What Causes Vertigo and How to Deal with it

If you are feeling disoriented and dizzy, have abnormal eye movement and difficulty walking or controlling your arms and legs, you just might be suffering from vertigo. The condition can be debilitating, but understanding the cause and learning how to treat it can help you get your life back on track.

As cited in many medical journals, true vertigo can be difficult to diagnose because it can be mistaken for common dizziness. Dizziness is a sensation of feeling light headed and off-balance while with vertigo you feel like your environment is spinning out of control. How you describe the symptoms to your doctor is important.

Typical Symptoms
Although patient complaints vary, here are 8 of the most common symptoms associated with vertigo.

  1. Headache
  2. Double Vision
  3. Disoriented
  4. Difficulty with balance
  5. Altered level of consciousness (difficulty arousing)
  6. Difficulty speaking
  7. Weakness
  8. Nausea

Although you may have some of these symptoms the information contained herein is not to be constructed as medical advice or instruction. On any matter relating to your health or well being please check with the appropriate health professional.

Causes
The symptoms listed above can be linked to many different ailments. If you have vertigo though, perhaps one of the following is the cause.

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPVV.  It is characterized by sudden head movement and can be treated.
  • Inflammation in the inner ear. Often times the culprit is a viral or bacterial ear infection.
  • Acoustic Neroma is a tumor in the nerve tissue. With this kind of vertigo people can experience hearing loss or ringing in the ear.
  • Decreased blood flow to the brain. If you have this type of vertigo, you typically have headaches and trouble walking. 
  • Multiple Sclerosis has been associated with vertigo. Sometimes it is the first sign that someone has the auto immune disease. 
  • Diabetes complications
  • Migraines, head or neck trauma

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine about head trauma has prompted the U.S National Football League to warn players about concussions and vertigo. The Canadian Medical Association has issued similar warnings to the National Hockey League.

Diagnosing Vertigo
If the room is spinning out of control you should take it seriously and seek medical attention. Doctors will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms and lifestyle, if they feel it is warranted they will do further investigation through a CT scan or MRI.

Treating Vertigo
Depending on what the cause of your vertigo is, a doctor may suggest any number of treatments. You could simply be prescribed antibiotics or other medications and begin to feel better relatively soon. However, in some cases surgery might be required.  When medication is not enough, doctors will recommend therapy that will help you deal with the symptoms on a day to day basis. Here are a few tips on how to deal with vertigo at home.

  • Get in and out of bed slowly
  • Avoid rapid movements
  • Walk like you have a book on your head to minimize movement
  • Sleep with extra pillows to prevent your head from resting on an angle
  • Stay hydrated, it can help lessen the severity of dizziness
  • Practice deep breathing, shallow breaths can increase dizziness
  • Avoid alcohol

If you suffer from vertigo keep in mind that you are at risk of further injury and may have to make some adjustments around your house to protect yourself. You might want to consider getting rid of any area rugs that you could trip over, clear pathways and stairs so that you don’t have to maneuver around items and risk falling, and try installing grab bars in the bathroom.

Vertigo can prevent you from living a happy, productive life, but you are not alone. In the United States over 35 per cent of adults over the age of 40 suffer from balance related problems. The sooner you get medical attention, the sooner you can get on with enjoying your life.

Sources:
emedicalhealth.com –Vertigo Overview
bmj.com (British Medical Journal) – Vertigo Diagnosis in General Practice
cmaj.ca (Canadian Medical Association Journal) – Vertigo and Concussions
Vertigo and Dizziness by Lucy Yardley, Rutledge Publications Dec 13th, 1994

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50 Responses to What Causes Vertigo and How to Deal with it

  1. Billy Payne says:

    The best solution for vertigo that I have found is a neck manipulation called Dixon Hall-Pike It will stop the dizziness.

  2. Josephine Brockbank says:

    My husband (78 years of age) had a TIA June 21 and today had a cat scan. They put him on Warfarin. I am worried about this drug. Is there anything else he can use as an alternate medicine route.Would you be good enough to discuss in a general way of coping with the after effects of a TIA÷

    Thank you. JB

    • admin says:

      Dear Josephine Brockbank,

      Thank you for your recent question on our Bel Marra Health blog. Your question requests specific medical information we can not responsibly respond to, as it is unlawful for us to diagnose, treat or discuss specific medical conditions over email, but can only provide general health information on your topic. Omega-3′s and Coenzyme Q10 are great supplements for cardiovascular health however, for your specific condition please contact your personal health care practitioner or pharmacist before taking any supplements.

      Thank you once again and have a great day

  3. Lawrence Morrison says:

    our temperary football stadium is made from aluminum scafolding it will be replaced this year. And even though I used to work in construction and am fermiliar with scafolding I get vertigo when I go to my seat at the games and have to leave it seems to be something about the edhoing sounds that bug me, is there anything I can do except leave?

    • admin says:

      Dear Lawrence Morrison,

      Thank you for your recent question on our Bel Marra Health blog. Your question requests specific medical information we can not responsibly respond to, as it is unlawful for us to diagnose, treat or discuss specific medical conditions over email, but can only provide general health information on your topic. The issue may however relate to your inner ear canal. For your specific condition please contact your personal health care practitioner or pharmacist.

      Thank you and have a great day

  4. marie says:

    Teva-Rapebrazole=ec20mg. what it has to do with the Diclofenac sodium 50mg EC. which is to be taken before 30 minutes. once a day. before consuming diclofenac sodium? will appreciate.
    goodday.
    marie

    • admin says:

      Dear Marie,

      Thank you for your recent question on our Bel Marra Health blog. Your question requests specific medical information we can not responsibly respond to, as it is unlawful for us to diagnose, treat or discuss specific medical conditions over email, but can only provide general health information on your topic. For your specific condition please contact your personal health care practitioner or pharmacist.

      Thank you once again and have a great day

    • Jacoby says:

      Gosh, I wish I would have had that infomratoin earlier!

  5. johnsabol says:

    can you help vertigo

    • admin says:

      Dear John Sabol,

      Thank you for your recent question on our Bel Marra Health blog. There are ways to reduce the symptoms associated with vertigo as discussed in our article. Your question requests specific medical information. For your specific condition please contact your personal health care practitioner or pharmacist as it is unlawful for us to diagnose, treat or discuss specific medical conditions over email, but can only provide general health information on your topic.

      Thank you once again and have a great day

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