How long will vertigo last: How Long Does Vertigo Last From an Inner Ear Infection?
Vertigo – HSE.ie
Vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning. It’s more than feeling dizzy, it affects your balance.
A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours. If you have severe vertigo, it can last for many days or months.
Vertigo gets better in most cases without treatment. talk to your GP if it keeps coming back or it’s affecting your daily life.
Causes of vertigo
The most common causes of vertigo are inner ear problems that affect your balance.
These include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where specific head movements cause vertigo
- labyrinthitis – an inner ear infection caused by a cold or flu virus
- vestibular neuronitis – inflammation of the vestibular nerve (the nerve in the inner ear that sends messages to the brain)
- Ménière’s disease – a rare inner ear condition that can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ear) or loss of hearing
Other causes of vertigo include:
- migraine
- some types of medicine – check the leaflet to see if it’s listed as a side effect
Sometimes the cause is unknown.
Non-urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if
you have vertigo that will not go away or keeps coming back and you:
- have a severe headache
- are being sick or feel very sick
- have a very high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above or feel hot and shivery
What happens at your appointment
Your GP will ask about your symptoms to try to find out what type of vertigo you have.
They may do a test to check your balance. They’ll ask you to move quickly from a sitting position to a lying position. This could bring on symptoms.
They may refer you to a specialist for more tests.
Emergency action required: Go to your nearest emergency department (ED) if you have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision
- hearing loss
- trouble speaking
- leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling
Always take someone who cannot be woken up to the ED or call 112 or 999 and look for an ambulance.
Important
Go to your nearest ED if you have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision
- hearing loss
- trouble speaking
- leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling
Always take someone who cannot be woken up to the ED or call 999 or 112 and look for an ambulance.
Treating vertigo
The treatment for vertigo depends on the cause.
Your GP may prescribe antibiotics if the cause is an infection.
They may also give you special exercises to do for your balance.
Your GP may prescribe antihistamines. They can sometimes help with vertigo symptoms.
Important
If you drive, you must tell the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) about your vertigo.
Medical fitness for driving – NDLS.ie
Easing the symptoms of vertigo
You can do things to ease vertigo symptoms when they happen and reduce the number of episodes.
Do
lie still in a quiet, dark room to reduce the spinning feeling
move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities
sit down straight away when you feel dizzy
turn on the lights if you get up at night
use a walking stick if you’re at risk of falling
sleep with your head slightly raised on 2 or more pillows
get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a while before standing up
try to relax, anxiety can make vertigo worse
Don’t
do not bend over to pick things up – squat to lower yourself instead
do not stretch your neck, for example, when you reach up to a high shelf
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123.
Page last reviewed: 21 March 2021
Next review due: 21 March 2024
COVID in last 4 weeks Dizziness
Dizziness after a COVID infection can be:
- A feeling of spinning or an unusual sense of moving often called vertigo
- Lightheadedness – feeling like you might faint
Both can make you feel a bit off balance.
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Vertigo is often seen in infections caused by viruses because you are weaker and rundown or because the virus has affected the vestibular system, the part of the body between your inner ear and your brain.
If the vestibular system is affected, you may find that you get dizzy when you:
- Move your head
- See lots of movement in front of your eyes (e.g. a fast, busy scene in a film)
- Change position quickly – this can also make you feel sick and your balance may be affected
Dizziness can also be linked to ringing in the ears, reduced hearing/ loss of hearing, eye strain and headaches.
These issues may come and go throughout the day.
If they happen all the time or are very bad, you should inform your healthcare professional as they may want to do some further tests.
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Exercises to help with your vertigo
Here are some exercises that may help your recovery. Start by doing these exercises once a day in the evening. When they feel ok, repeat the exercises again earlier in the day. Ideally, these exercises should be done five times a day.
