Why Inflammation Matters
A well-known study by Dr. Jacek Hawiger and colleagues at Vanderbilt University estimated that about 80% of human diseases are either caused or influenced by inflammation in the body (4). Many conditions, including multiple sclerosis, obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, are linked by ongoing inflammation and the damage it can cause (4). Although the immune system is essential for protecting us from illness and injury, it can also be responsible for many of the symptoms people experience with chronic diseases. Research suggests that inflammation may also play a larger role in vestibular disorders than previously recognized (3,5). While research in this area is still limited, this article explores that possible connection and discusses additional self-care strategies for people living with chronic vestibular disorders.
Key Takeaway: Inflammation helps the body heal, but when it becomes chronic, it may contribute to ongoing symptoms in many diseases—including, potentially, some vestibular disorders.
When Inflammation Doesn’t Turn Off
When the body is injured, or something disrupts its normal balance, it usually responds with inflammation as a natural defense mechanism. This response is very helpful during short-term illnesses or injuries because it helps the body heal. However, in chronic conditions, the source of the problem remains, so the inflammatory response may continue without an “off switch.” Over time, this ongoing inflammation can become a health problem of its own (1). Current research shows that chronic inflammation plays a major role in many of the leading causes of death worldwide. In fact, more than half of all deaths are linked to inflammation-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions (1).
What Does This Mean for Vestibular Disorders?
In some vestibular disorders, such as vestibular neuritis, inflammation is already known to be part of the disease process, as indicated by the “-itis” in its name (3). Researchers are still studying the role inflammation may play in more complex vestibular conditions such as vestibular migraine, POTS, BPPV, and Ménière’s disease. There is currently very little research specifically focused on these connections. However, it is reasonable to consider that inflammation may contribute to these conditions in some way. If so, strategies that help reduce inflammation in other chronic diseases may also help reduce symptom severity for some people with vestibular disorders.
What We Know
Inflammation is clearly involved in vestibular neuritis.
What We’re Still Learning
Scientists are investigating whether inflammation also contributes to conditions such as vestibular migraine, POTS, BPPV, and Ménière’s disease.
Looking Beyond Vestibular-Specific Resources
When people are first diagnosed with a vestibular disorder, they are often introduced to diets, exercises, and other strategies that may help reduce their symptoms. Many quickly discover that VeDA is one of the few major evidence-based sources for this type of information. Searching online for terms such as “Vestibular Migraine Diet” or “Strategies for Ménière’s Disease” often brings VeDA to the top of the search results, with relatively few other reliable resources available. However, if someone searches instead for “chronic inflammation,” they will find a much larger collection of articles, meal plans, exercise recommendations, and lifestyle resources (2,5). Interestingly, many of these recommendations are very similar to the strategies that VeDA already recommends for vestibular disorders (2,5). While there is not enough evidence to say with certainty that inflammation plays a role in nearly every vestibular disorder, the similarities between these approaches are worth considering.
Finding More Lifestyle Tools
Many of the strategies recommended for reducing chronic inflammation closely match the guidance already available through VeDA, especially when it comes to nutrition. One challenge many vestibular patients face is making significant dietary changes while finding recipes and meal plans that fit those recommendations. Resources such as The Dizzy Cook by Alicia Wolf have been incredibly valuable, but there are still far fewer vestibular-specific cooking resources than there are for more common conditions such as type II diabetes or obesity. In contrast, there are countless cookbooks, websites, meal plans, reviews, and tutorials focused on anti-inflammatory eating. Diet is just one example. Similar overlaps can also be found in exercise programs, symptom tracking, therapeutic activities, stress management, environmental modifications, and other healthy lifestyle habits.
Practical Tip: If you’re looking for additional meal ideas or healthy lifestyle strategies, evidence-based anti-inflammatory resources may offer helpful inspiration alongside VeDA’s recommendations.
A Personalized Approach
Unfortunately, the limited amount of research and funding devoted to chronic vestibular disorders remains a major challenge for both healthcare providers and patients. Because of this, it is not yet possible to confirm a direct relationship between chronic inflammation and many vestibular disorders using strong scientific evidence. Even so, patients may still benefit from comparing the similarities between vestibular management strategies and anti-inflammatory lifestyle practices. By using VeDA’s evidence-based guidance as a starting point, individuals can explore anti-inflammatory approaches that best fit their own preferences, schedules, cultures, and lifestyles (2,3,5).
No two patients are exactly alike. A young marathon runner and an older grandmother may have the same vestibular disorder but require very different strategies to manage their symptoms. Personalizing treatment is important. Combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle practices with VeDA’s recommendations may give patients a wider range of practical options they can adapt to meet their individual needs.
Bottom Line: Research is still evolving, but exploring healthy anti-inflammatory habits that align with VeDA’s recommendations may give patients additional tools to support their overall well-being.
Author: Sam Tunney, M.D. Candidate – University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia
