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Vertigo is a sensation of spinning. If you have these
dizzy spells, you might feel like you are spinning or that the world
around you is spinning.
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo is often caused by an inner ear problem. Some of the most common
causes include:
BPPV. These initials stand for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals
of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head
and body movements relative to gravity. It helps you keep your balance.
BPPV can occur for no known reason and may be associated with age.
Meniere's disease. This is an inner ear disorder thought to be caused by
a buildup of fluid and changing pressure in the ear. It can cause
episodes of vertigo along with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and
hearing loss.
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Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis. This is an inner ear problem
usually related to infection (usually viral). The infection causes
inflammation in the inner ear around nerves that are important for
helping the body sense balance
Less often vertigo may be associated with:
Head or neck injury
Brain problems such as stroke or tumor
Certain medications that cause ear damage
Migraine headaches
Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head.
People with vertigo typically describe it as
feeling like they are:
Spinning
Tilting
Swaying
Unbalanced
Pulled to one direction
Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo include:
Feeling nauseated
Abnormal or jerking eye movements (nystagmus)
Headache
Sweating
Ringing in the ears or hearing loss
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Symptoms can last a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and
go.
Treatment for Vertigo
Treatment for vertigo depends on what's causing it. In many cases,
vertigo goes away without any treatment. This is because your brain is
able to adapt, at least in part, to the inner ear changes, relying on
other mechanisms to maintain balance.
For some, treatment is needed and may include:
Vestibular rehabilitation. This is a type of physical therapy aimed at
helping strengthen the vestibular system. The function of the vestibular
system is to send signals to the brain about head and body movements
relative to gravity.
Vestibular rehab may be recommended if you have recurrent bouts of
vertigo. It helps train your other senses to compensate for vertigo.
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Canalith repositioning maneuvers. Guidelines from the American Academy
of Neurology recommend a series of specific head and body movements for
BPPV. The movements are done to move the calcium deposits out of the
canal into an inner ear chamber so they can be absorbed by the body. You
will likely have vertigo symptoms during the procedure as the canaliths
move.
A doctor or physical therapist can guide you through the movements. The
movements are safe and often effective.
Medicine. In some cases, medication may be given to relieve symptoms
such as nausea or motion sickness associated with vertigo.
If vertigo is caused by an infection or inflammation, antibiotics or
steroids may reduce swelling and cure infection.
For Meniere's disease, diuretics (water pills) may be prescribed to
reduce pressure from fluid buildup.
Surgery. In a few cases, surgery may be needed for vertigo.
If vertigo is caused by a more serious underlying problem, such as a
tumor or injury to the brain or neck, treatment for those problems may
help to alleviate the vertigo. |