Vertigo

Description

‘Vertigo’ is a problem in the inner ear or the brain with a feeling of head spinning and loss of balance.

Vertigo is a medical term used to describe feeling off-balance. It’s a condition that makes a person feel as if the world around them is spinning. This sensation can hamper the everyday life of people affected by it and performing a task as simple as standing up may feel extremely difficult.

The person cannot function properly and suffers from anxiety and depression.

TYPES:

Peripheral vertigo
Central vertigo

Causes

Vertigo is temporary due to some illness and Long-term as a result of psychiatric problems.

It can be due to:

Sometimes looking down from a height.
As a result of ear surgery.
Due to a migraine.
Head injury.
Side-effects of certain medicines.
Prolonged bed rest.
Stroke

Risk factors

Common predisposing factors of vertigo are:

Age over 50,
Female gender,
Head injury,
Prolonged treatment with anti-depressants or anti-psychotics,
Any medical condition affecting balance,
Having a family member that has vertigo,
Emotional distress,

Symptoms

Most common symptoms of vertigo include:

Spinning,
Tilting,
Unbalanced,
Inclination towards one side,
Nausea,
Vomiting,
Headache,
Sweating,
Jerky eye movements,
Tinnitus (ringing in ears).

Diagnosis

To reach a diagnosis, your doctor will take your detailed medical and family history, will closely inspect your ear, perform a detailed ear examination, and ask about your symptoms, special times of occurrence, aggravating and relieving factors, medical and non-medical therapeutical measures taken to resolve your symptoms, and thorough inspection of your eyes.

Management

Symptomatic treatment to overcome nausea and vomiting by Antiemetic drugs.
For Migraine headache Antihistamines.
Antibiotics or antiviral drugs for an underlying ear infection.
In extreme conditions, surgery of inner ear or parts of the brain is necessary.

PRECAUTIONS

Get up slowly after waking up or sitting up from a lying down position.
Avoid climbing heights and driving when being dizzy.
Do not look up suddenly or jerk up your head.
If you are dis-balanced while walking, use a walking stick to prevent falling.
Good light at night to help see clearly.

When to consult a doctor?

You are recommended to consult your doctor if your condition is worsening, you are experiencing extreme difficulty in carrying out your daily tasks, you are getting injured because of not being able to balance yourself, or the frequency and severity of your episodes is significantly increasing.