What is vertigo and how does it affect individuals. How long can vertigo episodes last. What are the common causes of vertigo. How is vertigo diagnosed and treated. What lifestyle changes can help manage vertigo symptoms.

What is Vertigo? Defining the Dizzying Sensation

Vertigo is a disorienting sensation characterized by feeling as if you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. Often mistaken for a fear of heights, vertigo is actually a symptom that can arise from various underlying conditions affecting the inner ear, brain, or sensory nerve pathways. It can manifest as brief episodes or persist for extended periods, impacting individuals of all ages but particularly those over 65.

Understanding vertigo is crucial for proper management and treatment. Let’s explore the key aspects of this condition:

• Vertigo is a symptom, not a standalone condition
• It can be caused by inner ear problems, neurological issues, or other medical conditions
• Episodes can last from seconds to months, depending on the underlying cause
• It can significantly impact daily life and exacerbate existing mental health conditions

Recognizing Vertigo Symptoms: Beyond the Spinning Sensation

While the primary symptom of vertigo is the sensation of spinning or movement, it’s often accompanied by other symptoms that can vary in intensity and duration. Recognizing these symptoms is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Common Symptoms Associated with Vertigo

• Dizziness or a feeling of lightheadedness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of balance or unsteadiness
• Headache
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)
• Sweating
• Sensitivity to light and sound

It’s important to note that the severity and combination of symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause of vertigo. Some individuals may experience mild discomfort, while others may find their symptoms debilitating.

Unraveling the Causes: What Triggers Vertigo?

Vertigo can stem from various conditions affecting the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. Understanding these causes is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Common Causes of Vertigo

1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
2. Ménière’s Disease
3. Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis
4. Vestibular Migraine
5. Acoustic Neuroma
6. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
7. Multiple Sclerosis
8. Head or Neck Injuries

Each of these conditions affects the vestibular system differently, leading to varying durations and intensities of vertigo episodes. Let’s delve deeper into some of the most common causes:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is the most frequent cause of vertigo, characterized by brief episodes triggered by specific changes in head position. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals, causing a false sense of motion.

Ménière’s Disease

This chronic condition affects the inner ear and is characterized by recurring episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed to be related to fluid buildup in the inner ear.

Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis

These conditions are often caused by viral infections that inflame the inner ear or the vestibulocochlear nerve. They can lead to sudden, severe vertigo that may last for several days, accompanied by nausea and balance problems.

How Long Does Vertigo Last? Duration Varies by Cause

The duration of vertigo episodes can vary significantly depending on the underlying cause. Understanding these timeframes can help in identifying the potential cause and seeking appropriate treatment.

Duration of Vertigo by Common Causes

• BPPV: Typically lasts for seconds to minutes
• Ménière’s Disease: Episodes usually last 20 minutes to several hours
• Vestibular Neuritis: Can persist for days to weeks
• Vestibular Migraine: May last minutes to hours, or even days in some cases
• Acoustic Neuroma: Can cause persistent vertigo that worsens over time

It’s important to note that while most vertigo episodes are brief, some individuals may experience prolonged symptoms that last for months, especially if left untreated. Chronic vertigo can significantly impact quality of life and may require ongoing management strategies.

Diagnosing Vertigo: A Multifaceted Approach

Accurately diagnosing vertigo involves a comprehensive evaluation of symptoms, medical history, and specialized tests. Healthcare providers use various methods to determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Common Diagnostic Procedures for Vertigo

• Detailed medical history and symptom assessment
• Physical examination, including neurological tests
• Dix-Hallpike test for BPPV
• Electronystagmography (ENG) or Videonystagmography (VNG)
• Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test
• Imaging studies (CT scan or MRI) if a central nervous system cause is suspected
• Audiometry to assess hearing function

These diagnostic tools help healthcare providers differentiate between various causes of vertigo and determine the most effective treatment approach. In some cases, a combination of tests may be necessary to reach an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment Options: Managing Vertigo Effectively

Treatment for vertigo depends on its underlying cause and can range from simple home remedies to medical interventions. The goal is to alleviate symptoms, address the root cause, and improve overall quality of life.

