Prognosis How Long Does Vertigo Last? In many cases, symptoms of vertigo will resolve on their own within a few days. But for other people, it’s chronic.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ea776135-15a2-4ba3-8054-697b48ae255e Talk to your doctor if you have repeated bouts of vertigo because it may be a symptom of another health condition.
Complications Complications of Vertigo Vertigo can take a toll on your daily life. If your episodes are frequent or severe, you may not be able to work, drive, or perform other tasks.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f42b0613-4ccb-4405-a27b-c4ac6a052014 Vertigo can also lead to falls, which may cause injuries. Falling is particularly a concern for older people, who are more prone to bone fractures and other complications. Falling is the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in Americans ages 65 and older.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299c7930db-8a8e-448a-8e94-a89eb1ae2977
If you have vertigo, you may feel like you’re moving or spinning when you’re not. Or you may feel like your surroundings are in motion when they aren’t. Many people describe vertigo as feeling dizzy, but it’s different from being lightheaded. Simple movements are unusually intense for people with vertigo, and the condition can impact your everyday life. About 40 percent of people have vertigo at least once.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297bca8dd8-3a96-4a38-a6d7-8b4c4a0bb08d Vertigo itself may be a symptom of another problem, such as an issue with your inner ear or the brain systems that control balance. Your symptoms will probably depend on what’s causing your episodes and the type of vertigo you have.
Lifestyle Lifestyle Changes and Prevention of Vertigo Most of the time, vertigo can’t be prevented. But knowing and avoiding certain risk factors may help keep it from occurring. For instance, you can protect yourself from a head injury by wearing a helmet when bicycling or playing sports or using a cane or similar supporting device if you often feel like you may fall.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294105e768-1b49-4bce-a0cf-e44af557af48 Also ask your doctor about changes to your diet, exercise routine, and medication if you think additional factors could be behind your vertigo symptoms.
Causes Causes and Risk Factors of Vertigo Causes may vary from person to person. Peripheral vertigo causes include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bf4b9ada-79f9-434b-b480-2dba8a79f251 Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which occurs when small crystals break loose in your inner ear Ménière’s disease, or fluid buildup in your ear Neuronitis, or inflammation of your vestibular nerve Labyrinthitis , or inner-ear swelling Medications, including diuretics (water pills) and aminoglycoside antibiotics Head injury Causes of central vertigo may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e9fe7f1c-7439-43cd-a519-8c4bc1fdae5d Medications Alcohol Vestibular migraine Vascular disease Multiple sclerosis Stroke Tumor Your risk of having a vertigo episode also may increase if you:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629829a6adf-4c8a-48c2-a633-f3d99ed782d8e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629739e8231-e5e5-46eb-bf3a-ac749adfcef9 Are a woman Are age 50 or older Have a family history of vertigo Have had a head injury Have had osteoporosis
Types Types of Vertigo The two main types of vertigo are:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296e1b72f3-9c5b-4969-b8aa-3f50fa7db5f5 Peripheral Vertigo This is caused by a problem in your inner ear or vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear and the brain. It is the most common type of vertigo. Central Vertigo Less common, this occurs when an infection, injury, or stroke affects your brain, resulting in severe symptoms like trouble walking or instability. Researchers have looked at a potential third type of vertigo called “recurrent spontaneous vertigo with head-shaking nystagmus,” which occurs after head movement and involves more serious bouts of motion sickness.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d36a2db5-81fa-4718-a0e6-e65e41a0b239
The Takeaway Vertigo occurs when you feel a sensation of motion or spinning. It’s not a disease but a symptom, usually linked to problems with your inner ear or brain systems that control balance. Causes of vertigo symptoms vary from person to person, but they can include medications, fluid buildup or swelling in your ear, a head injury, and more. Vertigo symptoms may resolve on their own. Your doctor may recommend techniques to help you relieve your symptoms. Call your doctor if your vertigo symptoms are frequent or severe, and call 911 if they accompany symptoms like chest pain, a severe headache, or vision, hearing, and mobility problems.
