How long does vertigo typically last. What are the common causes of vertigo. Which treatments are most effective for managing vertigo symptoms. When should you seek medical attention for vertigo. How can you prevent vertigo episodes at home.

Understanding Vertigo: More Than Just Dizziness

Vertigo is often misunderstood as simple dizziness, but it’s a distinct sensation that can significantly impact daily life. While dizziness may make you feel lightheaded or woozy, vertigo creates the illusion that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when they’re actually still. This disorienting experience can range from mildly annoying to severely debilitating, depending on its cause and duration.

Is vertigo a standalone condition? No, it’s actually a symptom of an underlying issue rather than a disease itself. Identifying the root cause is crucial for effective treatment and management of vertigo episodes.

Common Symptoms Accompanying Vertigo

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)
• Balance problems
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Temporary hearing loss

Can vertigo symptoms vary in intensity? Indeed, they can range from barely noticeable to completely incapacitating, depending on the underlying cause and individual factors.

Duration of Vertigo Episodes: From Seconds to Days

The length of a vertigo episode can vary dramatically, lasting anywhere from a few fleeting seconds to several days in severe cases. Most commonly, however, vertigo episodes tend to resolve within minutes. The duration is largely influenced by the underlying cause of the vertigo.

Factors Affecting Vertigo Duration

1. Underlying condition
2. Severity of the episode
3. Individual health factors
4. Treatment interventions

Are all vertigo episodes the same length? No, the duration can vary greatly even for the same individual, depending on the specific trigger and circumstances of each episode.

Common Causes of Vertigo and Their Typical Durations

Understanding the various causes of vertigo can help predict how long an episode might last and guide appropriate treatment strategies.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is one of the most frequent causes of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals, disrupting the normal fluid movement that helps maintain balance. BPPV episodes are characteristically brief, typically lasting less than one minute. However, they can be quite intense and may recur frequently.

How often do BPPV episodes occur? The frequency can vary greatly among individuals, ranging from occasional episodes to multiple occurrences daily.

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause severe, prolonged episodes of vertigo. Unlike the brief spells associated with BPPV, vertigo attacks due to Meniere’s disease can last for several hours or even days. These episodes are often accompanied by fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.

What triggers Meniere’s disease episodes? While the exact cause is unknown, factors such as stress, dietary sodium intake, and changes in barometric pressure may contribute to symptom onset.

Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis

These conditions involve inflammation of the inner ear or the vestibular nerve, often due to viral infections. Vertigo caused by vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis can be particularly severe and may persist for days or even weeks as the inflammation subsides. During this time, symptoms may gradually improve, but residual dizziness can linger for several weeks to months.

Does vestibular neuritis always cause hearing loss? Unlike labyrinthitis, which typically affects both balance and hearing, vestibular neuritis usually impacts only the balance function of the inner ear, sparing hearing.

Chronic Vertigo: When Symptoms Persist

While many causes of vertigo result in intermittent episodes, some conditions can lead to chronic or semi-permanent vertigo. This persistent form of vertigo can significantly impact quality of life and may require ongoing management strategies.

Stroke and Head Injuries

Individuals who have experienced a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or severe neck injury may develop long-term or chronic vertigo. In these cases, the vertigo may be a result of damage to the areas of the brain responsible for processing balance and spatial orientation information.

Can chronic vertigo from brain injuries improve over time? While some individuals may experience gradual improvement, others may need to adapt to persistent symptoms through rehabilitation and compensatory strategies.

Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)

PPPD is a relatively newly recognized condition characterized by persistent sensations of swaying or rocking, often triggered or worsened by a person’s own movement, the movement of objects in the environment, or complex visual patterns. This chronic form of vertigo can last for months or years, significantly impacting daily activities and quality of life.

How is PPPD different from other causes of vertigo? Unlike conditions like BPPV or Meniere’s disease, PPPD symptoms tend to be constant or frequently recurring, rather than episodic.

Diagnosing the Cause of Vertigo

Given the wide range of potential causes and durations of vertigo, obtaining an accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Healthcare providers use a combination of patient history, physical examination, and specialized tests to determine the underlying cause of vertigo symptoms.

Common Diagnostic Procedures

• Dix-Hallpike test for BPPV
• Electronystagmography (ENG) or videonystagmography (VNG)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain
• Auditory testing for Meniere’s disease
• Computerized dynamic posturography

Why is a comprehensive evaluation important for vertigo? Because the treatment approach can vary significantly depending on the underlying cause, an accurate diagnosis is essential for developing an effective management plan.

