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02-08-2024 Team Medicover public-health

Remedies and Treatment For Vertigo & Dizziness

Understanding the difference between vertigo and dizziness is crucial when exploring remedies for these conditions. Dizziness is a broad term covering sensations like lightheadedness and unsteadiness, whereas vertigo specifically involves a spinning sensation. Both can disrupt daily life, but effective remedies exist to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.

While dizziness can include vertigo as one of its types, not all dizziness involves vertigo. Therefore, while they are related, they are not interchangeable terms.

What is Dizziness?

A wide variety of factors can cause dizziness. You may feel dizzy if your blood pressure drops suddenly or if you are dehydrated. Dizziness can be caused by certain drugs or problems with your inner ear.

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Symptoms of Dizziness

Lightheadedness or feeling faint
False sense of spinning
Unsteadiness
Loss of balance
A feeling of floating or swimming

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a feeling of dizziness and spinning that occurs with or without any movement. It is mainly caused by the brain feeling the body is off-balanced even though it is not. Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease.

It has been linked to ear infections such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease, and vestibular neuritis. While both disorders are not the same, they both impact the ear by disrupting the brain's sense of balance.

Symptoms of Vertigo

Nausea or Vomiting
Abnormal eye movements
Headaches
Sweating
Double vision
Lack of coordination

What Is the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo?

Dizziness is a broad term that refers to a feeling of unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or faintness. It may feel like you're about to lose balance or consciousness. On the other hand, vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that gives the false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. This spinning can range from mild to severe and may last seconds to hours.

Vertigo is not a disease itself, itâ€™s a symptom of an underlying issue, usually related to the inner ear or brain.

Reasons for Dizziness and Vertigo

The reasons for vertigo and dizziness often overlap, but they stem from different systems:

Inner ear disorders (vestibular system)
Cardiovascular problems (e.g., low blood pressure, arrhythmias)
Neurological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, brain tumors)
Psychological conditions (e.g., anxiety, panic attacks)
Vision problems and muscle weakness in the elderly

Knowing the underlying reason is crucial to selecting the right treatment approach.

How to Diagnose Vertigo and Dizziness?

Diagnosing Vertigo and Dizziness involves a thorough assessment by your doctor. Initially, you'll discuss your symptoms and medications. During the physical examination, your doctor will observe your gait, balance, and the function of your central nervous system's primary nerves. If there's suspicion of a stroke, further diagnostic tests such as MRI or CT scans may be required.

Symptoms and Medications Discussion: Begin by detailing your symptoms and current medications.
Physical Examination: Your doctor will evaluate your gait, balance, and nerve function.
Diagnostic Tests: If stroke is suspected, MRI or CT scans may be recommended for further evaluation.

Treatment for Vertigo and Dizziness

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and symptoms. In many cases, vertigo and dizziness resolve on their own as the brain adjusts to inner ear changes and restores balance.

Medication: Dizziness medicine includes steroids for inner ear irritation and diuretics to reduce fluid buildup.
Vestibular Rehabilitation: Physical therapy that helps the nervous system compensate for inner ear issues by promoting balance and stability.

When to See a Doctor?

Persistent vertigo warrants medical attention to identify its underlying cause. While generally not harmful, seeking medical help is crucial if home remedies fail. Doctors can prescribe medications and therapies to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of falling. It's also advisable to maintain a well-lit, hazard-free environment to prevent accidental falls.

Home Remedies and Natural Medicine for Vertigo/Dizziness

Water

Dehydration is the most common cause of Dizziness and Vertigo. If you're fatigued or find yourself urinating less frequently while you're dizzy, drink water to keep your body hydrated.

Ginger Tea

Ginger root can better reduce the effects of vertigo than manual repositioning. Steep the ginger root in a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Drinking ginger tea two times a day will help with dizziness, nausea, and other vertigo symptoms.

Vitamin C

Consuming vitamin C will reduce the signs of vertigo. Try to have foods that are rich in Vitamin C; this includes oranges, grapefruits and strawberries.

Essential Oils

These are natural and affordable ways to treat vertigo and dizziness symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Some of the options for treating vertigo are Peppermint, ginger, lavender, and lemon.

Stress Management

Stress can be a trigger for some disorders causing vertigo, such as Meniere's disease. Start your day with meditation and deep breathing exercises to cut down on stress.

Proper Sleep

Vertigo might be caused by stress or a lack of sleep if you're experiencing it for the first time. A healthy adult should get at least seven hours of sleep per night. To attain this goal, most people only need up to eight hours in bed. Every day, go to bed and wake up at the same hour.

Yoga

Yoga can help you regain balance, focus, coordination, and mobility and teach your brain to combat vertigo's effects. Simple poses such as the Child's Pose or Corpse Pose, when accompanied by deep, regular breathing, can help to relax the body and mind. Yoga and deep breathing may also help some people avoid vertigo attacks by lowering anxiety.

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Lifestyle Tips to Prevent Vertigo and Dizziness

You can take steps daily to reduce your risk of vertigo attacks:

Avoid sudden head movements
Elevate your head while sleeping
Eat smaller, frequent meals to regulate blood sugar
Avoid alcohol and smoking
Stay active but avoid overexertion
Manage stress levels with yoga, meditation, or deep breathing
Wear proper footwear to prevent imbalance and injury

Frequently Asked Questions

To stop dizziness quickly, sit or lie down in a safe position and stay still. Drink water to prevent dehydration and breathe slowly to calm anxiety-related dizziness. If it persists, avoid driving or operating machinery and consult a doctor.

Yes, anxiety can lead to dizziness or vertigo by affecting breathing and blood flow to the brain. Panic attacks often mimic vertigo symptoms, including lightheadedness and unsteadiness. Managing stress through therapy and relaxation techniques can help significantly.

You should be concerned if vertigo is frequent, sudden, or accompanied by symptoms like vision problems, numbness, slurred speech, or chest pain. These signs could indicate serious conditions like stroke or heart problems and require urgent medical care.

Permanent cure for vertigo depends on the underlying cause. For BPPV, maneuvers like the Epley maneuver can completely resolve symptoms. Conditions like Meniereâ€™s disease or vestibular migraines may not be fully curable but can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes, medications, and therapy.

Vertigo can occur in children due to ear infections, head injuries, or other health conditions affecting the inner ear or balance system.

Yes, allergies can cause inflammation in the inner ear, leading to vertigo symptoms in some people.

During a vertigo attack, sit or lie down in a safe place, avoid sudden movements, and focus on deep breathing until the sensation passes.