What Causes Vertigo? Symptoms, Treatments, and Self Care

TheIndonesia.id - Vertigo is a sensation that you or anything around you is moving or spinning. The feeling of vertigo may be barely noticeable, or very severe that interferes with your daily activity, making it hard to keep your balance. 

Attacks of vertigo might develop suddenly and last for a few seconds, or they may last much longer. Severe vertigo can last for days, making your normal life very difficult.

Besides feeling yourself spinning, several symptoms developed by vertigo are loss of balance which makes it difficult to stand or walk. You can also feel sick and dizzy. 

What causes vertigo?

Vertigo is commonly caused by the problem of the balance system located in the inner ear, although other problems in certain parts of the brain can cause it.

Here are the conditions that caused vertigo

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a head certain movement that could trigger vertigo

2. Migraines or a severe headache

3. Labyrinthitis, an inner ear infection

4. Vestibular neuronitis, an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which runs into the inner ear. It sends messages to the brain that help to control balance

Depending on the condition causing vertigo, you may experience additional symptoms such as a high temperature, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), and hearing loss.

How to treat vertigo?

Some cases of vertigo can heal themselves over time without treatment. However, severe vertigo can last for days. Some people even have series of episodes of vertigo repeated for many months or even years.

There are specific treatments for some causes of vertigo known as Eply manoeuvre, a series of simple head movements to treat BPPV. 

Early stages of vertigo can be treated by consuming medication, such as Prochlorperazine and some antihistamines. 

Many people with vertigo also benefit from vestibular rehabilitation training (VRT), which is a series of exercises for people with dizziness and balance problems. 

Self Care

There are things that you might do yourself to help relieve the symptom of vertigo. Here are the treatments you can do.

• Do a simple exercise to correct your symptoms
• Sleep with your head slightly raised on two or more pillows
• Get up slowly when getting out of bed and sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before standing
• Avoid bending down to pick up items
• Avoid extending your neck
• Move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities