Decoding Vertigo: Causes, Symptoms and Effective Treatment Options

Have you experienced a dizzying sensation of spinning or moving when you are not? You might have felt often that the things around you are moving when they are not. It is due to a condition known as vertigo. Vertigo can make simple activities shockingly intense, which might interfere with day-to-day functioning. The type of vertigo you have and its underlying causes determine the symptoms you experience. The sensation may get worse if you move quickly or change positions. As vertigo significantly raises the risk of falls and accidents, it can be frightening. Even while vertigo can be upsetting, it doesn’t always mean that there is a serious medical issue.

Vertigo

Vertigo is an ear condition which causes dizziness. It is a sudden attack with episodes of disorientation, nausea and loss of balance. Such attacks might be brief or extended. They might be triggered by several causes, such as inner ear issues, head injuries or infections. In vertigo, one feels as if one’s environment is spinning, making one feel off balance and dizzy. Moreover, it is a symptom of lots of health conditions rather than a disease itself, but it occurs along with other symptoms.  

Types of vertigo

Vertigo can be classified into two types, which are,

• Peripheral vertigo: It is the most common type, which happens when there is an issue with the inner ear or vestibular nerve.  
• Central vertigo: It is a rare type, which occurs when the condition affects the brain, like stroke, infection or traumatic brain injury. It causes severe instability and difficulty walking.  

Symptoms of vertigo

The symptoms of vertigo involve:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Off balancing
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Headaches
• Motion sickness
• A feeling of fullness in the ear
• Nystagmus  

Causes of vertigo

The causes of vertigo involve:

• Migraine headaches
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Head injuries
• Arrhythmia
• Shingles in the inner ear
• Ear surgery
• Ataxia
• Syphilis
• Brain disease
• Otosclerosis
• Per lymphatic fistula

Diagnosis of vertigo

The diagnostic tests of vertigo involve:

• Fukuda-Unterberger test: It is a test where a physician asks the patient to march in place for 30 seconds with eyes closed. When you rotate or lean to one side, it is a sign of inner ear labyrinth.
• Romberg’s test: It is an examination where you will be asked to close your eyes while standing with your feet together and arms to your side. When you feel unbalanced, it is a sign of having vertigo.
• Head impulse test: It is a test where the physician moves your head to each side while you focus your eyes on a stationary target. As you move, your eye movements are observed by the physician.  
• Vestibular test battery: It is a test which examines the vestibular portion of the inner ear system. It helps determine whether the symptoms are a result of an inner ear issue.  
• Imaging tests: Imaging techniques like CT scans, MRI scans and ultrasound scans are performed to view the image of internal organs and tissues.

Treatments of vertigo  

The treatment methods involved in treating vertigo include:

• Repositioning manoeuvre: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a condition that occurs when small calcium carbonate crystals move out of the utricle in the inner ear, especially in semicircular canals. This condition is treated by the repositioning manoeuvre technique, which helps shift the crystals out of semi circular canals back into the utricle.  
• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy: This technique involves a range of exercises to improve common vertigo symptoms like dizziness, unstable vision and balance issues. Exercises like stretching, strengthening and eye movement control are included.  

Conclusion

To conclude, vertigo is an ear condition which results in dizziness. Regretfully, there is no foolproof method to eradicate vertigo once and prevent its recurrence. After experiencing vertigo once, some may never get it again, and others experience its recurring episodes. Doctors help you manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life.