Treatment Strategies for Vertigo

The approach to treating vertigo depends on its underlying cause and the severity of symptoms. Treatment aims to address the root cause when possible and manage symptoms to improve quality of life.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

For many individuals with vertigo, simple home remedies and lifestyle modifications can help prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of episodes:

• Staying hydrated
• Avoiding triggers (e.g., certain head positions, specific foods)
• Practicing stress reduction techniques
• Getting adequate sleep
• Limiting caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco use

Can dietary changes help manage vertigo? For some conditions, such as Meniere’s disease, reducing sodium intake may help control symptoms by regulating fluid balance in the inner ear.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. It involves exercises that help the brain compensate for inner ear deficits and adapt to altered sensory input.

How long does vestibular rehabilitation take to show results? While some individuals may notice improvements within a few weeks, others may require several months of consistent therapy to achieve significant benefits.

Medications for Vertigo Management

Various medications can be prescribed to alleviate vertigo symptoms or address underlying causes:

• Antihistamines (e.g., dimenhydrinate, meclizine)
• Anti-nausea medications (e.g., promethazine, ondansetron)
• Benzodiazepines for severe anxiety associated with vertigo
• Diuretics for Meniere’s disease
• Steroids for vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis

Are all vertigo medications suitable for long-term use? Many vertigo medications are intended for short-term symptom relief and may have side effects or risks associated with prolonged use. It’s important to work closely with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

Canalith Repositioning Procedures

For BPPV, specific head maneuvers can be performed to guide the displaced calcium crystals back to their proper location in the inner ear. The Epley maneuver is one of the most common and effective treatments for BPPV, often providing immediate relief.

Can canalith repositioning procedures be done at home? While some individuals may learn to perform these maneuvers independently, it’s generally recommended to have them initially performed by a trained healthcare provider to ensure proper technique and avoid potential complications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Vertigo

While many cases of vertigo can be managed at home or with outpatient treatment, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention. It’s important to recognize the signs that may indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Red Flags for Vertigo

• Sudden, severe headache accompanying vertigo
• Vertigo associated with loss of consciousness
• Persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
• Sudden hearing loss
• Double vision or other visual disturbances
• Weakness or numbness in any part of the body
• Difficulty speaking or slurred speech

Could vertigo be a sign of a stroke? In some cases, particularly when accompanied by other neurological symptoms, vertigo can indeed be a sign of a stroke or other serious neurological event requiring immediate medical intervention.

Living with Vertigo: Coping Strategies and Long-term Outlook

For individuals dealing with recurrent or chronic vertigo, developing effective coping strategies is crucial for maintaining quality of life and safety. While treatment can often significantly reduce symptoms, learning to manage vertigo in daily life is an important aspect of long-term care.

Safety Precautions

• Removing tripping hazards from the home
• Using handrails and grab bars in bathrooms and on stairs
• Avoiding sudden movements or changes in position
• Using nightlights to navigate safely in the dark
• Considering the use of a walking aid during severe episodes

How can you prepare for unexpected vertigo episodes in public? Carrying antivertigo medication, identifying safe places to sit or lean, and informing companions about your condition can help manage unexpected episodes outside the home.

Lifestyle Adaptations

Making certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes:

• Regular exercise to improve balance and overall health
• Stress management techniques such as meditation or yoga
• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
• Avoiding known triggers, which may include certain foods, activities, or environmental factors

Can alternative therapies help manage vertigo symptoms? Some individuals find relief through acupuncture, herbal supplements, or other complementary approaches, although scientific evidence for their effectiveness varies. It’s important to discuss any alternative treatments with a healthcare provider to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your specific condition.

Long-term Prognosis

The long-term outlook for individuals with vertigo varies depending on the underlying cause and the effectiveness of treatment. Many people experience significant improvement or complete resolution of symptoms with appropriate management. However, some may need to adapt to living with chronic or recurrent vertigo.

Is it possible to completely cure vertigo? For some causes, such as BPPV, treatment can often provide complete resolution of symptoms. For other conditions, like Meniere’s disease, management may focus on reducing the frequency and severity of episodes rather than achieving a complete cure.

Advances in Vertigo Research and Treatment

The field of vestibular disorders and vertigo management continues to evolve, with ongoing research aimed at improving diagnostic techniques and developing more effective treatments.

Emerging Diagnostic Tools

• Video head impulse testing (vHIT) for assessing semicircular canal function
• Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) for evaluating otolith organ function
• Advanced imaging techniques for visualizing inner ear structures

How might these new diagnostic tools improve vertigo management? More precise and comprehensive diagnostic capabilities can lead to earlier and more accurate identification of underlying causes, potentially enabling more targeted and effective treatment approaches.

