VERTIGO: WHAT CAN BE CAYSING THOSE DIZZY SPELLS?

Vertigo refers to a sensation of dizziness or feeling off-balance. These dizzy spells make you feel like the world is spinning around you. 

What are the symptoms of vertigo?

The following are the symptoms of vertigo:

1. Feelings of everything spinning around you
2. Unbalanced
3. A sensation of being pulled into one direction
4. Swaying

Other symptoms that may also be experienced are as follows:

1. Feeling nauseated
2. Abnormal or jerky eye movements 
3. Headache
4. Sweating profusely
5. Ringing in the ears

These symptoms may last from a few minutes to a few hours or more and may become frequent over time. 

Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo can be caused due to an inner ear problem. The following are some of the most common causes of vertigo:

1. Menier’s disease: This can be caused due to accumulation of fluid in the inner ear. This can lead to frequent episodes of vertigo and ringing in your ears. 
2. Vestibular neuritis or labyrinth: This inner ear problem is associated with a mostly viral infection. This infection can cause inflammation of the nerves that help in maintaining the balance of the body. 

Less frequently, vertigo can also be caused due to the following reasons:

1. Injury or trauma of the neck or the head
2. Problems in the brain like strokes or formation of tumor
3. Usage of the wrong medication that may cause ear damage
4. Headaches that are usually the result of migraine

TREATMENT OF VERTIGO

During most times, the treatment of vertigo is not really required. This is because our brain can sometimes adapt to the changes in the inner ear. However, sometimes when the treatment is required following treatments may be required:

1. Vestibular rehabilitation: This is a physical therapy that is aimed at strengthening the vestibular system of the body. If you have recurrent episodes of vertigo, then vestibular rehabilitation is recommended. 
2. Canalith repositioning maneuvers: This is a procedure that can help in moving the calcium deposits from the ear canal to the inner ear chamber so that these deposits can be absorbed by the body. 
3. Medicine: These medicines can be provided in order to reduce symptoms like nausea. If the cause of vertigo is infection or inflammation, then steroids can be given in order to reduce those symptoms. 

If the case of vertigo is extreme, then surgery may be required. Sometimes these extreme cases may be due to an underlying tumor. Getting an appointment with your doctor may help you determine what can be done to determine the solutions!