Vertigo
Vertigo occurs when you see your surroundings spinning or feel like you are spinning though you stay still.
Symptoms
- Tilting and swaying.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Hearing loss or ringing in the ear.
- Light and sound sensitivity.
- Double vision.
- Shortness of breath.
- Weakness, numbness of the arm or leg, or inability to walk without assistance.
Causes
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is caused by dislodged otolith or calcium in the inner ear, causing increased dizziness when the head moves. The duration of spinning is usually very brief. Your doctor will perform canalith repositioning to move the calcium speck into a place it does not induce the spinning sensation.
- Meniere disease is an abnormality associated with a fluid buildup in the inner ear of unknown cause. One ear is usually affected. Symptoms may last for several minutes to hours. You may develop hearing loss or ringing in the ear.
- Vestibular neuritis results from infections of the vestibular nerve controlling the sense of balance, leading to severe vertigo to the degree you cannot walk or stand.
- Vestibular migraine causes migraine-related vertigo. You may have a visual aura and light sensitivity.
- Other brain conditions such as stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and brain hemorrhage can cause vertigo.
Diagnosis
- History taking: Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, how long they last, what triggers them, and accompanying symptoms to identify the cause of vertigo.
- Physical exam: Your doctor will check your eye movement, hearing, gait, and balance.
Treatment
Treatments vary, depending on the cause, including medications, avoiding triggers, and restoring the balance function of the inner ears. So that patients can resume their daily activities and vertigo-induced incidents prevented.
When to seek medical care
- Seek immediate medical care if you have vertigo associated with double vision, trouble speaking, arm or leg weakness, chest pain, or constant vomiting.
- If symptoms persist, see an ENT doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
