuratively a state in which all things seem to be engulfed in a whirlpool of terror.”

If you’ve ever experienced vertigo, you know this swimming-head feeling is no good. But can actual swimming cause it?

Not exactly, but in some cases, the rapid head movements and changes in water pressure that sometimes come with swimming could exacerbate symptoms if vertigo or the conditions to trigger it are already present.

What is vertigo? 

More than just garden variety dizziness, vertigo is an intense sensation of motion or spinning in the head that can make you feel lightheaded and nauseated as you struggle to stabilize in a world that’s seemingly spiraling rapidly around you.

There are two primary types of vertigo: peripheral and central.

Peripheral vertigo originates inside the inner ear and may begin in the vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canal or be related to the vestibular nerve, which is the nerve that runs between the inner ear and the brain stem. These areas of the inner ear all help control balance, and disturbances in their function can lead to a hard-to-shake feeling of wooziness. These disturbances can result from certain medications, injury, infection, swelling of the inner ear, pressure on the vestibular nerve from a tumor, and many other causes.

Central vertigo, on the other hand, originates inside the brain, usually in the brain stem or cerebellum. This can happen because of various disease processes such as multiple sclerosis, the use of some drugs or alcohol, seizures, strokes, and many other causes.

In either type of vertigo, the hallmark symptom is a feeling of spinning or moving, even when you’re lying completely still. Vertigo can also cause:

• Loss of balance and falls
• Nausea or vomiting
• Hearing loss or ringing in the ears (also called tinnitus)
• Difficulty focusing the eyes

Some cases of central vertigo can lead to other symptoms including difficulty swallowing, facial paralysis and slurred speed, vision and eye movement problems, and limb weakness.

In swimming, how you move your head in the water and changes in water pressure could trigger vertigo in some people. And if you have an ear infection, such as swimmer’s ear, that can also create sensations of dizziness or vertigo.

What to do if you feel dizzy while swimming

If at any point during your swim you begin to feel dizzy:

• Take a break. Hang onto the wall and wait for the sensation to pass before resuming your swim.
• Stay still. Lying down and closing your eyes may help when you feel a sense of vertigo taking over. Avoid rapid head movements and sudden position changes that could worsen the sensation.
• Breathe. Calm your breathing and focus on steady, slow breathing. This can help quell any panic you might be feeling and could help your body reset.
• Drink. A loss of fluids or an imbalance of electrolytes can sometimes trigger feelings of dizziness and nausea. Drinking plain water or an electrolyte drink can help alleviate this problem.
• Avoid bright lights. Bright light can exacerbate any eye-related symptoms of vertigo. Similarly, you may want to avoid reading while feeling vertigo, as trying to focus on words on a page can intensify the spinning sensation.
• Move slowly. When you start feeling better, get back to your activities slowly. A gentle and gradual return to activity is less likely to trigger repeat symptoms.
• Seek help. If the feeling of dizziness persists or occurs frequently when you’re swimming, talk with your health care provider to get an appropriate diagnosis. Effective treatments exist, but which one will work for your situation depends on the underlying cause. Some cases of vertigo require surgery or medication to treat while in others, resetting the balance organ inside your ear can fix the problem. Your provider may recommend physical therapy to improve balance issues and strengthen muscles to help prevent falls.