Vertigo What is it and what causes it?

Question

Is anyone familiar with this disorder? Please elaborate on this if you would. Thank you

Answer 1

Actually, dizziness and vertigo are different. Dizziness is a general term for spatial disorientation, while vertigo is an illusion of motion-usually spinning. Vertigo can make your life miserable, and the majority of cases go untreated. Vertigo affects at least five percent of adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, a majority of people 70 years of age and older report dizziness and balance problems, and balance-related falls account for more than one-half of accidental deaths in the elderly. In one study of 65- to 75-year-olds, one-third reported that dizziness and imbalance have a negative impact on quality of life.

The most common causes of vertigo are inner-ear problems: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, and Meniere's syndrome. But it is also a common symptom with migraine and occurs in at least 50 percent of patients with multiple sclerosis.

BPPV (the most common cause of vertigo) involves intense, brief episodes of vertigo associated with a change in the position of your head, such as when sitting up in bed. Most physicians-including some neurologists-prescribe meclizine (Antivert) for vertigo, regardless of the cause, it provides symptomatic relief, particularly for associated nausea, but it does not address the underlying problem-the breaking loose of normal calcium carbonate crystals in your ear. These crystals can fall into the wrong part of your inner ear canal and stimulate sensors, causing vertigo. Doctors don't know what causes BPPV, though it may be due to aging or head trauma. Thankfully, there is a simple cure for BPPV, canalith repositioning, in which the doctor maneuvers your head so that the particles shift and can be reabsorbed into your body's fluids.

Vestibular neuritis, which may be caused by a virus, is an inflammation in the inner ear that causes sudden, intense vertigo along with nausea and vomiting. The episodes can last for days and sometimes require bed rest. Vestibular neuritis usually clears up on its own, although balance-retraining exercises-which you learn from a physical therapist-can speed recovery.

Meniere's disease produces excessive fluid buildup in your inner ear that causes sudden episodes of vertigo lasting 30 minutes or longer. Other symptoms include a feeling of fullness in the ear, buzzing or ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and fluctuating hearing loss. The cause of Meniere's disease is unknown. Treatment usually involves reducing your body's retention of fluids through diuretics or a low-salt diet.

To manage vertigo:

▸ Be aware of the possibility of losing your balance, which can lead to injury.

▸ Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy.

▸ Avoid driving a car if you experience frequent dizziness.

▸ Use good lighting if you get out of bed at night.

▸ Walk with a cane for stability.

▸ Avoid using caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, all of which restrict your blood vessels and worsen symptoms.

▸ Learn the physical techniques. We teach patients to perform the particle-repositioning maneuver for recurrent BPPV. And vestibular exercises are helpful if there is damage to the inner ear, such as occurs with vestibular neuritis.


In rare cases, vertigo can be a sign of a more serious neurological problem. Vertigo can be the initial symptom of stroke, so people should talk to their doctor if they are older and have vascular risk factors, such as a prior stroke, hypertension, or diabetes. You should also see your doctor if your vertigo is accompanied by:

▸ A new, different, or severe headache

▸ Blurred or double vision

▸ Slurred speech

▸ Hearing loss

▸ Leg or arm weakness

▸ Loss of consciousness

▸ Falling or difficulty walking

▸ Numbness or tingling

▸ Chest pain or rapid or slow heart rate

Don't ignore vertigo or try to live with it. Let your neurologist help get you back on an even keel.

Answer 2

Vertigo is a sense of feeling "dizzy". It has many causes, and is not a disorder unto itself. My former mother-in-law experiences vertigo due to neuralgia (a dying or dead nerve) in her inner ear. My ex-husband experienced vertigo due to a brain tumor. Vertigo can be the result of something as simple as a hangover, or as complex as a stroke. It can be a temporary or a permanent condition. If you are experiencing vertigo that isn't on a very temporary basis, it is a good idea to see a doctor. It could be nothing, but it could be something that, if caught sooner rather than later, can be fixed.
Blessings!

Answer 3

Yes, it's caused by tight neck muscles. When your neck muscles are tight they restrict everything going in and out of your head, including the blood. When there is a reduced blood flow to the brain you will also end up with a lowered oxygen level there. You will know the oxygen level has dropped by feeling very tired. If the level drops more you will get dizzy, vertigo. If it drops more you will pass out. The neck muscles go to the top of your head. The nerves for your eyes go to the back of your head passing right next to the neck muscles. When the muscles are tight they can press into the nerves to cause you pains on the back of your eyes. When the pressure is increased it causes your pupils to dilate to make you sensitive to light or to make things go blurry. To get rid of these problems you have to free up your neck muscles and here's how to do that: Neck Put your hands alongside your head so your thumbs are on the front of the muscle under your ear and your fingers are on the back of the muscle behind your neck. Squeeze your thumb and fingers together and hold. Relax your body. When your fingers and thumb touch, about two minutes, slowly lower your head as far as you can, release the pressure but hold your neck lowered for another 30 seconds. For best results relax your body first by taking a deep breath and exhaling then remain this relaxed.

Answer 4

vertigo is an balance disorder. Basically it is dizziness, but a specific kind of dizziness. it can cause headaches and vomiting..it can also be so bad that the person has trouble standing and or walking. there are 2 ways for a person to have vertigo... one is the person feels like they are moving when in fact they are not, and the other is the person feels like the world is moving around them while they sit there. It can be caused by an "inner ear" problem (part of the brain that is attached to the ear), or it can be drug/toxin induced. It can also be caused by neck injury known as "whiplash", in this case the vertigo can also come with the sensation of "seeing stars". This is because of severe damage to the ligaments in the neck and should be reported to a doctor ASAP. There are several treatments including medicines and physical rehab. There are also machines much like "pacemakers" that can be used in extreme cases.

Answer 5

Vertigo is a fancy term for dizziness when there is no motion. Spinning, loss of balance, etc. when sitting/standing still. There are a few problems that contribute to this --most common is the inner ear but nerve and blood flow also contribute to this problem.

Try meclizine which is available over the counter. Helps alot

Answer 6

vertigo

Answer 7

its basicly a dizzy spell, its caused by things like blood flow, and inner ear problems.