Vertigo Patient Information

Vertigo is the medical name for the dizziness experienced by some individuals. It affects balance, perception and the force of gravity. In most cases, vertigo is a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

A large number of diseases can display initially as vertigo. Some people experience vertigo as the result of an inner ear disease, ear infection or a side effect of medication interactions.

Common Causes of Vertigo

• Dizziness comes and goes unpredictably. Nausea and vomiting may arise from the spinning sensation of the vertigo. On the other hand, the individual with a mild episode may only feel a bit light-headed.

  Some common causes of vertigo include Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's Syndrome, stroke, brain tumors, low blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, multiple sclerosis and migraine headache.

  The first two causes are quite common while the remaining conditions are much less so and are so easy to overlook.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

• Treatment for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) includes a non-surgical technique called Canalith Repositioning. The technique requires the affected individual to change the body and head position in a series of movements. Medical professionals theorize that the process jars crystals of calcium located in the vestibular labyrinth.

  Vertigo with a location in the vestibular system responds to motion arising from head movements. The lack of ability to maintain balance is rooted deep within the bony labyrinth-like structure of the temporal lobe and responds to the pull of gravity as well as ground vibrations. An expert commonly supervises the Canalith Repositioning. However, because it is easy to do, doctors may teach the patient and their families to do it themselves.

Medical Assistance

• Most people have one episode of vertigo and it never happens again. A second episode warrants a visit to the doctor. It usually receives a diagnosis of BPPV or Meniere disease. Both of these are easily to control with medication and manipulative therapy.

  Medical intervention is urgent if the dizziness (vertigo) comes on with one or more symptoms including severe or "unusual" headache, impaired vision, loss of hearing, speech difficulties, leg or arm weakness, fainting or feeling faint, trouble walking, sensations of tingling or numbness, chest pain and a racing or stagnating heart rate.

Four Common Myths

• Vertigo is a difficult symptom to relate to the underlying disorder. Because of the difficulty with diagnosis, its cause frequently results in misdiagnosis. There are four common myths, akin to folklore, about vertigo. These myths have survived the test of time:

  The first myth is that anxiety causes dizziness and relaxation will resolve this issue. In fact, if a person with vertigo becomes anxious, it is actually easy to link anxiety to the presence of the vertigo.

  The second myth is that the vertigo is all in your head because you have an overactive imagination. In fact, vertigo is all in your head; however, probably not because of your imagination. The symptoms of dizziness and unsteady movement are quite real. Whether it is BPPV (brain) or Meniere's (inner ear), the vertigo is spiraling from the area above the neck.

  The third myth is that vertigo is just part of the aging process. In fact, age has very little, if nothing, to do with vertigo. There are a number of causes, but age is not one of them. Some causes include injury, degenerative issues and a litany of other medical problems. Dizziness is not normal at any age. It is a sign that something is wrong.

  The fourth myth is that vertigo comes from a hormone imbalance. In fact, you could have a hormone imbalance due to any number of medical issues, but this imbalance rarely produces vertigo.

  Rather than consult the village medical man (or woman), it is important to get qualified medical assistance as soon as possible.

You Are Not Alone

• Many individuals have been successfully treated for vertigo. You are not the first person to experience the spinning dizziness of vertigo. Specialists are available who concentrate their practice of neurology on vertigo and its treatment. These neurologists dig deeper to find the underlying cause for the dizziness.

  Since dizziness is not normal, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Vertigo is very treatable when it is caught early and and its underlying cause is detected and treated.