Innovative Treatment Approaches

Researchers are exploring various new treatment modalities for vertigo and related vestibular disorders:

• Vestibular implants for severe bilateral vestibular loss
• Gene therapy for inherited vestibular disorders
• Virtual reality-based rehabilitation programs
• Noninvasive brain stimulation techniques

What role might artificial intelligence play in vertigo management? AI algorithms could potentially assist in analyzing complex vestibular test data, predicting treatment outcomes, and personalizing rehabilitation programs based on individual patient characteristics.

As research progresses, individuals living with vertigo can look forward to potentially more effective and personalized treatment options in the future. However, it’s important to remember that current management strategies, when properly implemented, can already provide significant relief for many people experiencing vertigo.

How Long Does Vertigo Last? Mild-to-Severe Symptom Duration

Vertigo isn’t a disease or a condition on its own but a symptom of an underlying condition. Identifying the cause of your vertigo can help find a treatment that works to prevent episodes from occuring.

Overview

Episodes of vertigo can last a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days. In general, however, an episode of vertigo typically lasts just seconds to minutes.

Vertigo isn’t a disease or condition. Instead, it’s a symptom of a condition. Identifying the underlying cause of your vertigo can help you and your doctor find a treatment that works to prevent the episodes.

Vertigo is different from dizziness. This is because the sensations from vertigo make you feel like your surroundings are moving, or that you’re moving when you’re actually standing still. Dizziness typically causes you to feel woozy or lightheaded.

Vertigo episodes may come and go and cause sudden, severe episodes of disorientation. They can also be incredibly mild, or be chronic and last for longer periods of time.

Other symptoms of vertigo include:

• feeling nauseated
• sweating
• vomiting
• abnormal or unusual eye movements, such as jerking
• loss of balance
• ringing in the ears
• hearing loss

The cause of your vertigo plays a big role in how long your symptoms will last.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. The average episode reoccurs but usually lasts for one minute or less.

Meniere’s disease

A severe episode of vertigo caused by Meniere’s disease can last for several hours or even days. This condition causes vertigo that can often cause vomiting, nausea, and hearing loss, as well as ringing in the ear.

Inner ear problems

Vertigo caused by inflammation or an infection in the inner ear may remain until the inflammation subsides. If you have any signs of inner ear problems, it’s important to talk to your doctor about treatment so they can get the vertigo under control. They’ll determine if there are any medications that may be right for the condition.

Stroke or head injury

Vertigo may be a permanent or semi-permanent state for some individuals. People who’ve had a stroke, head injury, or neck injury may experience long-term or chronic vertigo.

Other factors

There are other conditions and injuries that may cause episodes of vertigo. The length of your vertigo episode will depend on what that underlying cause is.

When you experience an episode of vertigo, it’s wise to practice these do’s and don’ts so you can stay safe and also reduce your chances of greater side effects or complications.

Get a diagnosis

If you haven’t already been diagnosed, see a doctor after you experience vertigo symptoms for the first time. Together, you and your doctor can review your symptoms and decide on a treatment plan that fits what you’re experiencing and what’s causing the symptoms.

Check out this list of vertigo-associated disorders for more information.

Sit somewhere safe

Take precautions to prevent injury as soon as you begin experiencing signs and symptoms of vertigo. The sensations you experience from an episode can be disorienting and may make you more likely to stumble or fall. This can lead to injury.

Get off the road

If you’re driving when a vertigo episode starts, pull over as soon as you’re able. Wait out the episode before you continue driving so you don’t put yourself and others at risk.

Begin home remedies

When vertigo symptoms start, your doctor may instruct you to perform self-care home remedies or physical therapy maneuvers to ease the symptoms. Do them as soon as you safely can.

Seek treatment

If vertigo is the result of a health complication you’re not treating, vertigo symptoms may become worse. You can begin to experience long-term health complications as a result of not treating the underlying cause for your vertigo.

Vertigo is bothersome, but it’s rarely a sign of a serious health problem. Treatment for vertigo aims to treat the underlying cause that’s producing the disorienting sensations in order to eliminate the symptoms. If a cause isn’t known, your doctor may also treat the symptoms of vertigo alone.

The most common treatments for vertigo include:

Home remedies

The majority of home remedies are designed to prevent or reduce the risk for a vertigo episode, but some can be used when the disorientation begins. These include:

• trying acupuncture
• avoiding caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol
• staying hydrated
• taking herbal supplements

Medications

Some medications may help stop severe vertigo episodes. The most commonly prescribed medications for vertigo are:

• anti-nausea medicines, such as promethazine (Phenergan)
• sedative medicines, such as diazepam (Valium)
• antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

These medicines may be administered by mouth, patch, suppository, or IV. Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription options are available.