All of the following exercises should be done for 30 seconds each:
- Slowly move your eyes to the left and right with your head staying still
- Slowly move your head to the left and right with your eyes staying fixed on something
- Slowly move your eyes and head together from side to side
- Slowly move your eyes and head in opposite directions
Have something firm to hold onto if needed (e.g. the kitchen sink) for the following exercises:
- Stand with your feet together
- Stand with one foot in front of the other, touching heel to toe
- Stand on one leg
- Stand on the other leg
Gradually increase the speed and time you do each exercise to improve.
If you find these exercises too easy with your eyes open, repeat them with your eyes closed.
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Lightheadedness can be caused by many things and the most common include:
- A lack of water and/or liquids
- Some prescription medicines
- Low blood sugar levels
- Anxiety or stress
- A sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up
- A lack of iron or anaemia
Plan, Pace and Prioritise: Doing too much can make lightheadedness worse so it is important to plan, pace and prioritise your daily activities. Find out more on the managing daily activities page.
If you have lightheadedness when you stand up:
- Avoid moving quickly from lying to sitting to a standing position (get up slowly after lying down or sit for a while before standing)
- Avoid or limit long periods of lying in bed or sitting
- Be active – although doing too much can make lightheadedness worse, activity can improve symptoms – try to do something every day, even for just a few minutes – this can help you keep fit and build muscle
- Find ways to reduce stress – stress can make the symptoms of lightheadedness worse
- Eat and drink regularly – symptoms of lightheadedness can be made worse when eating and drinking patterns change so try and stick to a routine and avoid long periods without eating or drinking
- Rest during illness – infections and other illnesses can worsen symptoms, rest and accept that you’ll want to do less if you become unwell and you may take longer than expected to recover
- Avoid or limit how much alcohol, coffee and tea you drink as these drinks cause your blood vessels to widen and lower your blood pressure
- Include more salt in your diet – this is not advisable if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease or heart disease, so please ask your healthcare professional first
- Try wearing support tights or other forms of compression clothing to improve blood flow in your legs
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Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is an unusual increase in heart rate that happens after sitting up or standing.
Some common symptoms include dizziness, fainting, tiredness and palpitations (noticeable fast and strong regular heartbeats).
PoTS is diagnosed if your heart rate increases by 30 beats a minute (bpm) or more (40bpm in those aged 12 to 19) usually within 10 minutes of standing.
| What are the symptoms of PoTS? |
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You can develop PoTS suddenly, or it can begin gradually. You can get symptoms almost immediately, or a few minutes after sitting up or standing. Lying down may relieve some of the symptoms. As well as an increase in heart rate, common symptoms of PoTS can include:
Some people notice that a hot environment, eating or tiring exercise can make their symptoms worse. For individuals who menstruate, having a period can make their symptoms worse and this can affect their menstrual cycle. These symptoms can have many different causes such as medicine side effects or low blood pressure, so it’s a good idea to get a proper medical diagnosis. Sometimes they can be wrongly diagnosed as anxiety or panic attacks. |
Some people may have had dizziness and balance problems before having COVID and now these symptoms have got worse.
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Most people will be able to manage their own recovery and it will improve a lot with time.
Move slowly when standing up after lying down or sitting
For some people, simply getting out of bed will be difficult. Before standing up, try sitting on the edge of the bed for a minute or two and wait for the dizziness to pass before trying to stand. At the start, you might need to ask someone to be with you when you try to stand up or go to the toilet.
Aim to move normally
This may be difficult and may take a long time. Moving your eyes, head and body is useful in reducing dizziness and for improving balance and fatigue.
Be safe
You may feel mild dizziness when you move. Reassure yourself that it is ok to feel mild dizziness and that you are safe. The dizziness should stop within 1-2 minutes of being still.
Actions to avoid fainting
Fainting can be avoided by learning to take notice of early warning signs such as:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
Immediate action:
- Lie down and lift your legs up
- Sit down if this is not possible
If your situation makes this difficult:
- Cross your legs while standing or rock up and down on your toes
- Clench your bottom and tummy muscles
- Clench your fists
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You suddenly start feeling dizzy at the same time as any of the following symptoms:
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Osteopathy for dizziness – Freedom of movement
Osteopathy for dizziness has long been proven effective in the treatment of this ailment.
