Vertigo or dizziness is a common symptom that comes along with many different medical conditions. There is no one specific cause of vertigo but there are a variety of different conditions that can lead to this condition. In order to understand what causes vertigo, you first have to understand what causes motion sickness in the first place.
Motion sickness occurs when your body has a sudden change in velocity which causes your eyes to move rapidly around the area that you are standing in. You may be vomiting, having a hard time breathing, or feel very lightheaded.
What causes vertigo and what are the symptoms
When looking at what causes vertigo it helps to have a basic understanding of how the inner ear works. Your inner ear, which is part of the inner ear structure, has many tiny hairs that sit just behind your eardrum.
The hairs give off pressure sensors that help your brain know where you are located in space. When you suffer from dizziness, you will often find that the hairs start to vibrate rapidly as your blood reaches your inner ear.
Other things that can cause dizziness or vertigo are head injury, a misaligned spine or fall, an enclosed room or swimming pool. Learning what causes vertigo and how to treat it can help prevent this condition from occurring.
How long does vertigo last?
Most people who suffer from dizziness do not even realize that they have it. The symptoms are often subtle, so it is important that you learn as much as possible about your vertigo so that you can recognize the signs. Vertigo can last usually a few hours or maybe a few days, but it can take three to six weeks to go through a complete cycle.
Learning what causes vertigo is also important because you need to know if you are at risk for vertigo in the future. For instance, if you have had a bad back or neck injury in the past, you should make sure to take care of those areas. This will help you prevent the onset of vertigo in the future because you will be doing everything you can to keep your body aligned.
If you are prone to dizziness because you have a bad back, consulting with a physical therapist can help you strengthen the muscles in that area. This will allow you to avoid activities that can further injure your back.
Can stress cause vertigo?
When you are trying to learn what causes vertigo, you should also pay attention to any psychological factors that can be the root of your vertigo. Some examples of psychological factors that can cause dizziness are: extreme fatigue, depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and menopause. These factors can actually bring on vertigo.
Some of the symptoms of SAD include: dry mouth, decreased consciousness, and feelings of unreality. Menopause brings on the same symptoms and the condition is known as menopause dizziness.
Some people may experience vertigo when they are stressed or anxious. One thing to realize however is that stress is not the direct cause of vertigo, it may contribute to the malfunction of the part of your inner ear that controls balance, called the vestibular system, but not directly link with it.
What is the best exercise for vertigo?
The Brandt-Daroff exercise for vertigo is something that anyone can try.
- Start in an upright, sitting position.
- Move to the lying position on one side with your nose pointing up at an angle of about 45 degrees.
- Stay in this position for about 30 seconds (or until the dizziness subsides, whichever is longer).
- Then go back to the sitting position. Repeat on the other side.
Knowing what causes vertigo and what are the symptoms can be very helpful when trying to avoid or treat vertigo. If you have a fear of heights, then you need to learn how to overcome that fear before it affects your balance. Some people even develop phobias, which can cause dizziness. In addition, certain medications can affect your balance. Medications such as anti-depressants can affect dizziness.
What are the causes of vertigo in elderly people?
Although the causes of dizziness in the elderly are multifactorial, peripheral vestibular dysfunction is one of the most common causes. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common form of vestibular dysfunction in the elderly, followed by Meniere’s disease.
Many people experience vertigo randomly. It does not have to be caused by any medical conditions, but knowing what types of things cause your vertigo can be very helpful. Being aware of which activities can cause dizziness will help you make the appropriate adjustments so you can maintain your balance. The next time you find yourself dizzy, you should consult your physician.
Can meclizine motion sickness be used to treat vertigo?
Meclizine is an antihistamine commonly used to prevent and treat vomiting, nausea, and dizziness resulted from motion sickness. It can also be used to reduce a loss of balance and dizziness (vertigo) caused by a problem of the inner ear.
Vertigo is a very common medical condition, but understanding what causes vertigo and what are the symptoms of vertigo can be very helpful. You should try to remember that vertigo isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can be very distracting and may affect your quality of life.
If you suspect that you have a vertigo attack, then you should see your doctor so he can check you for different types of diseases that might be causing your vertigo. If your vertigo is caused by an underlying disease, then treatment will most likely include surgery to correct the problem.
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