Vertigo is a type of dizziness and can feel like a powerful spinning sensation. It’s caused by numerous conditions, specifically when there is an issue in the sensory nerve pathway, brain, or inner ear.
Vertigo can be long-term or just temporary; however, long-term vertigo has been associated with mental health problems. It can take place at any age but occurs most frequently for individuals who are 65 or older.
Psychiatric issues might be a cause of the dizziness. Vertigo could also impact an individual’s capability to live their life, and it might lead to anxiety or depression.
Different types of vertigo exist and these vary according to the exact diagnosis. One type is known as peripheral vertigo (a disorder in the inner ear organ balance), and another is central vertigo (imbalance in the sensory nerve pathways).
Causes of Vertigo
Those who have vertigo might find that their symptoms can be worse if they look directly up. Many conditions and diseases can cause vertigo, or it can become an issue after an inner ear imbalance. Less frequently, issues in certain areas within the brain can result in vertigo.
Many conditions can also cause vertigo. These include labyrinthitis, vestibular neuronitis, cholesteatoma, Ménière’s disease, and BPPV.
Vertigo can become an issue after head injuries or if trauma occurs – even car accidents can cause vertigo. Among others, vertigo can occur as a result of taking some medications, having migraine headaches, ear surgery, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or going through extended bed rest.
How to Deal with Vertigo
It’s important to have vertigo diagnosed by a physician, and they will do this by looking to see if there are issues taking place deep in the inner ear. The doctor will conduct a physical test to see how dizziness feels to the patient. This will give the physician a better idea about what type of dizziness it could be.
The doctor will need to know about the patient’s health history, and also any migraine headaches, ear infections, or head injuries. The physician might give the patient an MRI or head CT scan. Certain kinds of vertigo can improve without treatment, but any issues that are deeper-rooted might require medical care (such as a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics).
Prescriptions can help with certain symptoms, and these could come in the form of antiemetics or antihistamines to help with nausea and motion sickness.
Certain steps can be taken for at-home relief. If you are feeling dizzy, it’s a good idea to sit down. Movements that typically cause vertigo should be performed slowly. Be sure that there is always adequate lighting when you need to get up in the middle of the night. If vertigo is becoming a major issue and is causing you to lose your balance when standing or walking, it might be a good idea to try using a cane to prevent further injuries like trips or falls.
Other home remedies like turmeric, cayenne, ginger root, and ginkgo biloba can help reduce the effects of vertigo and lower the impact that it can have on daily life.
Struggling with vertigo can be difficult. First and foremost, get to a medical professional and speak to them about the symptoms of vertigo that you’re experiencing. Many ailments can lead to vertigo, and serious health problems might need to be addressed.