Physical therapy maneuvers

Two main physical therapy maneuvers are used to treat symptoms of vertigo. Your doctor will work with you to learn the proper technique so you can perform them correctly. These maneuvers include:

• Modified Epley maneuvers. The Epley maneuver is a type of treatment that uses head and body movements to encourage the inner ear to reabsorb any matter that’s floating in the inner ear and causing vertigo. The relief can be immediate, or it may take several days.
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises. Moving your head and body when you’re experiencing a vertigo episode may feel too difficult. Your doctor can teach you rehabilitation exercises that can help your brain adjust to the changes in the inner ear. These balancing techniques will help your eyes and other senses learn to cope with the disorientation.

Time

Waiting out the symptoms of vertigo may be the best option for some people. After all, vertigo can ease in a matter of hours, minutes, or even seconds. In those cases, you’re better off waiting for the body to correct itself than trying another treatment option.

If you experience episodes of vertigo, make an appointment to see your doctor. If you don’t already have a primary care provider, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool. Describe what you’re experiencing, how long the episodes last, and what makes them end, if you’ve used any type of treatment. Your doctor will perform a physical exam. They may also conduct several tests to check your eyes, hearing, and balance.

If those results aren’t enough for a conclusive diagnosis, your doctor may request some imaging tests to look at your brain. An MRI can give your doctor a detailed image of your brain.

You should seek emergency medical help if you experience vertigo with any of the following:

• a severe headache
• a high fever
• weakness in your arms or legs
• inability or trouble walking, speaking, hearing, or seeing
• passing out
• chest pain

It’s important to talk with your doctor any time you experience vertigo. They can work with you to understand the underlying cause and find treatments that can both prevent vertigo attacks and ease them if and when they occur.

Fortunately, most of the underlying causes of vertigo aren’t serious. They can be treated easily, which will eliminate vertigo episodes. If the underlying cause can’t be treated, your doctor can work with you to reduce disorientation and hopefully prevent future complications.

How Long Does Vertigo Last? Mild-to-Severe Symptom Duration

Vertigo isn’t a disease or a condition on its own but a symptom of an underlying condition. Identifying the cause of your vertigo can help find a treatment that works to prevent episodes from occuring.

Overview

Episodes of vertigo can last a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days. In general, however, an episode of vertigo typically lasts just seconds to minutes.

Vertigo isn’t a disease or condition. Instead, it’s a symptom of a condition. Identifying the underlying cause of your vertigo can help you and your doctor find a treatment that works to prevent the episodes.

Vertigo is different from dizziness. This is because the sensations from vertigo make you feel like your surroundings are moving, or that you’re moving when you’re actually standing still. Dizziness typically causes you to feel woozy or lightheaded.

Vertigo episodes may come and go and cause sudden, severe episodes of disorientation. They can also be incredibly mild, or be chronic and last for longer periods of time.

Other symptoms of vertigo include:

• feeling nauseated
• sweating
• vomiting
• abnormal or unusual eye movements, such as jerking
• loss of balance
• ringing in the ears
• hearing loss

The cause of your vertigo plays a big role in how long your symptoms will last.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. The average episode reoccurs but usually lasts for one minute or less.

Meniere’s disease

A severe episode of vertigo caused by Meniere’s disease can last for several hours or even days. This condition causes vertigo that can often cause vomiting, nausea, and hearing loss, as well as ringing in the ear.

Inner ear problems

Vertigo caused by inflammation or an infection in the inner ear may remain until the inflammation subsides. If you have any signs of inner ear problems, it’s important to talk to your doctor about treatment so they can get the vertigo under control. They’ll determine if there are any medications that may be right for the condition.

Stroke or head injury

Vertigo may be a permanent or semi-permanent state for some individuals. People who’ve had a stroke, head injury, or neck injury may experience long-term or chronic vertigo.

Other factors

There are other conditions and injuries that may cause episodes of vertigo. The length of your vertigo episode will depend on what that underlying cause is.

When you experience an episode of vertigo, it’s wise to practice these do’s and don’ts so you can stay safe and also reduce your chances of greater side effects or complications.

Get a diagnosis

If you haven’t already been diagnosed, see a doctor after you experience vertigo symptoms for the first time. Together, you and your doctor can review your symptoms and decide on a treatment plan that fits what you’re experiencing and what’s causing the symptoms.

Check out this list of vertigo-associated disorders for more information.

