If you often feel spinning, or off balance, then you may need help with vertigo symptoms. Vertigo can have varying degrees of intensity, from slightly bothersome to downright scary. Read on to learn more about it.
What is vertigo?
Vertigo is a symptom of a disturbance in the inner ear that causes the world to feel like it’s spinning even though you’re standing still. The inner ear is a complicated system of nerves, tubes, fluids and canals. Inflammation or irritation can disrupt the inner ear balance, disrupting your balance as a result. Extreme vertigo can physically knock you off your feet when a dizzy spell occurs. Vertigo symptoms may last a few minutes to a few hours or even days.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or top shelf vertigo is the most common kind. It is related to a disturbance in the inner ear. This happens when calcium carbonate crystals become dislodged and create irritation in the semicircular canals of the ear.
Meniere’s disease, also called idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, can cause vertigo as a result of an imbalance in the flow of fluids in the ear. Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder that’s a result of infection.
Other causes for vertigo include:
- Head injury
- A stroke or tumour
- Medications
- Migraine headaches
Remedies for vertigo
There are some simple home remedies to help alleviate BPPV vertigo. The most popular technique is the Epley maneuver. This can be done at home or in a doctor’s office. Named after Dr. John M. Epley, who officially coined this canalith (crystal) repositioning procedure, it consists of a series of movements intended to move the crystals in correct position in the ear canal. A doctor should guide you through this complex procedure, and may ask you to repeat the movements at home more than once until the vertigo subsides completely.
In the meantime, there are some tricks to help minimize vertigo’s impact on your day-to-day life.
- Move slowly when changing body positions.
- When walking, focus on objects in the distance rather than right in front of your feet. Avoid walking in areas of low light or on unleveled ground.
- Do not operate heavy machinery, like a car, during an episode of vertigo. When riding in an automobile, sit in the front. Look out the window ahead at a fixed point rather than out the side window. Avoid reading in a moving car.
- Make sure your eyeglasses or contact lenses prescriptions are up to date.
- Natural supplements like ginger can provide relief from the nausea. It is available in pill and tea form. Be aware that some people’s digestive systems are sensitive to ginger. In high doses, ginger can cause heartburn.
Vertigo is extremely uncomfortable, but in most cases the symptoms are temporary. Be sure to speak to a medical profession to get help for your vertigo symptoms, when they started and how long they lasted.
