All you need to know about Vertigo: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

All you need to know about: Vertigo

Have you ever been on an elliptical machine, roller coaster, or boat and even when you’re on solid ground, you feel like the motion is still continuing? That’s how people with vertigo feel; but, for them, this feeling is extreme and can last for days. Up to ONE in TEN people have experienced vertigo and if you’re over 40, you are even more likely to have experienced it. Luckily, there are plenty of vertigo treatment options. Keep reading to find out more!

Vertigo Symptoms

If you have experienced a combination of these common vertigo symptoms, especially after a lot of movement, it is likely you experienced vertigo.

• Dizziness
• A loss of balance
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Hearing impairment (ringing, loss etc.)
• Feeling that you/your surroundings are moving

Vertigo Causes

Ultimately, vertigo is characterized by the dizziness one feels. Dizziness occurs due to the interruption of the dynamic equilibrium receptors in the ear. These receptors sense rotational or spinning movement of our head. They are located in our inner ear inside our semicircular canals, which are basically three circular tubes filled with fluid. Our head movements cause the fluid to move and then the fluid movement sends signals to our brain. However, when one of these steps is interrupted or one of these body parts affected, we can experience vertigo. Some common causes of vertigo are:

Meniere's Disease: While there seems to be no specific cause of Meniere’s Disease, its symptoms are likely due to an abnormal amount of fluid in the inner ear. People experience episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ear and hearing loss.

Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis: Viral infections in the inner ear and sometimes other places can cause Vestibular Neuritis. This occurs when the vestibulocochlear nerve, the nerve that relays balance information to your brain, is swollen. People experience vertigo as well as nausea and difficulty walking.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This is the most common cause of vertigo. It is caused by specific changes in head movements and is sometimes triggered by head injuries. People experience vertigo and its related symptoms. For example, getting off a roller coaster may trigger BPPV.

Medication Side Effects: Some ototoxic medications (toxic to the ear) include antibiotics like Gentamicin, anti-inflammatory drugs like Aleve or Advil, and diuretics like Lasix and can cause vertigo.

Vertigo Treatment

Depending on the cause, severity and frequency of vertigo you experience there are different treatment options. Sufferers of extreme vertigo can request their doctor to prescribe certain medications and advise them about advanced treatments option like injections and surgery. However, there are many simple and easy home remedies work as AWESOME vertigo treatments.

Diet

If vertigo is caused by fluid excess in the inner ear like those with Meniere's Disease, avoid salty foods. Salt makes you retain water, which can lead to more fluid in your ear, leading to more pressure in your ear and ultimately vertigo.

There have been some studies that suggest Ginkgo biloba can also aid in treating vertigo. Ginkgo biloba can be taken as a vitamin supplement or tea. Ginger also can aid in relieving nausea that may accompany vertigo events.

Acupressure & Aromatherapy

Acupressure at the P6 point has also been shown to help with the nausea, vomiting and dizziness that accompany vertigo. See this diagram or visit https://nomonausea.com/pages/how-it-works to learn more about the P6 point.

When pressure is placed on the P6 point, the body produces endorphins that serve as anti-nausea messengers to tell the brain that you are upright even if you feel like you're spinning. Peppermint aromatherapy has also been established as a natural effective remedy for vertigo. The smell of peppermint instantly relieves nausea and stops vomiting.

But who wants to be pushing on their wrist for 10 minutes? Or make the house smell like peppermint? Not you! You could be doing plenty of other things. Luckily NoMo Nausea bands keep the pressure precisely on your P6 point and smell like peppermint to prevent and relieve any vertigo symptoms. You can find them at www.NoMoNausea.com, CVS, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Walmart.com or Amazon.

Epley Manuever

The Epley Maneuver is also very effective in treating vertigo. It requires a bit more of a commitment; people have the best results when these exercises are performed every night. They involve quick head movements to the right and left and sitting up and back. This home remedy can relieve over 50% of vertigo symptoms. Check out hopkinsmedicine.org to learn the steps.

 

So whether you’ve been diagnosed with Meinere’s, Vestibular Neuritis or BBPV or just often experience these uncomfortable vertigo symptoms, be sure to give these home remedies a try! It’s easy to do a 5 minute Epley Manuever each night and alter your diet a bit. It’s even easier to just wear a NoMo Nausea Band! With a NoMo Band you’ll have NO MO’ VERTIGO!