Common Treatment Approaches for Vertigo

1. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)
2. Canalith Repositioning Procedures (e.g., Epley maneuver for BPPV)
3. Medications (e.g., antihistamines, anti-nausea drugs, diuretics)
4. Lifestyle modifications (e.g., dietary changes, stress management)
5. Surgery (in rare cases)

Let’s explore some of these treatment options in more detail:

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

VRT is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to help the brain compensate for inner ear problems. It involves exercises that target symptoms of vertigo and balance issues, helping patients regain stability and reduce dizziness.

Canalith Repositioning Procedures

For BPPV, specific head movements can help relocate the displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear. The Epley maneuver is a common technique that can be performed by a healthcare provider or taught to patients for home use.

Medications for Vertigo Management

Various medications can help alleviate vertigo symptoms or address underlying causes:

• Antihistamines: May reduce motion sickness and vertigo
• Anti-nausea medications: Help manage nausea and vomiting associated with vertigo
• Diuretics: Can help reduce fluid buildup in conditions like Ménière’s disease
• Antiviral medications: May be prescribed for vestibular neuritis caused by viral infections

Living with Vertigo: Lifestyle Adjustments and Coping Strategies

While medical treatments are essential for managing vertigo, lifestyle modifications and coping strategies can significantly improve daily life for those affected by this condition.

Practical Tips for Managing Vertigo

• Avoid sudden head movements
• Rise slowly from lying or sitting positions
• Use good lighting when getting up at night
• Remove tripping hazards from your home
• Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
• Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet
• Get adequate sleep
• Avoid triggers like certain foods or activities that worsen symptoms

Implementing these strategies can help reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes, improving overall quality of life. It’s important to work closely with healthcare providers to develop a comprehensive management plan tailored to individual needs.

When to Seek Medical Attention: Recognizing Serious Symptoms

While most cases of vertigo are not life-threatening, certain symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Red Flags: When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

• Sudden, severe headache
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Loss of consciousness
• Sudden changes in vision
• Vertigo accompanied by a high fever

These symptoms could indicate conditions such as stroke, heart attack, or other serious medical emergencies. If you experience any of these symptoms alongside vertigo, seek immediate medical care.

Understanding vertigo, its causes, and management strategies is crucial for those affected by this condition. By recognizing symptoms, seeking proper diagnosis, and implementing appropriate treatments and lifestyle changes, individuals can effectively manage vertigo and minimize its impact on daily life. Remember, each case of vertigo is unique, and working closely with healthcare providers is essential for developing a personalized treatment plan.

How long does vertigo last?

An episode of vertigo can last from seconds to weeks, depending on the associated conditions¹. Indeed, the cause of vertigo plays a key role in how long an episode will last.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo. It is often described by patients as a spinning sensation produced by changes in head position relative to gravity. Patients typically experience brief attacks that last for only seconds.²

Ménière’s disease

Patients who experience repeated episodes of vertigo followed by a ringing noise or pressure inside their ears may have Ménière’s disease. In this case, the vertigo episode will last between 20 minutes and a few hours.²

Vestibular migraine

Blurred vision, nausea, and increased sensitivity to light and sound may be caused by a vestibular migraine. ³Vestibular migraines can also be characterized by an intense spinning sensation that can last minutes, hours, or even days.²

Vestibular neuronitis

Vestibular neuronitis is often due to an infection in the inner ear. The spinning sensation can last from hours to days, with a peak in symptoms, such as nausea and balance problems occurring between 24 and 48 hours.⁴Even with closed eyes, the sensation of spinning is intense and worsened by head movement.

Read more about what factors can triger vertigo

Cases of severe vertigo are rare, but the symptoms can last for months, especially if left untreated.^{5, 6}

Exercises can help prevent and reduce vertigo attacks.

If you experience vertigo, it is crucial to discuss your condition with a doctor. It takes only a minute to find the phone number of your doctor and make an appointment. Vertigo can be triggered in many ways, and your doctor will be the best person to evaluate the risks and help manage them.

