Vertigo Causes and Treatment Options: Understanding Symptoms and Finding Relief

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom rather than a disease itself. It originates from dysfunction in the vestibular system, the inner ear and brain components responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. When this system is disturbed, our brain receives conflicting messages about motion, leading to the spinning sensation known as vertigo.

Vertigo symptoms often include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty focusing, loss of balance, and sometimes hearing changes such as ringing in the ears. The severity and duration can vary widely, from brief spells lasting seconds to prolonged episodes that persist for hours or days.

Vertigo Symptoms and Causes: A Closer Look

Vertigo symptoms and causes stem from different sources, most of which involve the inner ear or the brain. Some common causes of vertigo include:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): The most common cause of vertigo, BPPV occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals. This disturbs normal fluid movement, causing brief but intense episodes of spinning vertigo triggered by specific head movements.

• Vestibular Neuritis / Labyrinthitis: Viral infections can inflame the vestibular nerve or inner ear, leading to severe vertigo that may last several days, often accompanied by hearing loss in labyrinthitis.

• Meniere’s Disease: This condition involves abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear, causing recurring vertigo episodes alongside hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and a feeling of fullness in the ear.

• Vestibular Migraine: Some migraine sufferers experience vertigo as a symptom, with episodes lasting minutes to hours, sometimes without headache.

• Head or Neck Injury: Trauma to the head or cervical spine can affect the balance organs or brain, resulting in vertigo.

• Medications and Other Medical Conditions: Certain drugs and systemic illnesses can trigger vertigo by interfering with the vestibular system.

Our ENT experts in Delhi-NCR are trained to carefully distinguish among these causes using clinical examinations, specialised balance tests, and imaging when needed.

Causes of Vertigo in Women

While vertigo affects all genders, women are particularly susceptible due to several factors related to hormonal changes. The causes of vertigo in women often relate to:

• Hormonal Fluctuations: Changes in estrogen and progesterone during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can alter inner ear fluid balance, triggering vertigo episodes.

• Increased Prevalence of Migraine: Vestibular migraines are more common in women and linked to hormonal cycles.

• Osteoporosis: Reduced bone density can affect calcium metabolism and the tiny ear crystals involved in BPPV.

• Autoimmune Disorders: More frequent in women, these conditions can sometimes impact vestibular nerve function.

Our ENT experts in Delhi-NCR ensure a thorough evaluation of vertigo in female patients, integrating these specific factors into diagnosis and management for optimal outcomes.

Vertigo Treatment at Home: Managing Vertigo Symptoms Safely

Many patients seek vertigo treatment at home, especially for mild or infrequent episodes. While professional evaluation is critical, the following home care tips can help alleviate vertigo symptoms and prevent falls:

• Perform Canalith Repositioning Exercises: For BPPV, manoeuvres such as the Epley or Semont manoeuvre can be done at home with guidance from an ENT specialist to reposition displaced crystals.

• Move Slowly and Avoid Sudden Head Movements: Abrupt motions can trigger or worsen vertigo, so it’s important to rise slowly from sitting or lying down.

• Stay Hydrated and Eat Balanced Meals: Dehydration and low blood sugar can exacerbate dizziness.

• Use Support when Moving: Holding onto sturdy furniture or using walking aids can prevent falls during vertigo episodes.

• Avoid Known Triggers: Certain smells, bright lights, or environments with lots of movement may worsen vertigo symptoms.

• Rest in a Dark, Quiet Room During Attacks: Reducing sensory input may ease nausea and dizziness.

It is important to note that vertigo treatment at home should complement, not replace, medical care provided by ENT experts in Delhi-NCR. Our experts specialise in all surgical and non-surgical treatments for vertigo, including Meniere’s disease. These treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s cause and condition.

Medical Treatments for Vertigo

When vertigo is frequent, severe, or disrupts daily life, our ENT experts in Delhi-NCR offer comprehensive treatment plans:

• Canalith Repositioning Procedures: In the clinic, specialists perform precise head manoeuvres like the Epley manoeuvre to quickly relieve BPPV symptoms.

• Medications: Antihistamines, anti-nausea drugs, corticosteroids, or diuretics for Meniere’s disease can help manage vertigo symptoms and underlying inflammation or fluid balance.

• Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT): Physical therapy exercises designed to retrain the brain’s balance function and reduce dizziness over time.

• Lifestyle and Dietary Modifications: A low-sodium diet, caffeine avoidance, and stress management are often recommended for conditions like Meniere’s disease or vestibular migraine.

• Surgical Options: Rarely, surgery may be considered for persistent vertigo caused by tumours or structural ear problems.

Our ENT experts in Delhi-NCR emphasise a personalised approach, combining these treatments with patient education and psychological support.

When to See ENT Experts in Delhi-NCR

While vertigo can sometimes resolve without treatment, immediate medical attention is needed when vertigo:

• It is sudden and severe.

• It is accompanied by hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, or vision changes.

• Causes weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.

• Leads to frequent falls or injury.

• Does not improve with home care or medication.

Our ENT experts in Delhi-NCR offer prompt diagnosis and effective management, ensuring patients regain balance, reduce vertigo symptoms, and improve their quality of life.