An Introduction to Vertigo — Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Vertigo is a sensation of spinning dizziness that is very common in people aged 65 years or more. It can be temporary or long-term. Usually, it happens when there is an ear infection or a problem with the sensory nerve pathway.

People with an inner ear disorder, including Cholesteatoma, Ménière's disease, and Labyrinthitis, experience vertigo. Moreover, it can also occur during pregnancy or as a symptom of neurovascular disorders. The inner ear receives signals from the brain and helps in maintaining the pH balance of the body. However, due to nerve damage or inflammation in the brain, the signals are lost. This is when the person gets a sensation of feeling off-balance, the main symptom of vertigo.

Several conditions can give rise to vertigo. It is important to note that Vertigo is not an illness but a symptom of an underlying condition.

Symptoms

A person with vertigo will feel dizzy or as if their surrounding environment is moving or spinning. Vertigo is a symptom, but it can result in or occur alongside other symptoms as well, including:

• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• A feeling of fullness in the ear
• Nausea and vomiting
• Balance problems
• Nystagmus, in which the eyes move from side to side uncontrollably
• Tinnitus, when there is a ringing in the ear

Types

Vertigo can be of two types, such as:

Peripheral Vertigo

Around 80% of individuals experience this type of vertigo. This condition usually results if there is an issue in the inner ear that controls balance. Tiny organs in the inner ear respond to gravity and the position of a person by sending nerve signals to the brain. This process allows individuals to maintain their balance and posture on standing up.

Any issues in this process can result in vertigo. Some of the common causes are described as follows:

• The structures in the inner ear may become irritated and inflamed spontaneously. Small crystals of stones found usually within the inner ear may become displaced and cause irritation to the small hair cells, thereby causing vertigo. This condition is also referred to as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
• Infection of the vestibular nerve can also result in dizziness or vertigo. This condition is often known as vestibular neuronitis or vestibular neutitis.
• Buildup of fluid in the inner ear or the endolymphatic system results in Ménière’s disease — a type of vertigo that results in hearing loss and tinnitus. The cause of buildup of fluid is unknown.
• These symptoms can also be caused due to acoustic neuromas, which is a tumor of the vestibular nerve.

Central Vertigo

Central vertigo arises due to problems with the central nervous system (CNS). Around 20% of people experience this type of vertigo. The condition usually arises from an issue in a part of the brain stem or cerebellum. Some of the possible causes are vestibular migraine, tumors, and demyelination. Vertigo can also arise due to a problem with the cervical spine.

Causes

Several causes can result in vertigo. It can be defined based on whether the cause is central or peripheral. If the cause is central, it arises in either the brain or spinal cord. On the other hand, peripheral vertigo is caused due to a problem within the inner ear.

Peripheral Causes

Peripheral vertigo causes from an imbalance in the inner ear. Some of the peripheral causes include BPPV, acoustic neuromas, Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis, or vestibular neuronitis.

Labyrinthitis usually occurs when an infection in the inner ear labyrinth results in inflammation. Within this area is the vestibulocochlear nerve that sends nerve signals to the brain about sound, head motion, and position of a person. Some of the common symptoms a person with labyrinthitis may experience are dizziness, hearing loss, ear pain, tinnitus, vision changes, and headaches.  

On the other hand, an infection in the vestibular nerve causes vestibular neuritis, which results in inflammation of the nerve. It is similar to labyrinthitis, but it does not cause hearing loss in a person. Along with vertigo, a person with vestibular neuritis may experience blurred vision, nausea, and a sensation of feeling imbalanced.

Central Causes

• Tumors in the brain or spinal cord
• Concussion or traumatic injury in the brain that can result in vertigo
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Strokes may trigger vertigo and loss of coordination.
• Few patients with a type of migraine headache called vestibular migraine may result in vertigo as a symptom.

Risk Factors

Head injuries may increase the chances of developing vertigo. Inflammation or infection in the ear may affect the vestibular nerve, resulting in the development of labyrinthitis. Vertigo may also cause as a result of side-effect of many medicines, including antidepressants, aspirin, anti-seizure medications, and medications to control blood pressure. Besides, the excessive consumption of alcohol may also trigger vertigo.

The risk of stroke multiplies with poorly controlled high blood pressure, smoking, and even diabetes. Nearly 2 to 3% of populations are at risk of developing BPPV. Moreover, older women are more likely at higher risk of developing BPPV.

Treatment

Most vertigo types resolves on its own, but a person may need immediate medical attention for an underlying condition. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial infection or antiviral drugs for shingles. Medications such as anti-emetics and antihistamines are available to help provide relief from nausea and motion sickness.

A person may require surgery if the drugs fail to show any positive outcome. Acoustic neuroma and BPPV are the two conditions that may require a person to undergo surgery. Antihistamines are available at your local pharmacy or over the internet.

Other treatment options include:

• Having a physician for injecting corticosteroids or antibiotics into the middle ear
• Avoiding chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and not smoking
• Limiting the consumption of sodium and using diuretic therapy to reduce fluid levels
• Pressure pulse treatment, which includes fitting an ear device

Home Remedies to Treat Vertigo

While a lot of suggestions for treating vertigo can be found, most of them are ineffective. The majority of vertigo cases resolve spontaneously within a few days, thereby creating a belief that a particular home remedy may help resolve the symptoms.

Certain exercise forms, including vestibular rehabilitation exercises and Brand-Daroff exercises, are suggested by doctors to patients, in order to resolve the symptoms.

Grocare’s Natural Ayurvedic Vertigo Kit to Treat Vertigo

With its Vertigo kit, Grocare ensures the elimination of symptoms of vertigo naturally over time. Grocare’s Vertigo Kit consists of two ayurvedic medicines — Oronerv® & Acidim®. Made with the richness of natural herbs, the two medicines control the pH, minimizing free radicals and inflammation. This, in turn, helps provide relief from vertigo.

Herbs such as Commiphora Mukul and Pluchea Lanceolata are mixed to make Oronerv®, which helps restore and synchronize the neurovascular system in the body. The product results in increased blood flow to the ears, thereby helping the body eliminate harmful toxins that cause inflammation within the ears. In a nutshell, Oronerv® maintains functional harmony in the neurovascular system. The herbs used to formulate this product have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce the pressure in the ears and flag out the symptoms of vertigo.

Acidim® is another useful product in the Vertigo Kit that is market in the form of a tablet (850g). It is produced by a unique combination of 14 potent bio-herbs, amongst which, Cyperus Rotundus and Embellia Ribes help balance the pH naturally throughout the body. The product purifies the impurities present in the body by detoxification and correcting the pH.

Besides, it is anti-inflammatory in nature and helps eliminate the symptoms of vertigo. One of the ingredients of Acidim®, Embellia Ribes, helps in increasing blood circulation throughout the body, which can help remove harmful free radicals and toxins that occur with inflammation within the ears.

Together, Oronerv® & Acidim® help in eliminating the symptoms of vertigo naturally over time.

Proper Usage

Two tablets of Oronerv® should be taken twice a day (post breakfast and dinner), and two tablets of Acidim® should be taken a day thrice (post breakfast, lunch & dinner), respectively. The tablets should be taken for 2-3 months or as prescribed by the doctor. Individuals can see the benefits within a month in the form of symptomatic relief. If taken within the prescribed dosage, both medicines do not result in any known side-effects.