Vertigo refers to a sensation in which you may feel that the world around you is spinning. A person experiencing vertigo might feel off-balance and dizzy. People often confuse vertigo and dizziness to be the same, however, this is not the case. Vertigo is not the same as dizziness. Dizziness means to feel weak on feet, and light-headed, however, vertigo makes a person feel as if the world around them is spinning. The causes of vertigo are also quite different from those of dizziness. While dizziness can be caused by low blood pressure, vision problems, etc, vertigo is caused by migraine, head injury, or some inner ear complications. In this article, we will discuss in detail about the problem of vertigo and the symptoms you can feel along with it, while also covering the treatment options you can explore.
What are the types of vertigo?
Based on the factors that cause it, vertigo is divided into two categories:
Peripheral Vertigo: It is the most common type of vertigo, which happens when the inner ear or vestibular nerve of a person are facing some issues. Since both the inner ear and vestibular nerve help a person maintain balance, when these organs are affected for any reason, it causes a loss of balance. There are various subtypes of peripheral vertigo, which include:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Labyrinthitis
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Meniere’s disease
Central Vertigo: It is a less common type of vertigo that happens in people who have any issues in the brain, such as stroke or any infection. This type of vertigo causes more severe types of symptoms such as difficulty in walking or severe instability.
What are the causes of vertigo?
Before getting to know the treatment options for vertigo, let us discuss what are the causes of it. Vertigo can be caused by a number of ailments including:
- Migraine Headaches
- Stroke
- Arrhythmia
- Head Injuries
- Head injuries or year surgeries etc.
Apart from these causes, there are a wide range of factors which can contribute to vertigo in a person.
What are the treatment options for vertigo?
Healthcare providers might suggest a variety of treatment options for vertigo. Since vertigo itself is caused by an underlying reason, the treatment is mostly based on the treatment of the underlying issue.
Repositioning Maneuvers: This procedure can treat vertigo in patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This type of vertigo is caused when tiny calcium carbonate crystals present in the inner ear move out of their place and reach the semicircular canals. This mostly causes vertigo when someone is moving or changing his head position. Canalith Repositioning procedures can help to shift these calcium carbonate crystals back to the inner ear, where they belong, and help alleviate the symptoms of vertigo.
Medication for Vertigo: Medicines can help patients who are experiencing acute or sudden onset of vertigo symptoms. Healthcare providers might provide them with certain medications to prevent motion sickness and other symptoms of vertigo.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: This treatment option involves certain vertigo exercises which include stretching, strengthening, eye movement and other exercises which are specially designed as per the needs and the condition of the patient.
Surgery: This treatment option is rare, and is only used when none of the above-mentioned options work on the patients. It is used in cases like a brain tumor or neck injury.
How to reduce the symptoms of vertigo?
There are a few steps which a person can take if they are experiencing vertigo in order to reduce its severity and other symptoms:
- Try moving slowly while standing up or changing postures, looking up, or doing any of the movements which trigger vertigo.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids including water, sports drinks etc. Lack of hydration can worsen vertigo.
- Cut down on the consumption of caffeine, salt, alcohol and tobacco, as these substances make the symptoms of vertigo worse.
- When you want to sleep, lie down in a dark and quiet room, and keep your head raised with pillows.
- Use walking sticks or other aids if you feel like you’ll fall while walking.
While these symptoms can be reduced in intensity by doing some easy practices at home, it is always a great idea to consult your healthcare provider if you are experiencing frequent episodes of dizziness or vertigo, as it will help you diagnose the reason for it, and treat it so as to get better relief.
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