Sit somewhere safe

Take precautions to prevent injury as soon as you begin experiencing signs and symptoms of vertigo. The sensations you experience from an episode can be disorienting and may make you more likely to stumble or fall. This can lead to injury.

Get off the road

If you’re driving when a vertigo episode starts, pull over as soon as you’re able. Wait out the episode before you continue driving so you don’t put yourself and others at risk.

Begin home remedies

When vertigo symptoms start, your doctor may instruct you to perform self-care home remedies or physical therapy maneuvers to ease the symptoms. Do them as soon as you safely can.

Seek treatment

If vertigo is the result of a health complication you’re not treating, vertigo symptoms may become worse. You can begin to experience long-term health complications as a result of not treating the underlying cause for your vertigo.

Vertigo is bothersome, but it’s rarely a sign of a serious health problem. Treatment for vertigo aims to treat the underlying cause that’s producing the disorienting sensations in order to eliminate the symptoms. If a cause isn’t known, your doctor may also treat the symptoms of vertigo alone.

The most common treatments for vertigo include:

Home remedies

The majority of home remedies are designed to prevent or reduce the risk for a vertigo episode, but some can be used when the disorientation begins. These include:

• trying acupuncture
• avoiding caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol
• staying hydrated
• taking herbal supplements

Medications

Some medications may help stop severe vertigo episodes. The most commonly prescribed medications for vertigo are:

• anti-nausea medicines, such as promethazine (Phenergan)
• sedative medicines, such as diazepam (Valium)
• antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

These medicines may be administered by mouth, patch, suppository, or IV. Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription options are available.

Physical therapy maneuvers

Two main physical therapy maneuvers are used to treat symptoms of vertigo. Your doctor will work with you to learn the proper technique so you can perform them correctly. These maneuvers include:

• Modified Epley maneuvers. The Epley maneuver is a type of treatment that uses head and body movements to encourage the inner ear to reabsorb any matter that’s floating in the inner ear and causing vertigo. The relief can be immediate, or it may take several days.
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises. Moving your head and body when you’re experiencing a vertigo episode may feel too difficult. Your doctor can teach you rehabilitation exercises that can help your brain adjust to the changes in the inner ear. These balancing techniques will help your eyes and other senses learn to cope with the disorientation.

Time

Waiting out the symptoms of vertigo may be the best option for some people. After all, vertigo can ease in a matter of hours, minutes, or even seconds. In those cases, you’re better off waiting for the body to correct itself than trying another treatment option.

If you experience episodes of vertigo, make an appointment to see your doctor. If you don’t already have a primary care provider, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool. Describe what you’re experiencing, how long the episodes last, and what makes them end, if you’ve used any type of treatment. Your doctor will perform a physical exam. They may also conduct several tests to check your eyes, hearing, and balance.

If those results aren’t enough for a conclusive diagnosis, your doctor may request some imaging tests to look at your brain. An MRI can give your doctor a detailed image of your brain.

You should seek emergency medical help if you experience vertigo with any of the following:

• a severe headache
• a high fever
• weakness in your arms or legs
• inability or trouble walking, speaking, hearing, or seeing
• passing out
• chest pain

It’s important to talk with your doctor any time you experience vertigo. They can work with you to understand the underlying cause and find treatments that can both prevent vertigo attacks and ease them if and when they occur.

Fortunately, most of the underlying causes of vertigo aren’t serious. They can be treated easily, which will eliminate vertigo episodes. If the underlying cause can’t be treated, your doctor can work with you to reduce disorientation and hopefully prevent future complications.

What is dizziness, possible causes

Dizziness (vertigo) is an alarming symptom that accompanies a variety of diseases. Depending on the severity of the manifestations, a person may feel discomfort, disorientation in space, and nausea. In rare cases, dizziness is so severe that the patient loses consciousness, cannot stand on his own feet. The symptom is widespread among people of different sex and age, but is especially common among the elderly and women.

Causes of dizziness

There are two groups of reasons why the head is spinning: physiological (due to the natural state of the body) and pathological (caused by disease).

Physiological factors

Among them:

• abrupt start of movement, eg jumping from a height;
• oversaturation of the lungs with oxygen;
• strong fright;
• low blood hemoglobin;
• malnutrition or long period without food;
• menstruation, menopause or pregnancy (the main cause of dizziness in women).

Meteorological sensitivity is a separate group of physiological factors. In the world, a huge number of people complain about poor health due to the weather. Violations cause changes in humidity, temperature, changes in atmospheric pressure before a blizzard or thunderstorm.

