Vertigo Causes And Treatments

Woman suffering from vertigo

Have you ever felt like everything around you is spinning? If you answered yes, chances are you experienced vertigo. Recurrence of vertigo might be a sign of other conditions, so it’s essential to find appropriate vertigo treatment.

In this article, we will look at the causes of this condition and its treatments. Read on to learn more about what you can do when you’re experiencing vertigo.

Vertigo Causes

We experience vertigo when something in our balance system is amiss. Because the system involving our balance is complex, there can be numerous reasons for vertigo. Here are some of the most probable causes:

Problems With Your Inner Ear

The inner ear contains sensors that help detect gravity. When you have a condition that’s affecting it, it will signal the brain contrary to what your eyes and other sensory nerves send. Your brain’s attempt to reconcile these conflicting signals is one of the causes of vertigo.

Various conditions affect your inner ear, including:

1.  Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

This condition is a kind of inner ear disorder where the changes in the position of your head lead to vertigo. The feeling of dizziness can range from mild to severe but only lasts for a few minutes.

2.  Meniere’s Disease

This disease results from having an abnormal amount of fluid in the inner ear. Vertigo caused by this condition can last 20 minutes to several hours. Some patients with Meniere’s disease also experience hearing loss.

3.  Migraine

Migraines are frequently accompanied by vertigo. Sudden movements while having a migraine can lead to dizziness. If you have blood circulation problems, you may experience vertigo after sitting up or standing too quickly.

4.  Infection

An ear infection is not only painful but can also cause vertigo. One of the common viral infections that can affect the inner ear is called vestibular neuritis. Damage to the vestibular nerve can make you feel disoriented and dizzy.

Poor Blood Circulation

Aside from inner ear complications, poor circulation can also cause vertigo. When your heart fails to pump enough blood to your brain, you can experience bouts of vertigo.

Poor circulation may be the result of problems with blood pressure. When your systolic blood pressure suddenly drops, you may experience lightheadedness and vertigo. This is usually experienced after sitting up or standing too quickly.

Certain heart conditions affecting blood circulation can also cause vertigo. A decrease in blood volume can directly affect your brain and inner ear, which play a role in maintaining your sense of balance.

Other Causes Of Vertigo

If your vertigo is not due to problems inside the inner ear or blood circulation, the trigger for your condition may be:

  • Certain medications
  • Anemia
  • Hypoglycemia
  • A neurological condition
  • An anxiety disorder
  • Dehydration
  • Hyperthermia or overheating

Vertigo Treatments

Vertigo treatments depend on what causes your vertigo. Thus, the first step in your treatment is determining your trigger.

In most cases, vertigo goes away without any need for medical intervention. However, if your vertigo is caused by a medical condition, undergoing treatment is a must.

Here are some of the treatments you can consider:

Vestibular Rehabilitation

One of the leading causes of vertigo is damage in the vestibular nerve found in the inner ear. Thus, this treatment addresses the damage in this area of the inner ear. The goal of vestibular rehabilitation is to strengthen the vestibular system. When you rehabilitate it, it is better able to send clear information to the brain.

Canalith Repositioning (Epley Maneuver)

The Epley Maneuver is used to address vertigo caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Your ears have canaliths (calcium crystals), which help give you a sense of balance. However, sometimes these canaliths can leave the chamber in your ear where they are usually located. Canalith repositioning involves moving the canalith particles found inside your ear back to where they should be placed. This process is done so that the particles won’t affect your sense of balance.

You can do this maneuver with the guidance of your doctor or physical therapist. You will likely start to feel better after a few treatments.

Medication

You can also take medication to address vertigo. If a viral infection causes your vertigo, you can take antibiotics to help with the feeling of dizziness.

Surgery

For severe cases of vertigo, you may need to undergo surgery. Your doctor will recommend this treatment option once other vertigo treatments fail to address the underlying cause.

Vertigo Treatments In Southeast Michigan

Your balance system is an intricate design involving many parts of the body. Consult with a neurologist or ENT specialist to diagnose the cause of your vertigo today.

A neuro-optometrist can help evaluate how your brain processes information. They can work hand-in-hand with a physical therapist to assess your balance.

If you’re looking for vertigo treatment in the greater Detroit area, look no further than Associates in Neurology. Our board-certified providers specialize in many conditions involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.

Take the first step toward getting vertigo treatment by scheduling a consultation with us! Our neurologists are conveniently located in Farmington Hills, Novi, Southfield, Howell, and Brighton to serve your needs. To set up an appointment, call us at (248) 478-5512 or use our online appointment request form.