What is Vertigo?

It is the sensation that either you or the room is spinning in circles. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating and/or abnormal eye movements. This is different from dizziness, which is the term that describes a sensation of generalized lightheadedness. Both conditions have very different root causes.

Dizziness is a broad symptom with many possible causes. Healthcare providers often need additional symptoms to identify the underlying cause. Vertigo causes a false sensation of movement or spinning. Problems in the inner ear or brain usually cause this issue These symptoms can help healthcare providers narrow down the cause more quickly.

What Causes Vertigo?

The body senses our location in space by sensing the fluid level and movement of the water in our inner ear. This process is called proprioception, and distortions in it are the cause of conditions like motion sickness and vertigo. There is a wide variety of ways that proprioception can become distorted:

How Does Dehydration Cause Vertigo?

The inner ear contians fluid that helps control balance and body positioning. Dehydration can affect fluid balance and may trigger symptoms in some people. The lack of sufficient fluid can cause improper sensation by the nerve cells, resulting in the symptoms of vertigo.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

This is the most common form. Certain head movements often trigger vertigo symptoms. Turning your head quickly may worsen or trigger symptoms. Healthcare providers sometimes diagnose positional vertigo when symptoms follow specific movements. Some people experience it even when testing does not reveal a clear cause.

Inner Ear Inflammation

The space inside the skull that holds the inner ear is called the labyrinth. Bacterial or viral infection of the inner ear can cause a condition known as labyrinthitis, which is an inflammation of the inner ear. This condition creates sudden vertigo that is also associated with hearing loss.

Inflammation of the Vestibular Nerve

The vestibular nerve is responsible for sensing the positional information that the inner ear provides. Inflammation of this nerve can also produce the symptoms of vertigo. In some cases, this inflammation is caused by an autoimmune attack, as is the case in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Nerve Damage

Any damage to the vestibular nerve can cause the symptoms of vertigo. Brain or skull injuries can damage structures involved in balance and trigger symptoms as well. Falls, accidents, or head injurites may contribute to this damage. An acoustic neuroma is a tumour that effects the vestibular nerve. People with acoustic neuromas may experience one-sided tinnitus or hearing loss.

Decreased Blood Flow

Reduced blood flow to balance centers in the brain can trigger vertigo symptoms. People may also experience headaches, unsteadiness, or difficulty walking. Strokes and hemorrhages can reduce blood flow to these brain regions. This reduced circulation may disrupt normal balance and position sensing. Migraines can also affect blood flow and trigger symptoms. This connection may explain why some people experience this sensation during migraines.

Drug Side Effects

ome medications can affect the vestibular system. High doses or prolonged use may increase this risk. Medication-related vestibular problems can contribute to vertigo symptoms. Examples of these are: some antibiotics, aspirin, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, sedatives, tranquillizers, and some illegal drugs.

How Do You Get Rid of Vertigo?

Because of the many conditions that can cause vertigo, it is important to determine the correct underlying cause of the symptom to rule out more serious conditions. Ongoing vertigo symptoms require medical evaluation. Talk with a healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen over time. If you are experiencing double vision, weakness, difficulty speaking, abnormal eye movements, difficulty walking or an altered level of consciousness, please seek emergency medical attention.

Conventional Treatments

Depending on the underlying cause, conventional medicine will treat vertigo with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and anti-nausea medications. Healthcare providers can treat some cases of vertigo with repositioning maneuvers and exercises. These movements aim to improve vestibular function and reduce symptoms. Particle repositioning maneuvers move displaced inner ear crystals into the correct position. The Epley maneuver is one commone treatment approach for positional vertigo.

Natural Treatments of Vertigo

Hydration

The most common cause of vertigo is dehydration. This condition can quickly be fixed by drinking a few glasses of water or electrolyte solution and resting. Be sure to stay hydrated every day by drinking at least 8-10 cups of water daily, and increase your intake if you are sweating or exercising a lot.

GABA

One of the major inhibitory neurotransmitters involved in the vestibular nerve system is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Supplementation with this substance can help reduce vertigo, and especially help to reduce the associated vomiting.

Ginkgo Biloba

This herb helps to improve blood flow to the body’s periphery and the brain. This can help to increase circulation to the vestibular nerve and the parts of the brain that sense body positioning.

Hawthorn

Another herb that alters blood flow is Hawthorn. It dilates the blood vessels and helps to promote better circulation to all of the body tissues, including the brain.

Homeopathics For Vertigo

A number of homeopathic remedies can be used to treat vertigo. The specific remedy depends on your unique case. For the best possible remedy, please see your homeopath or naturopath for prescription of the remedy with the best fit for your case. If you cannot see a practitioner, combination homoepathics are often extremely useful for treatment, especially in cases where the underlying cause is not yet known.

Massage and Acupressure

Both full body and localized massage of the head have been found to help relieve the symptoms of vertigo. Acupressure stimulation can help regulate blood flow to the brain and reduce the symptoms. Acupuncture performed by a licensed acupuncturist or naturopath can also have great benefits to the treatment of vertigo.

Lifestyle and Movement

Stay still during attacks and avoid rapid body movements, especially of the head. Try to reduce your stress levels and get enough sleep.