WHAT IS VERTIGO

Vertigo is a condition in which there is a sensation that the environment around us is spinning, or the feeling that we are spinning when we are still. This can make you feel dizzy and lose your balance.

Vertigo is more of a symptom of some health condition than an illness in itself, and can occur alongside other symptoms.

VERTIGO SYMPTOMS

› Nausea and vomiting
› Dizziness
› Balance problems
› Hearing loss in one or both ears
› Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
› Feeling of fullness in the ears
› Headache
› Sensation like motion sickness
› Nystagmus (a condition that causes the eyes to move from side to side quickly and uncontrollably)

TYPES OF VERTIGO DISEASE

There are two main types of vertigo: Peripheral and Central.

Peripheral Vertigo
› Is the most common type. It occurs when there is a problem with the inner ear or vestibular nerve. (Both help with a sense of balance)
› Peripheral vertigo subtypes include: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
› Labyrinthitis
› Vestibular neuritis
› Ménière's disease. Central vertigo is less common. It occurs when you have a condition that affects your brain, such as an infection, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. People with central vertigo usually have more severe symptoms such as severe instability or difficulty walking

Central Vertigo
› Central vertigo is less common. It occurs when conditions that affect the brain occur, such as infection, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.
› People with central vertigo usually have more severe symptoms such as severe instability or difficulty walking.

Vertigo is not always possible to eliminate without the help of a healthcare provider. But here are some things you can try at home to ease your symptoms:

› Move slowly when standing, turning your head, or performing other triggering movements.
› Sleep with your head raised on two pillows. Lie down in a dark, quiet room to reduce the sensation of spinning.
› Sit down immediately if you feel dizzy.
› Squat instead of bending at the waist when picking something up.
› Use a cane or cane if you feel like you are going to fall.

Some cases of vertigo improve over time, without treatment. However, some people experience recurrent episodes for months, or even years, as in Ménière's disease.

There are specific treatments for some causes of vertigo
› A series of simple head movements (known as the Epley maneuver) is used to treat BPPV.
› Medications, such as prochlorperazine and some antihistamines, may help in the early stages or most cases of vertigo, and should be used after consulting a doctor.

Material by: PKRS (Hospital Health Promotion) Santo Borromeus Hospital