References

1. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. An Approach to Vertigo in General Practice. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2016/april/an-approach-to-vertigo-in-general-practice/. Published 2020. Accessed October 28, 2020.
2. Bateman K, Rogers C, Meyer E. An Approach to Acute Vertigo. S Afr Med J. 2015;05(8):694.
3. Ménière’s Society. Vestibular Migraine. https://www.menieres.org.uk/information-and-support/symptoms-and-conditions/migraine-associated-vertigo. Published 2020. Accessed October 28, 2020.
4. Smith T, Rider J, et al. Vestibular Neuronitis. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549866/. Accessed October 28, 2020.
5. New Health Service. Vertigo. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vertigo/#:~:text=Vertigo%20feels%20like%20you%20or,for%20many%20days%20or%20months. Published 2020. Accessed November 6, 2020.
6. Wetchester Medical Center. Balance Issues. https://www.wmchealthaps.com/common-balance-issues. Published 2020. Accessed November 6, 2020.

How Long Does Vertigo Last?

Page Contents

• Vertigo: What is it?
• What are the Vertigo Symptoms?
• Vertigo Treatments
• Vertigo, Ménière’s Disease, and Treatments
• What are the Causes of Vertigo?
• How Long Does Vertigo Last?
• Conclusion

Have you ever felt that sensation dizziness and the world around you is spinning? It could be possible that you have vertigo. Vertigo is actually a symptom of various medical conditions. You may experience it if you have any problems with the pathway of your sensory nerves, the brain, or your inner ear.

Regardless of your age, vertigo can emerge. However, it is mostly common for individuals aging 65 years old and above. Vertigo may be present for just a short while or it may also last for a long period. There are some cases of vertigo that are related to mental health conditions.

If the individual has psychiatric problems, then it is possible that such a problem can cause vertigo to emerge. When this happens, the person may have difficulty functioning in his or her everyday life. This kind of challenge can worsen the individual’s anxiety or depression.

Vertigo: What is it?

Vertigo is when you feel dizzy and everything else around you is spinning. Unlike what many people know about vertigo, it is not actually being afraid of heights. Vertigo refers to a condition that can be temporary or ongoing wherein you experience dizziness because of some problems with the brain or the inner ear.

If you are experiencing vertigo or any kind of dizziness, remember that you should do your best to avoid driving or using a ladder. Consider preparing your home so that if you fall, you won’t be injured or hurt. When you get up, do so slowly so that you can lessen the risk of falling. Also, remember to not turn your head suddenly, or move your neck suddenly, as that is the most common reason for feeling dizzy.

What are the Vertigo Symptoms?

If you have vertigo then you may already be too familiar with the feeling that your head or your immediate environment is spinning or moving. Vertigo may emerge as a symptom of an underlying medical condition with other related symptoms.

Do you experience any of these symptoms below?

• Headache
• Tinnitus
• Your ear feels full
• Vomiting and nausea
• Motion sickness
• Lightheadedness
• And problems with keeping your balance

Vertigo Treatments

There are many types of vertigo that goes away on its own without needing any kind of treatment. However, you should still consider getting a medical checkup so you can know more about any underlying condition that may be causing the vertigo. A common example could be bacterial infection. For that, you may have to go through antibiotic therapy so that the infection and all the other symptoms like vertigo can be treated.

Individuals who suffer from vertigo may also take certain medications so as to relieve its symptoms. Some examples of these medications are anti-emetics or antihistamines. Taking these will help in reducing nausea and motion sickness. For people who have acute vestibular disorder which is associated with having an infection of the middle ear, then the doctor may prescribe meds such as antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and steroids.

Another condition that may have vertigo as a symptom is nystagmus. With this condition, the person has uncontrollable eye movements. Usually, the eyes move from side to side which is caused by a certain dysfunction of the inner ear or the brain.

For more serious cases such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV, it may be necessary to perform a surgery on the inner ear. During this procedure, the surgeon will be inserting a bone plug in the patient’s inner ear. This is to block the part where the vertigo gets triggered.

By placing the bone plug, it becomes possible to prevent the area of the ear to be affected by particle movements happening inside of the inner ear’s semicircular canal leading to episodes of vertigo.

