Vertigo is a sense of dizziness. If you are suffering from vertigo, you will feel your environment spinning or moving. It describes an illusion of movement. Vertigo can happen to anyone but, it is common for people aged sixty-five years and above. Vertigo can be long-term or a temporary disorder. It is caused by over sixty psychiatric and medical conditions and can happen if you have a problem with brain and ear.

What are the Types and Causes of Vertigo?

There are several types of vertigo which include; Peripheral vertigo, central vertigo, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Peripheral Vertigo

This occurs when you have a disturbance in balancing inner ears organs. The web of the inner ear has small organs that help in sending messages to the brain. The messages alert the brain when there is movement from the vertical position. This enables you to maintain the balance when you stand up. Interference with this system causes peripheral vertigo. It is also caused by inflammation due to a viral infection and the buildup of fluid in the inner ear.

Central Vertigo

This occurs when you have a disturbance in parts of your brain called sensory nerve pathways. Central vertigo includes lesion of cranial nerve VIII. Patient with central vertigo may experience hallucinations motion of their surroundings. This type of vertigo may be caused by ischemic or hemorrhagic insults to the cerebellum. Other causes include; infection, multiple sclerosis, trauma stroke, multiple sclerosis, transient ischemic attack, acoustic neuroma, and cerebellar brain tumor.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

In this vertigo, crystals of calcium carbonate occur in the inner ear fluid. They pull on sensory hair cells when you are moving. Therefore, it encourages the vestibular nerve to postpositional information to the brain. If you are suffering from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, your normal movement of the endolymph fluid may continue after the stop of head movement. This disorder affects older people, and it is mainly common in women. The cause of this disorder is unknown.

What are the Symptoms of Vertigo?

The main symptom of vertigo is changing the positioning of your head. You may feel like you are tilting, spinning, swaying, unbalanced and pulled to one direction. Other symptoms include; sweating, headache, loss of hearing, vomiting, nauseated, and abnormal jerking eye movement. These symptoms may come and go or may last for few minutes to few hours.

What are the Treatment of Vertigo?

Any treatment for this disorder depends on its cause. In most cases, vertigo disappears without treatment, in some cases it can be caused by lack of sleep, one would just need to get caught up on their sleep. In some vertigo cases, treatment may be needed. These treatments may include;

Intake of Medicine:

You may be given medication to relieve symptoms. These symptoms include sickness or nausea due to vertigo. You may be given steroids or antibiotics if vertigo is due to an infection. Water pill will be prescribed if you have fluid buildup.

Vestibular Rehabilitation:

This is a physical therapy. It helps the patient strengthen their vestibular system. One of the vestibular system roles is to post signal to the brain. This signal is meant to help the body and head movement relation to gravity. You will require this therapy if you have a recurrent session of vertigo. It will train your other senses to reimburse for vertigo.

Other treatment may include; Canalith repositioning maneuvers and surgery.