How to Prevent Vertigo

Vertigo is often thought to be any type of dizziness, but actual vertigo is a true loss of balance usually due to an inner ear problem. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis, and Meniere's disease are its most common causes. Each of these has its own methods of treatment and prevention that can help alleviate the dizziness and nausea associated with vertigo. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

BPPV

• 1

  Perform eye exercises. These include looking up and down, side-to-side, and from near to far. Begin slowly and gradually build up speed.

• 2

  Move your head to the front and back and turn it from side to side beginning slowly and building up speed.

• 3

  Bend at the waist to touch the floor and twist from left to right.

• 4

  Shrug your shoulders and move them in a circular motion.

• 5

  Use a ball to help develop better hand-eye coordination. Throw it from one hand to the other both above your head and down around your legs.

• 6

  Change body positions. Move from sitting to standing, turn around in a circle, walk with a companion while tossing the ball back and forth, and walk forwards and backwards while focusing on a fixed point.

• 7

  Ly on your back and roll your head from side-to-side. Perform the same motion separately with your whole body too. Also sit straight up from this position as well as from lying on your side.

• 8

  Attempt these exercises with eyes closed as well.

Labyrinthitis

• 9

  See your doctor who can prescribe antibiotics to help alleviate the symptoms of vertigo. Labyrinthitis causes irritation and sometimes swelling in your inner ear and medication may be the best way to treat the symptoms associated with this.

• 10

  Keep still, don't try to read, and avoid bright lights while suffering a bout with vertigo caused by labyrinthitis. Avoiding these activities should lessen the symptoms.

• 11

  Slowly resume normal activity after an attack to allow your body to gradually adjust to movement again. Move gingerly, not making any sudden or sharp movements that can trigger a recurrence of vertigo.

Meniere's disease

• 12

  Eat a low-salt diet. This can help decrease the amount of fluid built up in your ear and prevent problems from occurring. You'll also want to pay attention to the other foods you eat and see if there's any link between your attacks and specific foods. If so, avoid those foods.

• 13

  Exercise regularly. In addition to helping you stay in shape, exercise can also reduce stress, another trigger to vertigo caused by Meniere's disease.

• 14

  Quite smoking if you're a smoker.

• 15

  Take prescribed medicine if and when you feel an attack coming on. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help alleviate the symptoms of vertigo.