Vertigo, Ménière’s Disease, and Treatments

Ménière’s disease is a medical condition that can cause vertigo. There are medications that can be used to lessen the sensation of being dizzy. Some of the meds include lorazepam, glycopyrrolate, and meclizine.

Apart from the medications, there are also other options when it comes to treating Ménière’s disease. Here are some of them:

• You may try restricting salt in your diet as well as undergoing diuretic therapy. This way, fluid retention in the body may be reduced. Too much fluid in the body can cause build up in your inner ear. When this happens, vertigo can ensue.
• People with Ménière’s disease should avoid smoking tobacco, alcohol, chocolates, and caffeine.
• There is also a procedure called pressure pulse treatment. It is when a device is used to fit to your outer ear. It then produces pulses of air pressure to your middle ear that can help in reducing vertigo.
• Also, surgery is an option in treating Ménière’s disease. In surgery, the vestibular nerve is cut. The endolymphatic sac may also be decompressed. This option is available if none of the other treatments work.

There are also people who have tried undergoing acupressure and acupuncture. Some take herbal supplements. While there are positive results for some people with vertigo or Ménière’s disease, there is still no scientific proof that can back up claims that these treatment options are indeed effective.

If you plan to take alternative treatments for your medical condition, it is still best if you consult with your doctor first so that you will be aware of any side effects that such treatments may have on your body.

What are the Causes of Vertigo?

The causes of vertigo can vary. There are so many medical conditions that have vertigo as a symptom. Usually, a person experiences vertigo when there is a problem in the inner ear. Some of the less common reasons are problems in some areas of the brain. In this section, we’ll discuss several causes of vertigo.

BPPV: This stands for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. BPPV happens when there is a disturbance in your otolith particles. The otolith particles are calcium carbonate crystals that are found in the inner ear fluid. When there is movement, the particles make contact with the sensory hair cells that are inside your semicircular canals. Also, the vestibular nerve is stimulated so that it can send information to your brain about your position.

When you have BPPV, even when you are not moving, the endolymph fluid will continue moving since there are otolith crystals present in your semicircular canals. BPPV commonly happens to older people. However, the root cause of this condition is usually undetermined. BPPV is also thought to be related to dementia. It is also more common in females than to males.

Cholesteatoma: When skin grows in your middle ear because of being repeatedly infected, then cholesteatoma can occur. Leaving this skin to grow can cause damage in your ear. If there are no treatments done for this condition, then it is possible that you may suffer from dizziness and eventually, hearing loss.

Labyrinthitis: This medical condition is when there is an inflammation in your inner ear labyrinth as well as the nerve located there. That nerve is the one responsible for registering sound, the position and the head motion of your body. The name of this nerve is the vestibulocochlear nerve. Labyrinthitis is commonly caused by an infection.

Other causes of vertigo are:

• Head trauma or injuries
• Side effects of particular medications
• Migraines and headaches
• Ear surgery
• Stroke
• Syphilis
• Otosclerosis or a problem in the middle ear bone which can cause hearing loss
• Perilymphatic fistula or a tear in either or both of the ear’s membranes that separate the middle ear from the inner ear. This causes the inner ear fluid to reach the middle ear.
• Herpes zoster oticus or the viral infection affecting the shingles found close to your ears. This also affects the facial nerve. When this happens, then it is known as a condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
• Multiple sclerosis
• Acoustic neuroma or a growth in your vestibular nerve traversing between your inner ear towards the brain.
• Brainstem or cerebellar disease like stroke or tumor.
• And transient ischemic attack

How Long Does Vertigo Last?

When you have episodes of dizziness or vertigo, the length of time that you’ll experience it may vary from just a few seconds up to several days. However, don’t be alarmed. Typically, an episode only lasts for a number of seconds or minutes.

The medical condition that you have which causes the vertigo is a major factor when it comes to the duration of the episode. For example, with Ménière’s disease, the vertigo episode may last for a few hours to a number of days. When you experience vertigo this long, you may also suffer from nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, and there may be some ringing in your ear. In the case of stroke of head injury, some individuals may experience chronic or long-term vertigo.

