What is Vertigo?
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Vertigo could also be a kind of dizziness where a person feels as if they or the objects around them are moving. Vertigo may be a symptom where an individual feels as if they or the objects around them are moving when they are not. It is a sensation of feeling off-balance. If you have these dizzy spells, you would possibly feel like you are spinning or that the earth around you is spinning.
Types of Vertigo
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo — During this condition, a change in head position causes a sudden sensation of spinning. The foremost likely cause is small crystals that break loose within the canals of the interior ear and touch the sensitive nerve endings inside.
Acute labyrinthitis, also called vestibular neuritis — is often an inflammation of the balance apparatus of the interior ear, probably caused by an infection.
Ménière’s disease — This causes repeat episodes of dizziness, usually with ringing within the ear and progressive low-frequency deafness. Meniere’s disease is caused by a change in the quantity of fluid inside the interior ear. Although the rationale for this alteration is unknown, scientists suspect that it’s going to be linked to loud noise (bang), virus infection, or biological factors inside the ear itself.
Symptoms
Vertigo can feel like the space is spinning or like you are spinning within the space, or it is often just a feeling of imbalance. It may make you feel nauseous, feel like vomiting, and ringing in one or both ears (tinnitus).
Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose vertigo supported by your description of what you are feeling. Vertigo is often divided into two major categories, peripheral vertigo, and central vertigo.
Peripheral vertigo, which is way more common, includes mild positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease.
Positional vertigo is diagnosed when moving to the highest point causes vertigo and returning to a neutral position relieves symptoms. Labyrinthitis and Ménière’s attacks usually come on abruptly and last from a few hours to a couple of days. There could even be intense nausea and vomiting and variable deafness.
Central vertigo could also be a more significant issue within the cerebellum ( in the back neighborhood of the brain) or brain stem. Your doctor will evaluate your eye to see for abnormal jerking movements. The pattern of your eye movements may help to work out if the matter is peripheral or central. Usually, no further testing is required unless your doctor suspects you have central vertigo. If central vertigo is suspected, your doctor will order a computed tomography (CT) scan or resonance imaging (MRI) of your brain.
Treatment
Some sorts of vertigo resolve without treatment, but an individual may have treatment for an underlying problem. A doctor may, for example, prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial infection or antiviral drugs similar to those prescribed for shingles. Medications are available that will relieve some symptoms. These drugs include antihistamines and anti-emetics to reduce kinetosis (A condition that happens when fat provides most of the fuel for the body, and there’s limited access to glucose). You may also experience nausea.
Surgery could also be necessary if other treatments aren’t effective. BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) and acoustic neuroma are two conditions that could be occurring. Antihistamines are available over the counter or to buy online.
Treating Ménière’s disease
If you have been diagnosed as suffering from Ménière’s disease you may be prescribed certain medications from your attending doctor. These may include meclizine, glycopyrrolate, or lorazepam, which can help relieve dizziness because of this condition.
Other options include:
Limiting sodium intake and using diuretic therapy to scale back fluid levels and trying pressure pulse treatment, which involves fitting a tool to the ear having a doctor inject antibiotics or corticosteroids into the center ear. You should avoid beverages that contain caffeine, avoid chocolate, and alcohol and stay away from smoking.
Lifestyle changes
Steps that can help reduce the results of vertigo include:
Lying still in a quiet, dark room when the spinning is severe, sitting down as soon as possible when the sensation of dizziness appears, and taking time to perform movements that can trigger symptoms, like getting up, looking upward, or turning. Practice squatting rather than bending over to select something up. Using a cane when walking if necessary, and sleeping with the highest part of your head raised on two or more pillows. Making adaptations within the home by turning on lights when getting up in the dark to help prevent falls. Anyone who experiences vertigo or other kinds of dizziness shouldn’t drive or use a ladder.
Herbal remedies
Ginger tea
Ginger widely used for nausea also shows real benefits for combatting vertigo. Research published in the U.S. Library of Medicine studied the vertigo-reducing effect of ginger root. Researchers found that ginger root significantly reduced induced vertigo better than a placebo. Steep ginger root in a cup of boiling water for about five minutes. If desired, add a little raw honey to taste. And drink twice a day to combat vertigo.
