Feeling dizzy or as though you or your surroundings are spinning can be a disconcerting or even frightening experience. These symptoms can be associated with vertigo, which is caused by an inner ear problem.
In this blog, the board certified ear, nose and throat doctors at New York ENT explain what types of vertigo treatment are available.
What is vertigo?
Vertigo is characterized by the sensation of feeling dizzy or off balance. You might feel as though you’re spinning, the world around you is spinning, or you’re looking down from a great height.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, and usually occur when your head position changes. The following are some common symptoms of vertigo:
- A feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning or that you’re tilting, swaying or are unbalanced
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
- Feeling nauseated
- Hearing loss
- A feeling of fullness in your ears
- Jerking eye movements
What are the causes of vertigo?
Vertigo is usually caused by a problem with the balance organs in the inner ear.
The following are some of its most common causes:
- BPPV – Benign paroxysmal positional (BPPV) vertigo occurs when calcium particles build up in the canals of the inner ear. This interferes with your inner ear’s ability to send signals to your brain about your movements and balance.
- Meniere’s disease – A buildup of fluid and changing pressure in your inner ear can cause vertigo.
- A viral infection – This can cause inflammation around the nerves of the inner ear that help your body sense balance.
- Head injury
- Ear surgery
- Acoustic neuroma – This benign growth is on the main nerve leading from your inner ear to your brain.
- Migraine headache
- Bed rest
What are vertigo treatment options?
Vertigo treatment may include the following, depending on what’s causing it:
- Epley maneuver – This type of exercise helps treat BPPV by moving the calcium crystals in your inner ear back to where they belong.
- Prescription medication – Medication can help relieve some symptoms, and if your vertigo is caused by an infection or inflammation, antibiotics or steroids may help. In addition, diuretics can help reduce fluid buildup associated with Meniere’s disease.
- Physical therapy – This can help strengthen the vestibular system, which sends signals to your brain about your head and body movements relative to gravity.
- Surgery – Surgery can correct an underlying problem such as a neck or brain injury that’s causing your vertigo.
If you’re experiencing dizziness or other symptoms associated with vertigo, make an appointment today with the ear, nose, and throat doctors at New York ENT. We’ll help determine whether you have vertigo, pinpoint its cause, and devise an effective vertigo treatment plan.