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Vertigo Emergency Treatment

Anyone can experience dizziness every now and then - if you get up to quickly or are a little dehydrated - but experiencing frequent dizziness could be a sign of vertigo. Vertigo is characterized by dizziness, accompanied by lightheadedness or loss of balance and a prolonged feeling that the room is spinning.

  1. Causes

    • Vertigo is usually caused by vestibular disorders when the canalith falls into the inner ear canal. Psychological, cardiovascular and neurological disorders can also cause vertigo.

    Symptoms

    • Vertigo is the sudden onset of severe dizziness, a feeling that the room's spinning, or that you're being pulled towards the floor, or back and forth to either side of the room. Some people also experience nausea and inner ear pressure. These sensations usually worsen if you move your head, change position while lying down or change position in general. Symptoms can last between a few seconds to a few minutes. In cases where inner ear pressure is experienced, the pressure can sometimes last for a few days.

    Canalith Repositioning Procedure

    • The canalith repositioning procedure is used to relieve the symptoms of vertigo. The procedure works by repositioning the head so the canalith moves to the part of your ear where it will no longer cause dizziness. Canalith reposition procedure involves moving the head in various positions and is performed in your doctor's office.

    Recovery and Rehabilitation

    • Vestibular rehabilitation, a balance retraining exercise program, helps patients learn techniques to reduce the feeling of dizziness and improve overall balance. Your audiologist may offer a vestibular rehabilitation program, but such programs are more commonly performed by specialized physical therapists.

    Prevention

    • There are a few measures you can take to try to help prevent the onset of vertigo. Since vertigo is often caused by inner ear disorders, always treat colds, sinus congestion, flu, ear infections and any other respiratory infections that can affect the inner ear. If you're ill, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. For immediate relief, lay down and be as still as possible.

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