Coriander seeds, gooseberry powder, and raw honey
Coriander seeds contain an array of phytonutrients and are a good source of copper, manganese, iron, magnesium, and calcium. Gooseberry has a high vitamin-C content, enhances food absorption, and nourishes the brain and mental functioning. Together with a little raw honey, they help alleviate vertigo. Soak one tablespoon each of coriander seeds and gooseberry powder in filtered water overnight. Strain into a cup and add the honey. Drinking this mixture when experiencing vertigo is said to provide instant relief.
Almonds and milk
Almonds are rich in vitamins E and B, and apparently effective for vertigo. Soak four almonds in filtered water overnight. In the morning, grind the almonds to create a fine paste. Add the mixture to a glass of warm milk and drink up.
Lemon balm
Lemon balm is said to help relieve insomnia, depression, nervous tension, migraines, and vertigo, and is thought to be one of the fastest home remedies for vertigo attacks. Bring one cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add one teaspoon of dried lemon balm. Allow it to simmer gently for 10 minutes. Strain liquid into a cup and drink a few times each day to relieve vertigo attacks.
Vitamin C rich Fruits and Vegetables
Yes, relieving your vertigo may be as simple as eating vitamin C—rich foods. A study conducted by the Hiroshima University School of Medicine in Japan found that patients suffering from Meniere’s disease (a condition that is associated with vertigo) who consumed daily vitamin C showed positive improvement with vertigo. To incorporate more vitamin C-rich foods into your diet, consume fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, cantaloupe, green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin D
Studies have shown that vitamin D may improve positional vertigo. Researchers found that people with vertigo were often severely deficient in vitamin D compared to those without vertigo.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is valuable for heart health and helps to maintain normal LDL cholesterol. It also helps circulatory health and supports the optimal functioning of the heart muscle. Seventy-three percent of patients with congestive heart failure who were treated with CoQ10 reported improvement in their vertigo, according to Life Extension. It is also said to play a role in reducing the number and severity of migraine headaches.
Garlic and sesame oil
When combined, sesame oil and garlic relieve vertigo attacks. Add two crushed garlic cloves to a pan and add two teaspoons of sesame oil. Cook the garlic until brown in color and strain the oil into a cup. Once the oil has cooled, drip two or three drops of oil into one ear. Allow it to sit for one minute before draining. Repeat on the other ear.
Apple cider vinegar and honey
Raw honey and unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (Bragg) is best. Both are known for their curative properties that ease blood flow to the brain. Add two parts, honey, to one part apple cider. Consume one tablespoon of this mixture two to three times a day for the treatment and prevention of vertigo.
Cayenne
Turmeric
Ginkgo biloba
Gingerroot
A 2015 study found that half an hour of acupuncture helped reduce symptoms in 60 folks who visited an emergency department with dizziness and vertigo. However, more research is vital to verify the effectiveness of this treatment method. Do not use alternative treatments without consulting with your doctor first. You will need to see a doctor if you suffer from vertigo symptoms suddenly or your condition gets worse. There is a chance that you may be suffering from a different underlying condition and therefore your doctor may need to adjust your medications.
Treatment Video for BPPV Vertigo
Home remedies for vertigo.
The Epley maneuver for BPPV ( benign paroxysmal positional vertigo ):
A technique referred to as the Epley maneuver (see video) can help some people with vertigo that stems from BPPV. The maneuver aims to maneuver carbonate particles from the semicircular canals back to the otolith organs of the vestibule, where they’re less likely to cause symptoms within the internal ear.
For BPPV involving the left inner ear:
Sit on a bed and place a pillow behind the body where the shoulders are going to be lying down. Rotate the top 45 degrees to the left. Keeping the highest in position, lie on the rear with the shoulders on the pillow so that the highest tilts back slightly and touches the bed. Hold for 30 seconds. Rotate the highest to the right by 90 degrees and hold for 30 seconds. Turn the body and head, in their current positions, 90 degrees to the proper. Hold for 30 seconds. Slowly stay awake and lower the legs on the right-hand side of the bed. Hold for a couple of minutes while the interior ear makes adjustments.
Thank you for reading
Michael
Comments are welcome
When I started reading your article, I almost just diagnosed myself because I have been feeling some dizzy spells, fatigued and just out of balance. But I guess I have to check with my doctor first. I like the fact that there are natural alternatives to me medicine. I love natural remedies because you stand a chance of not causing another problem when you are trying to fix one
Hi Bogadi,
Thank you for your comments. Please don’t take any chances with your health and do see that doctor. There could be many reasons for your symptoms. I too always prefer natural remedies to prescription medication. I do have this thing about side effects.
All the best,
Michael