Vertigo influences Balance of Life

Vertigo is an illusion of movement and is a specific type of dizziness which causes the person to feel the sensation that they or their surroundings are moving, The person may be standing completely still and feel vertigo. You may recall as a child spinning around and around and making yourself dizzy. This is the same type of dizziness that vertigo causes. 

The sensation of feeling 'wobbly' or the sensation of spinning, swaying and dizziness. Vertigo sensations can occur as often as seconds or minutes to a couple of hours. Vertigo may last for longer periods of time.  

Vertigo is not limited to an age group and can affect anyone. There are many reasons as to why vertigo may happen. Like other disorders that cause balance issues vertigo can be treated if diagnosed by your general practitioner. 

The most common cause of vertigo is BPPV. This is due to minute calcium particles known as canaliths in the canals of inner ear. The job of the inner ear is to keep balance in the body. The inner ear responds to gravity and sends signals to the brain. BPPV is more common in older individuals. vertigo can also be the result of Vestibular Neuronitis causes inflammation in the inner ear and is caused by a viral infection. The inflamation affects the nerves that influences balance and leads to vertigo. Labyrinthitis is another inflammation of the inner ear that again leads to imbalance of body. 

Other infections and injuries may result in vertigo as well.Infections such as Meniere's disease is a bacterial or viral infection that causes accumulation of fluid exerting high pressure in the ear can also be lead to vertigo. Hearing loss and tinnitus may also be caused by this disease. Head and neck injuries , nerve or brain tumors, ear surgery, prolonged bed rest or migraine headaches all can be the cause of vertigo. 

Vertigo is diagnosed through physician test, MRI's and CT scans. The symptoms that one may have to lead up to the doctor visit include:

• Nausea
• Feeling imbalanced or tilt while walking or sitting
• Blurred vision
• Nystagmus or jerky or abnormal movement of eyes
• Headache
• Excess sweating
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus

Once Diagnosed Vertigo can be treated in a number of different ways. The type of treatment depends on what caused the vertigo. Sometimes treatment will go away without the need of treatment as the brain may adapt by finding an alternative mechanism for balancing the body. Rehabilitation of the vestibular system is often diagnosed for individuals who suffer from recurrent episodes of vertigo time and again. The rehabilitation trains your body's other sense organs to balance and make up when vertigo occurs.

Epley maneuvers is treatment suggested for BPPV. The maneuvers is a series of movements to help remove the calcium deposits that causes vertigo. In addition medication can be prescribed to help reduce symptoms of vertigo. Drugs ranging from anti inflammatory, antibiotics or steroids all can be prescribed to help reduce swelling and cure infections. In some cases such as to remove tumors or head injuries surgery will be recommended.