The symptom of vertigo can be one of the most debilitating symptoms on the planet. Vertigo can cause you to feel as though the entire world is spinning. Vertigo is not the same thing as typical dizziness. With vertigo, you have a false sense of spinning or moving even while standing still. When you are experiencing vertigo, every movement becomes difficult. The sensation can actually cause you to feel nauseous and sick to your stomach.
The causes of vertigo can be wide and varied, and range from relatively harmless to very serious. Most causes of vertigo can be traced back to problems with the inner ear, otherwise known as the vestibular system. The inner ear is responsible for recognizing motion and the various movements of our head. When any part of the inner ear is not working correctly, vertigo is often the result. Some specific problems that can cause vertigo include:
- Inflamed Areas of the Inner Ear
- BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
- Meniere’s disease
- Migraines
- Hemorrhages or Stroke
- Motion Sickness
Each of the conditions mentioned above are possible causes of vertigo. Anytime that you feel the sensation of vertigo you should consult your physician. While inflammation of the inner ear is generally something that will go away on its own, hemorrhages or stroke symptoms are a serious medical emergency. It is always best to be safe rather than sorry when you’re dealing with this type of serious symptom. In the vast majority of cases, vertigo will not be a serious medical emergency even though it may feel that way to the patient.
Treatments for vertigo generally depends upon the suspected cause. If an inflammation of the inner ear is the suspected cause, treatment may range from antibiotics to absolutely nothing. Most inflammations of the inner ear are viral in nature and will get better on their own. Occasionally, the doctor may find that the inflammation is caused by bacteria. In this situation, the doctor will often prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection.
Another common medicine that is prescribed for vertigo is Dramamine. Dramamine is often used to help with car sickness and other motion related problems. With vertigo, Dramamine can help with the nausea and vomiting.
In most cases where vertigo is a prominent symptom, Doctors will first rule out a more serious potential cause. While vertigo is not generally a symptom of stroke, in rare cases it can be.
Another very common cause of vertigo is anxiety or panic attack. When someone has generalized anxiety disorder and experiences an inner ear problem, they often will continue to have vertigo long after the situation has resolved itself. The reason for this is because sufferers of generalized anxiety disorder tend to re-create symptoms that have caused them fear or anxiety in the past. Vertigo can certainly cause major panic in anybody.
While vertigo is a scary experience, the vast majority of people who experience it will not have lasting effects from it. It is something that we experience, and then get over in a few weeks or so. Sometimes it only lasts for a couple of days. Occasionally, vertigo can linger and be a major issue for a very long time. In these situations, there are things that the doctor can do to help the patient deal easier. The key is to find the cause, and then treat it accordingly.
