Vertigo is the sensation that your surroundings are whirling or moving uncontrollably, leaving you feeling disoriented and unstable. Instead of being a specific illness, vertigo serves as an indicator of various underlying conditions.
Types of Vertigo
Vertigo can be categorized into two distinct types:
- Peripheral Vertigo: This type arises due to problems in the vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canals within the inner ear, which are crucial for maintaining balance.
- Central Vertigo: This form results from issues in the central nervous system’s vestibular structures, with potential causes including infections, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, or strokes.
Vertigo Symptoms
As previously mentioned, vertigo can be a symptom of common health conditions. However, it often presents alongside other symptoms such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Balance difficulties
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- A feeling of fullness in the ears
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
What Causes Vertigo?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): The most common cause, BPPV, occurs during head movements such as lying down, sitting up, or turning over in bed, triggering vertigo.
Meniere’s Disease: This condition leads to fluid buildup in the ear, resulting in episodes of vertigo. Symptoms may include tinnitus, fluctuating hearing loss, and a sense of ear fullness.
Labyrinthitis: An infection or inflammation of the inner ear labyrinth, affecting the vestibulocochlear nerve, which conveys sound, position, and head motion information to the brain. Symptoms often include headaches, ear pain, vision changes, tinnitus, or hearing loss.
Vestibular Neuritis: Involves inflammation of the vestibular nerve responsible for balance maintenance. Symptoms may include vertigo, nausea, and blurred vision.
Cholesteatoma: Repeated ear infections can cause non-cancerous skin growth in the middle ear.
Other prevalent causes of vertigo include:
- Diabetes
- Migraines
- Certain medications
- Stroke
- 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 (a bone growth condition in the middle ear)
- Brain disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Acoustic neuroma
Common Vertigo Treatments
Your treatment for vertigo depends on its underlying cause. Effective treatments include:
- Treating the root cause of your vertigo can alleviate symptoms. For instance, medications may be prescribed for infections causing vertigo, with additional medications available for associated symptoms like nausea or motion sickness.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation: This therapy helps manage symptoms if the vestibular system in your inner ear is the cause. It strengthens your brain and other sensory systems to compensate for vestibular issues.
- Canalith Repositioning Procedure (CRP): Canaliths or otoliths are calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear’s utricle. Sometimes these particles dislodge and accumulate in areas affecting balance or brain communication, causing vertigo. CRP relocates these particles, restoring normal ear-brain communication.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery is necessary if a significant condition like a brain tumor or neck injury causes vertigo.
Preventing Vertigo Attacks
Several steps can help reduce your risk of vertigo:
- Avoid abrupt movements like standing up too quickly or turning your head too rapidly.
- Elevate your head with two pillows while sleeping.
- When feeling dizzy, sit down immediately instead of bending over to pick something up.