Vertigo is a feeling of dizziness or spinning that virtually everyone has experienced, even if it’s just for an instant. It could happen when you get up too quickly, and your vestibular system momentarily loses orientation.
For some people, though, vertigo is a more frequent problem. It isn’t a disease itself, but rather a symptom that could result from illnesses, injuries, or medications. Most of the time, the issues are with the balance organs in your inner ear, but you could also have an issue with sensory nerve pathways.
The vertigo specialists at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates can help you get to the bottom of your vertigo condition. Effective treatment requires accurate diagnosis, and that means partnering with the best ear, nose, and throat professionals in the Lawrence and Ottawa areas.
When your world starts to spin, the most frequent culprit is a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Despite the complex name, it describes the dizziness that occurs when your inner ear reports sudden position changes, or when the balance organs malfunction.
It’s often unknown why BPPV starts, but it can follow a head injury, migraines, or conditions that affect your inner ear.
However, not all causes of vertigo involve BPPV. Some of the other causes are:
Vertigo can result from many other conditions too, including as a side effect of medications taken for other illnesses.
There are medical treatments for vertigo, including drug therapies. However, a few lifestyle changes can help to ease the frequency and intensity of your vertigo episodes. Here are some of the changes that might help you, depending on the cause of your vertigo.
Tiny crystals in your inner ear can become displaced, affecting inner ear function. A series of slow, controlled movements can help settle these crystals, called canaliths, into their proper location. You can learn to do these movements at home.
Any time you can avoid sudden or jerky motions, you may sidestep the disturbance of canaliths. This may rule out some strenuous activities and exercises. Replace the activity with yoga, and plan movements such as getting out of bed or a chair to avoid starting the vertigo sensation.
A type of physical therapy called vestibular rehabilitation can help you reduce your sensitivity to motion. Once you learn the exercise routine, you can perform it regularly to maintain its benefits.
Eating balanced amounts of food at regular intervals each day helps to stabilize the fluid of your inner ear. Hydration is key, including extra liquids in hot temperatures. Avoiding high levels of sugar and salt, key to many healthy eating plans, also benefit those with vertigo.
Contact Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates by calling the nearest office when vertigo becomes a problem for you. A solution may be closer than you think, so book your visit now.