Conclusion

Vertigo is a complex symptom that can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions. The length of time that an episode of vertigo lasts is dependent on the condition causing it. While it usually just lasts for a few moments, it is still important to seek medical attention so that you will be able to determine the problem causing it. Do consult with your doctor so that you will be given the appropriate medications and other medical advice on what to do when an episode of vertigo happens.

Dr. Flory

Dr. Tymothy L. Flory graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, Missouri. Before opening Atlas Brain Spine, Dr. Flory practiced Upper Cervical Chiropractic in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Flory completed Board Certification of the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association in 2012 and is currently a Credentialed Instructor for the organization.

what to do when dizzy

1. What determines balance
2. Species
3. Causes
4. Symptoms
5. Diagnostics
6. Treatment
7. Possible complications

Image by user18526052 on Freepik

Dizziness is a condition in which a person feels an imaginary rotation of space around him or himself in space (systemic), or feels that he is about to lose consciousness, he has uncertainty and unsteadiness of gait (non-systemic). In total, 5% of the population suffers from various types of dizziness on the planet, regardless of gender and age. In addition, this is the second most common complaint after a headache, with which people come to a neurologist.

What does equilibrium depend on

Maintaining a person’s position in space, and this is balance, is a well-coordinated and finely tuned work of several systems at once – visual, vestibular and proprioceptive.

From all three signals come to certain areas of the brain, where they are converted. Then they return again to the muscles that are located in the eyes, on the trunk, on the limbs. All this helps us focus our eyes and maintain balance. If at least one of these three systems is damaged, a person begins to feel dizzy and unsteady in space.

The vestibular sensory system in the human body is represented by three departments. The first is peripheral, the second is conductive, the third is the fourth neuron, which lies in the cortical region of the temporal region of the brain.

Through the proprioceptive system, the brain receives information about the position of the human body in space at each moment of time, what posture it has, whether a person is sitting, standing or lying, what condition the muscles, joints, ligaments are in, how the legs are located – a person is walking or not moving.

The visual system helps to maintain balance through the movement of the eyes, and their work is ensured through interaction with the brain.

Species

Today, neurologists divide vertigo into two broad types.

Systemic, or true, always happens when the vestibular sensory system is disturbed. The patient will complain that he is either spinning in space, or the objects that surround him are spinning. Often this condition in medicine is also called vertigo, that is, vestibular vertigo.

Non-systemic dizziness – it is also called untrue or non-vestibular, has nothing to do with diseases or pathologies of the vestibular apparatus. There are three subtypes here:

1. Pre-fainting state, when a person feels that he will soon lose consciousness.

2. Balance disorder, which is expressed in unsteadiness of gait, uncertain position while standing.

3. Persistent postural-perceptual vertigo, when there are complaints of nausea, a feeling of emptiness in the head, disorientation, and other manifestations. Often this type of dizziness is the result of an anxiety disorder or fear.

Causes

The cause of systemic dizziness is damage to the vestibular nerve, diseases of the inner ear, damage to the brain stem or cerebellum, and disruption of connections between them.

Usually the vestibular analyzer suffers from:

• dizziness when moving the head – paroxysmal;

• Meniere’s disease;

• vestibular neuronitis;

• labyrinthitis;

• neuromas;

• the appearance of a fistula that connects the cavities of the inner and middle ear;

• vestibular paroxysm.

Other reasons also include:

• hemorrhages in the brain or cerebellum, ischemic strokes;

• vestibular migraine;

• sclerosis;

• neoplasms located in the trunk or in the cerebellum, benign or malignant.

Therefore, there is no single answer to the popular question why the head is spinning. Each patient who visits a doctor has their own causes and factors that cause dizziness, as they are very diverse.

The cause of dizziness of a non-systemic nature can be various diseases and pathologies, but they will not be associated with the brain or vestibular apparatus.

A fainting state can develop with a too rapid decrease in blood pressure, an attack of arrhythmia, the development of myocardial infarction, and heart failure. The cause is anxiety or depression, taking certain drugs.

