Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or swaying experienced while the body is stationary. When an individual feels that he himself is moving, then it is known as subjective vertigo whereas when it is perceived that the surroundings are moving, then it is known as objective vertigo.

The brain utilizes the inputs received from the four sensory systems in order to maintain balance and orientation to the surroundings. Vertigo is caused when conflicts arise between these signals sent to the brain by various balance and position sensing systems of the body. Labyrinth, a portion of the inner ear, has some specialized cells which detect motions and changes in positions. An injury or disease caused to the inner ear sends false signals to the brain. These false signals conflict with the signals sent from the other balance and positioning centers and thus trigger vertigo.

Causes of Vertigo
Some common causes of vertigo are:

• Injury suffered to the inner ear or head.
• Disorders like vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
• Migraine headaches that are painful and debilitating.
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency triggered due to decreased blood flow in the posterior circulation of the brain.
• Cholesteatoma, a noncancerous growth behind the eardrum.
• Cancer or brain tumor that travels to other part of the body, especially the ear.
• Ear problems leading to symptoms of vertigo

Symptoms of Vertigo
Symptoms of vertigo may vary from person to person. For some individuals they may be very severe and frequently recurring, while for others they may last for just a few days or weeks. Some notable symptoms are:

• Hearing loss or a ringing sensation in the ears.
• It may appear as if the floor is moving.
• The feeling of being pulled down to the floor or towards one side of the room.
• Difficulty in walking or standing at one place.
• Sweating profusely.
• Weakness accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
• Feeling light headed.
• Feeling as if the room is spinning.
• Difficulty in speaking and low degree of consciousness.
• Visual disturbances and not being able to look at a particular object continuously.

The duration of these symptoms may range from few minutes to few days. Sometimes they recur periodically, while in other cases they occur continuously. Movement of head, changing position or turning while lying down can often lead to worsening of this condition. Sudden onset of vertigo can be a indication of peripheral vestibular disorder.

Diagnosis of Vertigo
Vertigo diagnosis includes examination of ears, eye movements and nervous system. In case of severe vertigo, some specific tests are recommended. A provocation test involves positioning the head in different positions to curb dizziness. The inability to maintain balance while standing with the eyes closed may be an indication of a problem in the middle ear. In caloric test, warm and cold air is blown into the ear to examine whether the inner ear is working properly. An x-ray is recommended to rule out arthritis of the neck, while a CT or MRI scan of brain is recommended to rule out the possibility of brain tumor.

Vertigo Treatment
Treatment of vertigo involves identifying and wiping out the cause of the disorder. If vertigo is caused due to a particular medication, then the dose of that medicine should be immediately lowered or it should be discontinued. A physical therapy, known as Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is used to treat vertigo by restoring normal functioning of the vestibular system. If vertigo is caused due to ear infections resulting from bacterial growth, it may be treated by using antibiotics. A surgical process called Myringotomy is used to treat chronic ear infections which trigger vertigo. If vertigo is caused due to meniere disease, it can be treated by reducing sodium intake.

It is very important to identify the exact cause of the disorder before initiating treatment. If not treated at the right time, it may lead to other complications such as depression and loss of self esteem.