Dizziness is a symptom of various diseases, and the principle of osteopathy is not to eliminate the symptom, but the true cause that leads to dizziness.
Signs of dizziness may occur with varying degrees of severity and at different intervals. Basically, people feel as if objects are moving in a circle or the person himself is rotating. Dizziness may be accompanied by tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart rate and an increase or decrease in blood pressure, increased sweating of the limbs or the whole body, a feeling of fear or suffocation. Sometimes the dizziness is so intense that patients feel like they are about to lose consciousness.
Dizziness is a serious symptom. It testifies to malfunctions in the nerve centers and some parts of the brain, the cerebellum. Often dizzy with pathology of the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, changes in blood composition, problems with the spine, curvature of posture, disorders in the vestibular apparatus.
- Dizziness in women during pregnancy and before or during menstruation.
- With hyperventilation of the lungs (diving to depth).
- Lack of iron in the diet.
- Sudden movements in various directions.
- In severe stress, fright.
- Dysfunctional disorders of the musculoskeletal system (osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.).
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Pathology of the central nervous system (stroke, neoplasms in the brain, head injuries, etc.).
- ENT diseases (inflammation of the middle ear).
- Endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus).
- Psycho-emotional disorders.
One of the most common causes of dizziness is a disturbance in the organ of balance, in our vestibular apparatus. Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, increased pressure in the semicircular canals, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, the appearance of osteoliths in the semicircular canals – all these disorders are accompanied by dizziness.
Osteopathy of the vestibular apparatus is aimed at regulating the micromobility of the bones of the skull, relieving tension from the meninges and ensuring normal circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.
The use of drugs for dizziness is a long process and can last for years without bringing the long-awaited effect. Osteopathy for dizziness is especially necessary for physiological dizziness and if the cause of dizziness is not established.
Dizziness can be a symptom of very serious pathologies and osteopathic diagnosis is carried out especially carefully. The osteopath starts by asking the patient if there are any chronic conditions that need to be reported to the doctor. Provide, if laboratory and instrumental studies are available. The next step is to examine the patient. The doctor evaluates the condition of the musculoskeletal system, palpates the internal organs, assesses the mobility of the bones of the skull, examines the muscles and ligaments.
If necessary, he can recommend a consultation with a third-party specialist (cardiologist, therapist, etc.).
Osteopath works with the bones of the skull and spine, removes clamps from muscles and ligaments, restores blood and lymphatic supply to the brain and other organs and tissues.
Osteopathy for dizziness has proven itself as an excellent preventive effect on the body as a whole. The mechanisms of self-healing and rejuvenation are launched, the psycho-emotional state improves, the work of the digestive system is regulated and metabolic processes in the body are restored.
Osteopath has knowledge in many areas of medicine, performing osteopathic treatment of vertigo, he can eliminate concomitant pathology, which the patient may not be aware of.
Osteopaths attending the clinic “Freedom of Movement” have a higher medical education, a certificate of completed residency in the main specialty (neurologist, therapist, traumatologist-orthopedist, etc.
) and an education confirmed by a diploma in the direction of “Osteopathy”. To work in the specialty “Osteopathy”, a doctor spends about 10-11 years only on his education. In our clinic you will receive a full range of services for conducting a course of osteopathy for dizziness. High-level specialists with higher medical education, significant experience in osteopathy and who love their job will work with you.
It is necessary to follow the recommendations of the osteopath after the course of treatment. All additional recommendations allow you to consolidate the achieved effect of the treatment and, possibly, get rid of dizziness forever.
Take care of your health and trust it only to professionals. In our clinic you will receive a full range of services for osteopathic treatment. High-level specialists with higher medical education, significant experience in osteopathy and who love their job will work with you.
