Vertigo, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

 

Dizziness and the sensation that of spinning when you are not are symptoms of vertigo. It usually happens when there is an inner ear problem. However, it can also occur if you have a brain condition such as a stroke or tumor. Medication, repositioning techniques, and surgery are some of the several treatment options.
Vertigo is a feeling of unsteadiness. You may feel as though you or the world around you are spinning if you experience these dizzy spells.

What is Vertigo?

The feeling that everything around you is spinning in circles is known as vertigo. It may cause you to feel lightheaded and unsteady. Vertigo is not a sickness in and of itself, although it can accompany other symptoms in a variety of health diseases.

Symptoms:

When experiencing vertigo, you may also feel the following symptoms:

• Vomiting and nausea.

• Dizziness.

• Issues of balance.

• Loss of hearing in one or both ears.

• Ear ringing is known as tinnitus.

• Headaches.

• Motion sickness.

• A sensation of ear fullness.

• Nystagmus is a disorder that causes your eyes to shift quickly and uncontrollably from side to side.

 Vertigo types:

Vertigo comes in two primary forms: central and peripheral.

The most common type of vertigo is peripheral. It occurs when there is a problem with the vestibular nerve or inner ear. (Both aid in maintaining equilibrium.)

Peripheral vertigo subtypes include:

• Positional vertigo that is benign paroxysmal (BPPV).

• Labyrinthitis.

• Spinal cord injury.

• Ménière's illness.

Less frequently, central vertigo occurs. It happens when you have a brain-related conditions, such as a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or infection. More severe symptoms, such as extreme instability or trouble walking, are typically present in people with central vertigo.

 Causes:

Each person experiences vertigo for various causes, which can include:

• Headaches are caused by migraines.

• Some medications, such as cardiovascular meds, anti-inflammatory treatments, and some antibiotics.

• Stroke.

• Arrhythmia.

• Diabetes.

• Injury to the head.

• Extended bed rest.

• Shingles in your ear or close by.

• Surgery on the ears.

• A perilymphatic fistula occurs when fluid from the inner ear leaks into the middle ear.

• Fast breathing, or hyperventilation.

• Low blood pressure (when you stand up, your blood pressure drops).

• Muscle weakness, or ataxia.

• Syphilis.

• Otosclerosis is a condition that affects the growth of bones in the middle ear.

• Disorders of the brain.

• MS stands for multiple sclerosis.

• Acoustic neuroma.

How is vertigo diagnosed by medical professionals?

A medical professional will examine you physically and inquire about your vertigo symptoms. To confirm your diagnosis, they might additionally suggest one or more tests.


Diagnostic tests for vertigo:

To identify vertigo, medical professionals may do several tests. These examinations may consist of:

• Test of Fukuda-Unterberger. Your doctor will want you to close your eyes and march in place for 30 seconds. Rotating or slanting to one side may indicate a problem with the inner ear labyrinth. Vertigo may result from this.

• Romberg's test. Your provider will ask you to stand with your feet together and your arms by your sides during this examination, and they will ask you to close your eyes. A problem with your central nervous system (your brain or spinal cord) may be the cause of your unsteadiness or unbalance.

• Test of the head impulse. Your provider will gently move your head to each side throughout this test while you concentrate on a stationary object, such as your provider's nose or a point on the wall. They will closely monitor your eye movements as they move your head. If there is a problem with your inner ear's balancing system, this can let them know.

• Battery for vestibular testing. The vestibular component of your inner ear system is examined using a variety of tests. You can find out if your symptoms are due to a brain problem or an inner ear problem by taking a battery of vestibular tests.

• Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are examples of imaging tests.

How is vertigo treated by medical professionals?

Treatment for vertigo is contingent upon the underlying reason. Medical professionals employ a range of therapies, which could include:

•  Repositioning maneuvers

• Medicine 

• Rehabilitative therapy for the vestibular system (vertigo exercises)

• Surgery

 Repositioning maneuvers:

When small calcium carbonate crystals, known as canaliths, migrate from the inner ear's utricle—where they belong—into your semicircular canals, it might cause benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV. Vertigo symptoms may result from this, particularly if you shift your head position.

The Epley maneuver and other canalith repositioning techniques can assist in moving the crystals back into your utricle from your semicircular canals. A set of precise head movements make up these movements. During an office visit, a medical professional can execute a canalith repositioning treatment. You may learn how to do it at home from them as well.

Medication 

In certain cases of acute vertigo (sudden onset, brief duration), medication may be helpful. To relieve vertigo symptoms, doctors may prescribe antihistamines (like cyclizine) or motion sickness medications (like meclizine or dimenhydrinate).



Therapy for vestibular rehabilitation (vertigo exercises)

A variety of exercises are typically included in vestibular rehabilitation therapy to help with common vertigo symptoms, such as lightheadedness, blurred vision, and balance problems. A medical professional will customize your care based on your particular requirements. Stretching, strengthening, eye movement control, and marching in place are a few such exercises. To help you control your symptoms whenever you experience vertigo, your healthcare practitioner can show you how to perform these exercises at home.

Surgery:

Surgery may be necessary if vertigo is brought on by a serious underlying medical condition, such as a brain tumor or neck injury, however, this is uncommon. Usually, doctors only suggest surgery when no other therapies are effective. You will learn what to anticipate and what type of procedure you need from your physician or surgeon.





References:

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• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Balance System Disorders. Accessed 5/9/2023.

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