Vertigo: Overview, symptoms and its treatment

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a condition which can cause problems of dizziness. If you have vertigo, you might only feel dizzy for a short while (minutes). But vertigo can also make some people feel dizzy for hours or even days. People with the disorder may also feel sick (have nausea) and throw up (vomit). They might also lose their balance. Most of the time, vertigo is caused by problems in the inner ear.

There are medicines for treating vertigo which can also help with nausea and vomiting.  Most of the time, these drugs are only given for a short time (up to 14 days). In most cases, your doctor will be able to figure out what is causing your vertigo and then give you information on how to treat it.

Symptoms of vertigo

Vertigo is the feeling of someone being turned around. It’s not the same as feeling dizzy or fainting or getting sick when moving.

If you have actual vertigo, you might feel like you’re spinning or moving. Also, the person may have any or all of the following signs,

• Nausea or faints
• Sweating
• Pupil dilation movements

The symptoms could last minutes or hours, and they can be constant (called “chronic”) or start coming and just going. The attack may have been caused by a sudden change in position or movement. It is important to consult the doctor about any head trauma or neck injuries injury that happened, as well as any new medicines that the person is taking.

The person may have hearing problems and beeping in their ears. The person might also have trouble seeing, feel weak, have trouble speaking, become less aware, and have trouble walking. 

Vertigo causes 

Vertigo can be caused by several things, but most of the time it is caused by an imbalance in the eardrum or difficulties with the central nervous system (CNS). Some things that can cause dizziness are listed below.

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV):

It is the most frequent cause of vertigo. It makes you feel like you are spinning or moving quickly for a short time. A sudden change in the way the brain moves, like a blow to the head.

2. Infection:

Vestibular neuritis is an infectious disease of the vestibular nerve that can cause severe and persistent vertigo.

3. Meniere’s disease: 

When fluid builds up in the inner ear, it can cause dizziness that comes on suddenly and lasts for a few hours.

4. Migraine:

Vertigo caused by migraines can last between minutes to hours.

Some of the other causes are also included over here:

• Head injury or Ear surgery.
• Perilymphatic fistula is when fluid from the inner ear leaks into the middle ear because one of the two membranes between the middle ear and the inner ear is torn.
• Herpes zoster in the ear or close it
• Otosclerosis
• Syphilis
• Due to weak muscles.
• Stroke
• The disease of the cerebellum or brainstem
• Acoustic neuroma
• Multiple sclerosis

Vertigo treatment 

It all depends on what causes vertigo, there are different ways to treat it. Some of the therapy or medication recommended by doctors to treat it or prevent its symptoms:

1. Repositioning manoeuvres:

The canalith repositioning manoeuvre, which is also called the Epley manoeuvre, is used to relieve BPPV symptoms. These specific head movements can help move canalith crystals out of the inner ear canals. Canalith crystals are small pieces that can cause dizziness.

Each treatment session involves staying in four positions for 30 to 60 seconds each and repeating each position as many times as needed. During the session, a doctor can help you with each move. They might also give you more information on how to do this procedure at home.

2. Medication:

Antihistamines are a type of medicine that is often used to treat allergies. Meclizine is an antihistamine. Meclizine is good for treating nausea or dizziness caused by motion.

3. Exercises:

People who feel dizzy can do a lot of vertigo-home exercises that can help. Most of the time, they involve moving or staying in a certain way to improve your balance.

When someone goes to therapy for vestibular rehabilitation, they do the same exercises they do in therapy (VRT). VRT is a type of exercise program that is made to fit each person and their symptoms.

4. Habituation:

Gaze stabilization helps people control how their eyes move, which makes it easier to see when their heads move. Balance training makes you steadier. If you have very bad vertigo then consult your doctor.

5. Brandt-Daroff exercise

Most people with vertigo should do this exercise at home because it is easy to do on your own. Doing these exercises to see whether you are in a safe place or not because might make you feel lightheaded for a while.

• Sit on a flat surface with your legs hanging out like they would from a chair.
• Turn your head as far to the left as you can, then lay your head and body down on your right side. Legs should not move. There should be enough time for you to stay here for at least 30 seconds
• Sit up and move your head back to the centre.
• Turn your head as far to the right as you can, then lay down on your left side to do the same thing.
• As many as three times a day and twice a week you can do this exercise.

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