Early vertigo treatment could help you if you are you experiencing recurrent dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness and unsteadiness. Or you may be feeling that you are spinning and whirling around frequently?
Vertigo is one of the most common health problems in adults. The sensation of movement and the perception of movement are results of a disturbance in balance or equilibrium. But vertigo is actually not a disease but only a symptom. It occurs as result of disorder in the peripheral and central vestibular system which is responsible for integrating sensory stimuli and movement and for keeping objects in visual focus as the body moves.
Vertigo spells may last a few seconds to a few minutes which are intermittent, usually as a result of a change in position or sudden movement of the head such as rolling over in bed and getting out of bed.
Severe vertigo can lead to irritability, loss of self-esteem, depression and injuries from falls. These complications can really be disabling and may cause permanent damage. So before your vertigo becomes severe, you need to address some of the symptoms from the beginning.
It is very important to diagnose the cause of vertigo or dizziness in its early stages to rule out any possible serious ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, hemorrhage, or tumors. Apart from your clinical history, there are several examinations you need to undergo to diagnose your real condition.
These are:
- Physical examination such as blood pressure and heart rate
- Neurological examination such as facial, eye movements, audiometry, vestibular nerves and muscles, strength, coordination, balance and walking tests.
- Blood tests which include a complete blood count (CBC) and kidney and thyroid panels to rule out systemic diseases (e.g., kidney disease, hypothyroidism).
- Imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
The treatment for vertigo highly depends on the identifying and eliminating the underlying cause. For vestibular disorders, a vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) can be ideal. It is a type of physical therapy to minimize dizziness, improve balance, and prevent falls by restoring normal function of the vestibular system.
Vertigo which is caused by migraine can often be treated with medication. Surgery, radiation or medication may be required for vertigo caused by cerebrovascular diseases (i.e. stroke), tumors, and multiple sclerosis.
Vertigo is the feeling of whirling or spiraling that takes place as a result of a disorder to a person’s balance. Subjective vertigo happens when a person feels dizzy from within while Objective vertigo is when the person feels that the things around him move.
Vertigo is, in fact, a symptom, it is not a disease on its own. It is a disorder in the vestibular system. The vestibular system is responsible for joining together the stimuli of the senses and a person’s movements and it is also responsible in keeping the object in imagery focus, even if the rest of the body part is moving.
Vertigo can be one of the symptoms of Meniere’s disease. Patients with this disease exhibit hearing loss and feels pressure in their ears. They also suffer from tinnitus, a state of severe imbalance. Vertigo is the most dramatic and the most disruptive symptom of Menieres disease. When vertigo attacks, the patient should immediately head to see his doctor for treatment as it usually hits in succession within a short period of time.
If you experience a vertigo attack, you would suddenly feel wobbly and perceive all the things around you are spinning. Your eyes can also beat from side to side. You will also feel nauseous and sweaty. It would feel as if you are riding a real shaky ship amidst a hurricane for hours.
Meniere’s disease binds vertigo to the definite hearing loss of a person. Although research shows an average of 0.01% to 0.07% people attains this disease. People above 40 are more prone to it. For people younger than that, cases are considered rare. It is also true with children.
If you have vertigo, chances are, you have contracted Meniere’s disease. You should not waste any time and head for treatment immediately. Vertigo is one symptom that should never be taken for granted. Once it strikes, take a quick rest and immediately set and appointment with your physician.
If vertigo does lead to Meniere’s disease, don’t fret. Mineare’s disease can be easily cured. Just heed your doctor’s advice and recovery would be quick and easy.
Most people learn through experience that certain activities will make them dizzy and they learn to avoid them. For example, if reading in a car produces motion sickness, an individual leaves reading materials for after the trip.
Changes to the diet can also cut down on episodes of dizziness in susceptible people. Relaxation techniques can help ward off tension and anxiety that can cause dizziness. These techniques can help minimize or even prevent dizziness for people with chronic diseases. For example, persons with Méniére’s disease may avoid episodes of vertigo by leaving salt, alcohol, and caffeine out of their diets. Reducing blood cholesterol can help diminish arteriosclerosis and indirectly treat dizziness.
Some cases of dizziness cannot be prevented. Acoustic neuromas, for example, are not predictable or preventable. When the underlying cause of dizziness cannot be discovered, it may be difficult to recommend preventive measures. Alternative approaches designed to rebalance the body’s energy flow, such as acupuncture and constitutional homeopathy, may be helpful in cases where the cause of dizziness cannot be pinpointed.
Follow these steps:
- Stop whatever you are doing. Nothing is as important as your health and state of mind.
- Sit down with your head between your legs. This will help the blood flow to your brain.
- Breathe deeply and slowly. Your brain is starving for oxygen so you need to make sure you take in large breaths but do them slowly so you don’t hyperventilate.
- Respond to others with simple nods or shakes of the head if you are not alone. This assures you not only stay alert, but it assists others in knowing what you need.
- Keep a running dialogue with yourself. Even if it’s a fight to stay awake, speaking with yourself does help to a degree. – Stay seated once the worst has passed.
- Lift your head slowly, if you feel any dizziness go back to putting your head between your legs. Repeat until you no longer feel dizzy.
- Get up slowly and carefully. Accept any offers for assistance if you wish, but return to your seated position if you feel another attack coming on.
- Take small sips of water until all symptoms (such as cold sweats, dry mouth, and nausea) have dissipated.
If, for some reason, it would be unsafe to stop and sit down where you are (for example, while crossing the street) just walk slowly with your head down and breathe deeply until you can get to a safe place (such as a sidewalk).
However, if you experience extreme tunnel vision this is a warning sign that you are about to faint. In that case, just stop and breathe deeply until the tunnel vision dissipates as someone who is standing is much less likely to be hit than someone who has fainted.
Source: Yahoo Answers and interesting tips from WikiHow