Osteopathy for dizziness reviews of patients of the clinic “Freedom of Movement”:
https://mcsvoboda.
ru/otzyivyi.html
Entrust your health to professionals, make an appointment by phone: +7 (495) 212-08- 81.
We are waiting for you at the address: SZAO, Moscow, Kurkinskoe highway, 30
Our clinic is open from 9:00 to 21:00 seven days a week.
Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) / Diseases / Clinic EXPERT
If you are often worried about dizziness, increased heart rate, pressure surges, then first of all you need to consult a neurologist (neuropathologist). It is an experienced neurologist of the EXPERT Clinic who will be able to conduct a differential diagnosis necessary to exclude other diseases that are similar in their symptoms to VVD.
Neurologist Bezukh Svetlana Mikhailovna – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor with 37 years of medical experience. The accumulated experience allows her to quickly formulate a diagnosis, prescribe only the necessary examination and effective treatment.
At the consultation, the doctor will examine you and ask you in detail about your complaints – how, where exactly, in what situations your head hurts and feels dizzy, whether there are pressure surges, nausea, fainting, how long attacks last and other questions.
The neurologist will also prescribe the necessary instrumental and laboratory examinations, which can be partially or fully completed immediately after the consultation:
- ECG
- Ultrasound of bracheocephalic vessels (head and neck)
- 24-hour ECG and blood pressure monitoring
- X-ray of the spine
- blood and urine tests.
Additionally, you may need to consult related specialists – cardiologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist.
About vegetovascular dystonia
Vegetovascular dystonia (in other words, autonomic dysfunction) is a disruption of the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is a part of the nervous system that regulates many processes in the internal organs. Sometimes it is called the autonomic nervous system, because. regulation occurs autonomously, i.e. without the participation of human consciousness. The autonomic nervous system conditionally has two sections: sympathetic and parasympathetic, responsible for oppositely directed actions: for example, the parasympathetic section stimulates digestion, and the sympathetic section slows it down.
Normally, the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems are in balance without the predominance of one over the other.
Vegetovascular dystonia is an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, the consequence of which is a violation of the internal organs. Vegetovascular dystonia affects up to 70% of the adult population and 15-25% of children.
Causes of vegetovascular dystonia
To get rid of vegetovascular dystonia, first of all, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease. This can be done by an experienced neurologist.
Autonomic dysfunction may occur due to one of the following reasons or their combination:
- hereditary predisposition factor (in this case, the manifestations of VVD appear already in childhood)
- previous acute and chronic infectious diseases or intoxications
- chronic psychoemotional stress, depression, sleep disturbance
- sedentary lifestyle work and as a consequence, posture disorder and cervical osteochondrosis
- bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol)
- as a consequence of a chronic disease of the endocrine (hormonal changes), cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and malnutrition
- diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Symptoms and manifestations of VVD
Violation of the autonomic nervous system may affect one or several organs at once. Depending on this, several types of vegetative-vascular dystonia are distinguished (they are also called syndromes), each of which manifests itself in its own way.
Untreated dystonia
Any form of vegetovascular dystonia significantly affects the quality and lifestyle of a person, depriving him of the opportunity to work and exist normally.
In severe cases, VVD can be manifested by loss of consciousness, increased heart rate, and other dangerous conditions. In addition, if you do not deal with the treatment and control of vegetative-vascular dystonia, it can develop into serious diseases of those organs in which the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the nervous system is disturbed:
- heart (hypertension, ischemia, stroke and heart attack)
- stomach and intestines (atony (hypotension) of the intestine, gastritis)
- kidney and genitourinary system (urinary incontinence, diseases of the reproductive system in men and women)
- mental and nervous systems (convulsions, panic attacks).
All syndromes associated with vegetovascular dystonia are characterized by periodic exacerbations – crises or attacks. During an attack of VVD, all manifestations of the syndrome (tachycardia, fainting, shortness of breath) sharply worsen, accompanied by a panic attack for no apparent reason.