Pathological factors

Among them:

1. Diseases of the ear. Any disturbance in the vestibular apparatus can lead to the fact that a person will constantly feel dizzy. For example, labyrinthitis – a septic inflammation of the inner ear – provokes severe dizziness. The patient has a fever, headache, regular vomiting.

2. Pathologies of the cervical spine. Diseases such as osteochondrosis, hernias, whiplash injuries lead to impaired blood supply to the brain. This is one of the reasons why the head is spinning.

3. Various phobias. Fear of heights, open space, crowds may cause dizziness. Sometimes a person feels bad just thinking about his fear.

4. Vascular pathologies. Ischemias, strokes, thrombosis cause cerebral hypoxia. Chronic oxygen starvation causes frequent dizziness.

5. Neuritis. The vestibulocochlear structure is affected, which transmits information from the vestibular apparatus directly to the brain. With neuritis, dizziness may weaken and intensify, accompanied by wandering headaches.

6. Meniere’s disease. In 5-8% of cases, this pathology is the cause of dizziness. Meniere’s disease is characterized by an increase in the volume of endolymph, which accumulates inside the labyrinth. The fluid creates excess pressure in the inner ear, edema develops, and the work of the vestibular nerve is disturbed. The head is spinning in short attacks, sporadically. The main symptom is accompanied by hearing loss, tinnitus.

7. Intoxication. When the head begins to feel dizzy, it may be a symptom of poisoning with chemicals, products, various toxic substances. Mercury, arsenic, and lead are especially dangerous for the brain.

8. Tumors of the brain. Neoplasm in the process of growth compresses the surrounding tissues, disrupts their trophism.

9. Minor strokes. Transient disturbance of cerebral circulation impairs the trophism of cerebral structures. Dizziness with a microstroke is strong, pronounced, accompanied by a sharp headache, paresis, and speech disorders. An episode can last several hours and requires urgent treatment.

10. Head injuries. Dizziness is caused by concussions, bruises. If a hematoma forms in the brain, an increase in the volume of CSF causes compression of the surrounding tissues. The nutrition of the brain is disturbed, the vessels are compressed.

Classification

Depending on the nature of the manifestations, there are several types of dizziness in men and women:

1. True. Pathology caused by abnormalities in the extrapyramidal system or vestibular apparatus. True dizziness occurs with vertebral artery syndrome, cerebellar pathology, inflammatory diseases of the inner ear, due to traumatic brain injuries.

2. Pseudo-vertigo (organic syndrome). The patient feels unwell immediately after sleeping or when trying to get up quickly after sitting for a long time. As such, there is no dizziness, but the person loses balance and falls. The cause of false pathology may be a sharp violation of cerebral blood flow, insufficient trophism of tissues and organs. A similar symptom, when dizzy when standing up, is more often experienced by people with overweight or underweight, patients with neurological diagnoses. Rapid movement does not allow the body to adapt to the changed load. As a rule, pseudovertigo is harmless and does not require treatment. It is important to exclude the state of orthostatic hypotension, when a person’s blood pressure drops sharply when standing up.

3. Peripheral vertigo. The cause of malaise is diseases of organs and systems that are not related to the brain. The head is spinning due to damage to the vestibular apparatus. Trauma, toxic poisoning, viral and bacterial infections can lead to inflammation or destruction of the labyrinth. By itself, peripheral dizziness is not dangerous, but it is necessary to treat the underlying disease. Inflammation of the inner ear can progress to meningitis, spread to the sinuses, to the throat. Even without development, the disease interferes with daily life.

4. Central vertigo. Pathology is formed against the background of damage to the central nervous system. Possible causes: tumor, inflammation, tissue compression in the frontal, occipital or parietal lobes, disorders of the cerebellum, extrapyramidal system. Central vertigo begins abruptly. Especially often, the symptom occurs during a quick turn of the head, an unsuccessful tilt, or other incorrect and abrupt movements. If dizziness is accompanied by weakness, hallucinations, you should consult a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis of pathologies is the key to successful treatment.

5. Secondary disorder. Dizziness develops as a consequence of the underlying disease. For example, the cause of a secondary disorder may be a violation of the body’s sensitivity to insulin.

6. Sensual form. The appearance of a symptom provokes problems in the functioning of the sensory organs. The patient may have impaired vision, hearing. Disorientation is possible with a combination of light and noise stimuli, for example, when a person begins to feel dizzy when entering the dance floor. Dizziness in a sensual form is always provoked by some external factor. Removing the trigger relieves the symptom.

