Vertigo describes the feeling that your surroundings are spinning or moving uncontrollably, leaving you disoriented and unsteady. It’s not an illness but rather a symptom of several underlying conditions.
Types of Vertigo
There are two main types of vertigo:
- Peripheral Vertigo: This type stems from issues in the vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canals in the inner ear, which are essential for maintaining balance.
- Central Vertigo: This type is related to problems within the central nervous system’s vestibular structures. Causes can include infections, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, or strokes.
Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo often indicates other common health issues and may come with symptoms such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Sensation of ear fullness
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movements)
Causes of Vertigo
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This common cause of vertigo occurs during head movements such as lying down, sitting up, or turning over in bed.
Meniere’s Disease: This condition leads to fluid buildup in the ear, causing episodes of vertigo. Symptoms may include tinnitus, fluctuating hearing loss, and a sensation of ear fullness.
Labyrinthitis: An infection or inflammation of the inner ear labyrinth affects the vestibulocochlear nerve, which carries sound, position, and head movement information to the brain. Symptoms may include headaches, ear pain, vision changes, tinnitus, or hearing loss.
Vestibular Neuritis: This condition involves inflammation of the vestibular nerve responsible for balance. Symptoms can include vertigo, nausea, and blurred vision.
Cholesteatoma: Recurrent ear infections may cause non-cancerous skin growth in the middle ear.
Other common causes of vertigo include:
- Diabetes
- Migraines
- Specific medications
- Strokes
- Arrhythmia
- Head injuries
- Extended bed rest
- Shingles
- Ear surgery
- Fistula perilymphatica (leakage of inner ear fluid into the middle ear)
- Hyperventilation
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Muscle weakness (ataxia)
- Syphilis
- Otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear)
- Brain disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Acoustic neuroma
Treatments for Vertigo
Treatment for vertigo depends on its cause. Effective methods include:
- Addressing the root cause can alleviate vertigo. For instance, medications may be prescribed for infections causing vertigo, with additional medication available for symptoms like nausea or motion sickness.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation: If the inner ear’s vestibular system is the cause, this therapy helps manage symptoms. It improves your brain’s ability to use other senses to compensate for vestibular issues.
- Canalith Repositioning Procedure (CRP): This procedure helps move calcium carbonate crystals dislodged in the inner ear to areas where they won’t cause balance issues.
- Surgery: In severe cases, such as when vertigo is due to a brain tumor or neck injury, surgery may be necessary.
Preventing Vertigo Attacks
You can take several steps to reduce your risk of vertigo:
- Avoid sudden movements, such as standing up too quickly or rapidly turning your head.
- Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows.
- If you feel dizzy, sit down immediately rather than bending over to pick something up.