Do you get Vertigo?

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Some people believe Vertigo is a mystery or just from the famed film starring Jimmy Stewart. But it actually is a real disorder. Vertigo occurs when a feeling overcomes you that you or your environment is moving or spinning. It differs from dizziness in that vertigo describes an illusion or movement. It's a sense of rotation, rocking, that which can be experienced when someone is perfectly still.

If you experience this sensation of spinning or have these dizzy spells, it's important to understand it's not just simply dizziness. Vertigo describes an illusion of movement. When you feel as if you're moving, it's called subjective vertigo and the perception that you surrounding are moving is called objective vertigo. 

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What causes Vertigo?

The cause of Vertigo is often from an inner ear problem. Some of the disorders are:

  1. BPPV: This stands for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and occurs when calcium particles clump up in the canals of the inner ear. It then sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity, which is strongly associated with balance. It can be associated with age and also may occur for not reason.
  2. Vestibular neuritis: Another inner ear problem related to a viral infection. This causes inflammation of the ear around the nerves important for helping the body sense balance, which leads to vertigo.
  3. Meniere's disease: Believed to be causes by a buildup of fluid and changing pressure in the ear. It can cause episodes of vertigo along with ringing in the ear and hearing loss. 
  4. Head or neck injury
  5. Medications related to ear damage
  6. Migraines
  7. Brain issues such as stroke or tumor

Signs & Symptoms of Vertigo

  • Triggered by a change in the position of your head
  • Spinning
  • Tilting
  • Swaying
  • Unbalanced
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Ringing in the ea

At Home Remedies for Relieving Vertigo

Before you try to treat Vertigo yourself, it's important to see your doctor, to understand what type you have and which ear has the problem. But there are at-home remedies for vertigo relief. Your doctor should be able to show you how to perform these exercises.

1. Epley Maneuver

  • Sit on the edge of your bed. Turn your head 45 degrees to the left. Place a pillow under you so when you lie down, it rests between your shoulders rather than under your head.
  • Quickly lie down, face up, with your head on the bed (still at the 45-degree angle). The pillow should be under your shoulders. Wait 30 seconds (for any vertigo to stop).
  • Turn your head half-way (90 degrees) to the right without raising it. Wait 30 seconds.
  • Turn your head and body on its side to the right, so you're looking at the floor. Wait 30 seconds.
  • Slowly sit up, but remain on the bed a few minutes.

Do these movements three times before going to bed each night, until you've gone 24 hours without dizziness.

2. Semont Maneuver

  • Sit on the edge of your bed. Turn your head 45 degrees to the right.
  • Quickly lie down on your left side. Stay there for 30 seconds.
  • Quickly move to lie down on the opposite end of your bed. Do not change the direction of your head. Keep it at a 45-degree angle and lie for 30 seconds. Look at the floor.
  • Return slowly to sitting and wait a few minutes.

Reverse these moves for the right ear and perform them t times per day until it's been 24 hours without vertigo.

3. Foster Maneuver

  • Kneel down and look up at the ceiling for a few seconds.
  • Touch the floor with your head, tucking your chin so your head goes toward your knees. Wait for any vertigo to stop (about 30 seconds).
  • Turn your head in the direction of your affected ear (i.e. if you feel dizzy on your left side, turn to face your left elbow). Wait 30 seconds.
  • Quickly raise your head so it's level with your back while you're on all fours. Keep your head at that 45-degree angle. Wait 30 seconds.
  • Quickly raise your head so it's fully upright, but keep your head turned to the shoulder of the side you're working on. Then slowly stand up.

You may have to repeat this a few times for relief. After the first round, rest 15 minutes before trying a second time.

Follow Up

After completing these exercises, throughout the day be sure not to tilt your health too far up or down. After a week, if you still continue to have vertigo, talk to your doctor again and ask about next steps. There's a chance you're not performing exercises correctly, or the cause of dizziness could be from somewhere else.