Balancing problems, unsteadiness and unsteadiness when standing are common in older people. Among the common causes of dizziness are alcoholism, smoking, diabetes, stroke, anxiety, unpleasant events that happen in life.

The causes of persistent postural-perceptual type dizziness are panic attacks, brain injuries, generalized anxiety disorder, heart rhythm failures. This phenomenon is a side effect when taking certain drugs, but the person remains completely physically healthy.

Symptoms

Because there are different types and causes of systemic vertigo, symptoms can vary greatly.

The patient may complain of a false sensation as if their body is moving in space, which is characteristic of the proprioceptive species. For the tactile or tactile, the appearance of a feeling of movement, the lack of a solid support under the feet, the feeling of swinging on the waves, falling into space is typical.

The visual is perceived differently – as if all the surrounding objects are moving.

If the vertigo appears due to a peripheral lesion, the symptoms appear suddenly for the patient, and the rotation pattern is quite pronounced. Sometimes there may be complaints of nausea or even vomiting. The duration of the attack, when dizzy, does not exceed a day.

When the central region is affected, manifestations of vertigo may persist for a long time. Such an attack can last for several days and even several weeks.

The following symptoms are often found:

• hearing loss, tinnitus;

• it becomes impossible to walk, when trying to get up a person falls;

• headache, visual double vision;

• weakness of the arms and legs;

• speech changes;

• nystagmus.

Manifestations of dizziness of a non-systemic type appear in a patient when he is in a pre-fainting state. They become harbingers of a close fainting, last a few seconds or minutes, pallor and loss of concentration appear. Balance problems are expressed as difficulties in maintaining an upright position, uncertainty while walking, unsteady gait.

Persistent postural-perceptual type of vertigo is characterized by complaints such as a feeling of lightness, fog in the head, but on examination there are no problems with balance or coordination. Also, the patient may experience a feeling of body swaying, unsteadiness when walking, dizziness of a non-rotational nature. All these dizzy symptoms can last for weeks and even months, and fluctuations are noted throughout the day.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of causes is based on patient interviews and data collection, as well as clinical examination. The doctor may ask how and when dizziness began, how long it has been going on, how often dizziness attacks occur, whether or not there is a connection with one or another provoking factor, or what caused dizziness, is there pain in the ear, head, are there whether there are any other symptoms, the head is spinning at a certain time of the day and only in a certain position or regardless of these factors.

On examination, the doctor pays attention to the presence or absence of nystagmus, conducts positional tests and evaluates the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Marching and orthostatic tests are also carried out, postural reflexes are checked, gait is assessed.

Hardware diagnostics includes CT or MRI of the brain, ultrasound of the arteries, ECG or ECHO-KG. If tinnitus occurs during dizziness, audiometry is performed, and stabilography is used to study balance.

People with dizziness are advised to contact a therapist for an initial appointment, and this specialist can already recommend consultations with other doctors – a neurologist, cardiologist, psychotherapist, ENT, endocrinologist.

Treatment

In acute systemic dizziness, especially if it has developed for the first time, a person is urgently hospitalized. First, systematic therapy is carried out, which helps to relieve the attack, and then rehabilitation and a recovery period are required.

The patient is provided with complete rest. After removing the attack, the patient is recommended to start doing vestibular gymnastics – move the eyes, head in different directions, train the gait. The sooner a person starts exercising, the sooner he can return to his usual way of life.

In the future, nootropics are used on a course basis, for example, piracetam or betahistine.

In the case of Meniere’s disease, a salt-free diet should be followed and betahistine should be taken regularly. Treatment of systemic vertigo of the central type will depend on the causes that caused this pathology.

Non-systemic vertigo, especially caused by persistent postural-perceptual vertigo, is treated with special exercises to train balance, antidepressant drugs, cognitive-behavioral therapy methods are used when the doctor explains the cause of the disease to the patient and convinces him that in general everything is in order with his health .

Possible complications

In the case of non-systemic dizziness, the appearance of complications is usually associated with incorrect or delayed diagnosis, as well as the lack of adequate treatment.