Symptoms

The condition usually occurs suddenly, for no apparent reason. A person begins to feel dizzy, due to disorientation, he is led to one side or the other. If the patient is sitting at this time, there may be a feeling of inclination in space or movement of surrounding objects. The manifestations are similar to those that occur after a long ride on a carousel. The patient is unsteady on his feet. In order not to fall, he needs support. Symptoms of dizziness usually subside quickly. Sometimes it is enough to sit or lie down and be at rest for a while.

Depending on the causes of dizziness, others may be added to the main symptom:

• cold hands or feet;
• feeling short of breath;
• feeling of fear, anxiety;
• excessive sweating in one area (for example, on the palms) or all over the body;
• confusion of thoughts, feeling of lightness in the head;
• nausea, vomiting;
• numbness of face, lips;
• tinnitus;
• accelerated heartbeat;
• increase or decrease in pressure;
• flashing “flies” before the eyes, darkening;
• involuntary twitching of eyeballs, etc.

Diagnostics

In total, about 80 diseases of various systems and organs can cause dizziness. For an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination by a general practitioner.

The patient is prescribed procedures according to his condition:

1. General analysis of urine and blood.

2. Biochemical analysis of blood.

3. Dopplerography of cerebral vessels.

4. Electroencephalography.

5. Hearing research. Results of acoustic impedancemetry, threshold audiometry may be needed.

6. Posturography. During the study, the doctor evaluates the mechanisms of interaction between the vestibular, visual and musculoskeletal systems that provide balance. Carry out rotational tests, caloric test.

7. Rheoencephalography. The study allows you to evaluate the trophic tissue of the brain.

8. MRI. From the images, the doctor receives information about the state of the blood supply system, the presence and location of the tumor, the location of the focus of inflammation, and other important data.

How to deal with dizziness

When dizzy, you need to calm down. Panic will make things worse. It is recommended to squat down or just on the floor, try to focus on one of the furnishings. Do not close your eyes! Dizziness will increase if the brain stops receiving visual information.

If for some time the symptom worsens, the palms begin to sweat, nausea sets in, there is a feeling of tightness in the chest, it is necessary to call a doctor. Before the arrival of the ambulance, it is better to lie horizontally, not to make sudden movements.

If you witness another person having a dizzy spell, help him sit up. You can unbutton your outerwear and open the window for fresh air. The patient is laid on a sofa or any other horizontal surface, the shoulders and neck are placed on a pillow. In an elevated position, the arteries will not kink and ensure the flow of blood to the brain. A cold towel applied to the forehead will help ease the attack.

Treatment of dizziness

The treatment is complex, selected individually for each patient. To prescribe adequate therapy, the doctor must have a clear answer to the question of why the patient is dizzy.

Medical therapy

If the cause of dizziness in a woman or a man is a circulatory disorder, vasodilators are prescribed. An additional intake of antihistamines or other drugs that improve the rheological properties of the blood is possible.

If the head is spinning due to a neurological disease, the doctor prescribes nootropics. Medicines improve nerve conduction.

Osteochondrosis causing dizziness requires complex treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants are prescribed.

Dizziness in women that occurs during menopause or on certain days of the menstrual cycle, resolves after hormonal therapy. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a gynecologist.

Compliance with the regime of work and rest

The patient is recommended to normalize sleep, if possible, reduce the time spent in front of the computer. It is important to observe the alternation of physical and mental stress.

Diet

From the diet it is necessary to exclude products that increase or decrease blood pressure, spasm blood vessels, and have an exciting effect on the nervous system. The patient is advised to give up salty, spicy foods, strong tea and coffee.

Gymnastics

Between attacks it is useful to do simple physical exercises. Gymnastics will improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, and stabilize the psychological state. You can perform head and torso rotations. If you do exercises with open and closed eyes, the vestibular apparatus will be additionally strengthened.

Simple complexes for balance, swimming, any other feasible loads are welcome.

Prevention of dizziness

To reduce the frequency of seizures and prevent their occurrence, it is recommended to adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle:

• giving up bad habits: smoking and drinking alcohol;
• exclusion from the diet of salty, spicy, smoked, fatty foods;
• limited consumption of sweets and caffeine;
• daily morning exercises, physical activity;
• regular outdoor walks;
• fractional proper nutrition with plenty of vegetables, fruits rich in vitamins;
• sleep on orthopedic mattresses and pillows if there are problems with the spine.

If the main cause of dizziness is frequent stress at work, it is better to find another position. Lost health is very difficult to restore.

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Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – systemic vertigo (spinning sensation) manifested by short bouts of vertigo that occurs when changing head position, sometimes accompanied by nausea and, in rare cases, vomiting associated with otoliths entering the semicircular canals of the inner ear.

