When you feel like your head is spinning or like you are not well-balanced, you could be experiencing vertigo. It is important to understand your symptoms because dizziness is an underlying symptom of other illnesses and conditions, but not necessarily this one. Headaches can also accompany vertigo, but headaches also indicate many other things. Here are a couple of things that will help you better understand vertigo.
Symptoms
A person who is experiencing vertigo feels a sudden spinning sensation either within their body or outside of it. It is not the same as feeling dizzy. Usually, the spinning is caused by standing up or sitting down way too fast. These symptoms alone are harmless because you simply need to take it easier next time you stand up or sit down. If your symptoms are followed by nausea, frequent vomiting, and double vision, then you should get it checked out.
Causes
The most common cause of vertigo is an inner ear infection. When your ears are clogged, it tends to throw off your balance and it leads to the spinning sensation. If calcium has built up in your ear canals, you are more likely to experience vertigo. There is also what is known as cervical vertigo. When the spinal cord is damaged, you are at an increased risk of experiencing vertigo. If you suffer from arthritis, have had surgery or experience a trauma to the neck, blood flow in this area becomes compromised. As degeneration begins to occur and the pressure on the spinal cord begins to build, it blocks the blood flow to the brain and inner ear. Vertigo is a standalone condition. This means that it is not a symptom of an underlying disease.
Treatment
If vertigo is only happening because you sat down or stood up too quickly, the recommended treatment is simply to sit down or stand up again at a slower rate. If your symptoms are preventing you from completing your everyday tasks, then it is time to see a medical professional. When the vertigo is due to fluid buildup, water pills may be prescribed, and steroids may help reduce inner ear inflammation. For cervical vertigo, your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants or analgesics.
Who is Affected by Vertigo?
Vertigo is not a condition that discriminates. It affects both men and women as well as the young and old. Once a person hits 65 years old, they can experience more frequent episodes. For a person under the age of 65, vertigo can occur in infrequent, short spurts at random moments. It is usually short-term, too. Once the condition enters long-term spurts, it is time to get checked out by a doctor for an examination.
If you are someone who experiences dizziness, it is a good idea to pay attention to the frequency of the episodes. It could be vertigo, or it could be something else like high blood pressure. To be sure, consult with your medical professional.
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