If the attacks are constantly repeated, patients begin to develop mental disorders and depression against the background of constant anxiety and stress. Hearing problems and long-term obsessive, almost untreated tinnitus are common in Ménière’s disease. In the case of an advanced disease, there are no periods of remission, and the patient always feels in a bad mood and is unable to lead his usual lifestyle. There is a persistent psycho-emotional disorder.

Falls and injuries are non-specific, but fairly common complications of dizziness. In old age, this is a high risk of fractures and subsequent disability.

The basis for the prevention of dizziness is timely diagnosis, proper treatment and control over the results obtained. It is important to have regular blood sugar tests, monitor cholesterol levels, lose weight and control blood pressure.

Once a year, you should undergo a complete medical examination, and if necessary and if there are complaints, visit a doctor as needed. You need to lead a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, eat right and exercise.

Dizziness: causes, diagnosis, treatment

Dizziness is not an independent disease, but a symptom that can accompany a variety of conditions. It causes a feeling of imbalance of the body in space, rotation of one’s own body or surrounding objects, leaving the soil from under one’s feet. Sometimes these sensations are so strong that a person begins to grab onto objects and experiences a fainting state. This symptom is more common in women and among older patients, but in principle can occur in everyone and at any age.

Dizziness may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, hearing impairment, changes in pulse rate and pressure, photo and sound fear, fear, shortness of breath.

Depending on the cause of this condition, the patient may experience it for from several minutes to several days, and if dizziness is caused by diseases of the central nervous system and neoplasms in the brain or hearing organs – constantly.

Dizziness may vary in duration

Why dizziness occurs

An audiologist-otolaryngologist of the MasterSluh clinic network talks about the causes of dizziness ^tm German Chernyak:

– The most common conditions that are accompanied by dizziness are various disorders of the inner ear. Vertigo attacks after a sudden change in the position of the body or head – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – are caused by the displacement of calcium particles in the semicircular canals of the labyrinth of the inner ear.

In Meniere’s disease, the amount of fluid in the cavity of the inner ear increases, as a result of which the pressure inside the labyrinth increases.

Vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis occur due to dysfunction of the vestibular part of the inner ear and the vestibular nerve.

Also, congenital anomalies in the development of the inner ear can provoke dizziness.

– Herman, it turns out that when such a symptom as dizziness appears, first of all it is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist?

– There are about 100 diseases in which dizziness is noted. It is important to exclude the presence of neoplasms of the brain, circulatory disorders of the brain stem, diseases of the vessels of the neck and cervical spine, trauma. This symptom may accompany migraines or be the result of taking strong medications. Thus, with complaints of dizziness, a comprehensive examination is required: an MRI may be performed, electrocochleography may be required to exclude or confirm Meniere’s disease. Both an otolaryngologist-audiologist and an otoneurologist can prescribe this examination.

Most vertigo complaints are related to inner ear disorders

Treatments for dizziness

Since vertigo is not a disease in itself, treatment will depend on the underlying cause. In some cases, due to the ability of the brain to adapt to changes in the inner ear and use other mechanisms to maintain balance, dizziness resolves without treatment.

The audiologists of the clinic MasterSluh ^tm recommend vestibular rehabilitation as one of the most effective methods for dizziness associated with inner ear dysfunction. This is one of the options for physiotherapy, which includes a set of exercises that mimic the load of the vestibular apparatus. Performing these exercises allows you to restore the normal functioning of the organ of balance or cause a faster and more effective adaptation of the brain to disturbances by training other sensory organs.

If dizziness is caused by infection or inflammation, drug therapy is used. Also, patients may be recommended a diet with limited fluid intake and foods that cause it to be retained in the body.

In cases where dizziness seriously impairs the patient’s quality of life and performance, surgical treatment may be prescribed: transection of the vestibular nerve or destruction of the labyrinth. This leads to irreversible hearing loss, but can significantly reduce the severity of vestibular disorders.

When to call a specialist immediately

• If dizziness continues for more than an hour.
• If this symptom occurs for the first time and is accompanied by nausea or vomiting.