Dizziness can occur with various diseases. It can be systemic and non-systemic, last from a few seconds to a day or more, it can occur spontaneously or under the influence of certain conditions: for example, it can occur when the position of the body and / or head changes. Patients with dizziness come to doctors of various specialties, and from an adequate assessment of symptoms, a well-conducted examination, the availability of modern diagnostic equipment directly depends on the correctness of the diagnosis and the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment.

Currently, the most common cause of dizziness associated with pathology of the inner ear is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which, according to various authors, accounts for 17 to 35% of all peripheral vestibular disorders.

The manifestations of this disease are very characteristic. Patients describe sudden severe attacks of dizziness with horizontal or vertical movement of objects that occur with a certain position of the head or movements – turning over in bed, turning the head to the side, extension and flexion of the neck. Patients can often indicate which side they are experiencing dizziness and which side they are not. Attacks of dizziness last no more than 30 seconds, but many people exaggerate their duration, speaking of several minutes. Attacks of dizziness can be single, and can be repeated at different intervals: from several attacks per week to several attacks per day. Often, dizziness is accompanied by nausea and a feeling of unsteadiness.

Symptoms of do not appear if the patient avoids provocative movements. Not observed in BPPV hearing loss, tinnitus, headache and other symptoms. The course of the disease is favorable, however, if an attack of dizziness occurs when you are at high altitude, depth or when driving, it can be dangerous.

To understand the origin of this disease, it is necessary to consider the structure of the peripheral part of the vestibular apparatus located in the inner ear. It consists of a vestibule, in which there are “sacs” – spherical and elliptical, as well as three semicircular canals located in different planes. The vestibule sacs are responsible for a person’s feeling of the position of the body in space and linear accelerations, the semicircular canals – for angular accelerations. The sacs contain microscopic “pebbles” – otoliths, which, in response to a change in body position, move and, irritating the nerve endings of the vestibular apparatus, give appropriate signals to central nervous system .

The essence of the occurrence of BPPV is that under the influence of various factors, otoliths, moving in the fluid of the inner ear (endolymph), fall into an uncharacteristic place for them – the semicircular canals. Moving in the semicircular canals with a change in body position, they irritate the nerve endings located in them. However, the nerve cells of the semicircular canals are adapted to respond to fluid flow during angular accelerations, and not to otolith stimulation. That is, this irritation is inadequate for nerve cells, which causes a pathological reaction in the form of an attack of dizziness and other unpleasant symptoms.

In 50-70% of cases the cause of BPPV cannot be determined. However, the occurrence of the disease may be associated with traumatic brain injury (7-17%), viral labyrinthitis (15%), Meniere’s disease (5%), ototoxic effects of antibiotics (gentamicin), surgery on the inner ear, migraines, etc.

Directly for the diagnosis of BPPV special samples are used, the most common is the Dix-Hallpike test. With the help of a certain sequence of changing the position of the head and body of the patient, the movement of otoliths in the semicircular canals is caused. If the otoliths are located in an uncharacteristic place for them – the semicircular canals – this causes the patient to have an attack of dizziness. Also, as with any other experimental stimulation of the vestibular apparatus, a typical oculomotor reaction appears – nystagmus (involuntary rhythmic movements of the eyeballs). It is this reaction that is fixed by the doctor visually or with the help of appropriate equipment, respectively, conclusions are drawn about the direct presence of BPPV, as well as the side of the lesion.

At first glance, the diagnosis of BPPV does not cause any particular difficulties. However, if we consider the issue more seriously, a lot of factors must be taken into account in order to make a correct diagnosis: a large number of peripheral (associated with the inner ear) vestibular disorders have manifestations very similar to BPPV ( dizziness, imbalance, nausea, etc. ), that is, they must be differentiated, since the treatment of these diseases is completely different.

Conclusion – even for a single Dix-Hallpike test, at least a minimum of equipment (Frenzel glasses), sufficient experience in conducting this test and a competent assessment of emerging reactions (nystagmus) are required.

To make a final diagnosis and exclude other diseases that manifest similar symptoms, and, accordingly, effective treatment, a complete examination of the directly interconnected auditory and vestibular functions is necessary. In modern conditions, a whole range of diagnostic equipment is used for this, and examination takes about two hours . Only this option gives confidence in the correctness of the diagnosis and the prescribed treatment. Such a diagnosis should be handled by an audiologist-otoneurologist.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment of BPPV in most cases is quite simple – appropriate treatment maneuvers are carried out to return the otoliths to their correct location.