Diagnosis How Is Vertigo Diagnosed? Diagnosing vertigo can be tricky because people with dizziness often have trouble describing their specific symptoms. Each person may require different testing, depending on the suspected cause. Your doctor may start by asking questions and performing a physical exam. Tests may be necessary to determine if the issue stems from your inner ear or central nervous system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291bd31c7d-bbbd-4c8b-a2d8-9048e89318b0 Imaging tests, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can let doctors see what’s going on inside your body. In some cases, hearing tests, vision tests, blood work, and even allergy tests are also used.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629953e9530-5546-47a5-b00f-25b008f10089 Your general practitioner may refer you to a specialist, such as an otolaryngologist or a neurologist — specialists who focus on inner-ear or balance problems — to help diagnose or treat your condition.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f2e7fa40-7e02-479b-9a6a-a13dd41e52ac When Should You Call Your Doctor About Vertigo? You should see a doctor if you have vertigo symptoms that are frequent or severe.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762917573a72-61ce-417b-bf1b-28b0732ff5dd It’s also a good idea to see your healthcare provider if you have any type of dizziness that interferes with your daily activities.
Treatment Treatment and Medication Options for Vertigo Several treatment options are available to help symptoms of vertigo. The “canalith repositioning procedure,” also known as the Epley maneuver, is a popular therapy that involves exercises to reposition canaliths (calcium crystals) in your inner ear. It has a success rate of about 80 percent in helping people with BPPV.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ff29ec16-6432-410d-af1f-4ef0fcf172c6 At times, other types of physical therapy can relieve vertigo that is the result of inner-ear problems.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b31ec3a2-bbd6-44f4-8ed4-e7ac349ec2b1 Medication Options Your doctor may prescribe or recommend medication to help resolve short-term vertigo symptoms. These may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a9e4f78e-a5b3-46b8-b251-ee1ed3fdac8f dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) meclizine (Antivert) cyclizine Surgery Although rare, surgery may be an option if the Epley maneuver does not address inner-ear issues in the long term.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e45b98d7-dc11-490e-aac9-bbdd18e6574f Complementary and Integrative Therapies Your doctor may provide you with instructions for doing modified repositioning exercises, such as the Epley maneuver, at home.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bf77bd99-8a92-4fd2-8308-451c9baa5de1 Other tips for stopping vertigo symptoms when they arise include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f020d1ea-ed0c-4148-9a6c-aafd372c06ae Sitting down if you feel dizzy Lying in a quiet, dark room if you feel like your head is spinning Moving slowly when you stand or turn your head Keeping your head elevated while sleeping Squatting to pick something up, rather than bending at the waist
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: VertigoMayo Clinic: Canalith Repositioning ProcedureJohns Hopkins Medicine: Home Epley ManeuverNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Ménière’s DiseaseVestibular Disorders Association: Causes of Dizziness
Symptoms Signs and Symptoms of Vertigo Symptoms of vertigo vary from person to person. Your symptoms might be mild or severe, depending on what’s causing the issue. Some common signs and symptoms of peripheral vertigo include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293f4030ae-6fe9-4dff-96cd-553a710b575fe60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292edd8075-7168-4a4e-ae39-c5631bdfb89c Dizziness Feeling like you’re moving or spinning Vision problems Hearing loss in one or both ears Balance problems Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus Sweating Nausea and vomiting Motion sickness Central vertigo signs and symptoms include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762978a3578c-4a67-4a23-a1cc-348184eaaec8 Double vision Difficulty swallowing Facial paralysis Eye movement difficulties Slurred speech Weak limbs Sometimes these unpleasant sensations are worse if you’re standing up, walking, or moving your head around. Symptoms can last a few minutes, or they can persist for hours. In some people, vertigo persists for weeks or months.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629027b10e5-1b0b-4f9b-bada-bf688e4ab785
Emergency Care When Should You Seek Emergency Care? Symptoms of vertigo are rarely the result of a serious, life-threatening condition. But you should visit your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical care if you have dizziness and other symptoms, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629be26780e-c5cd-443c-be25-4bd389268afe Chest pain A new, different, or severe headache Hearing loss Double vision or loss of vision Fever Limb weakness Difficulty walking In these situations, rather than driving yourself, it’s often best to call 911 or have someone take you to the hospital.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296c93b1c3-1d69-4abb-95d9-5feb0586dd81
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