Vertigo is nothing but the sensation of spinning experienced by individual while they are stationary. This disease can be of two types objective vertigo in which the individual feeling that the environment around him is spinning and subjective vertigo where the individual feels that he is spinning in relation to his stationary surrounding.
Symptoms of vertigo are when the patient experiences a spinning sensation in a stationary state. This spinning sensation might last for few seconds or might be prolonged for a longer duration leading to nausea. Ringing in the ears, light-headedness, weakness, blurred vision, uncoordinated body movements, low blood pressure and headaches are other symptoms of vertigo.
Vertigo may be caused due to a disorder in the vestibular system. The vestibular system comprises of the inner ear, the vestibular nerve, the brainstream and cerebellum. This system coordinates sensory stimuli and movement while providing the brain with a visual focus of the surroundings as the body moves. When this information is disturbed it results in vertigo. Conditions that trigger vertigo:
- Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV) is a condition with the inner ear, this leads to dizziness and sudden jerky head movements.
- Meniere’s disease is a disorder in the inner ear which causes misbalance. This can result in spreading infection to the middle ear and head trauma. It may also include ringing in the ears an poor coordination.
- Labyrinthitis is the swelling of the inner ear. This leads to a severe vertigo causing severe ringing in the ears, nausea, poor hearing and other symptoms. Sometimes these symptoms might last for even a week.
- Vertigo can also be a symptom of multiple sclerosis.
Home remedies to limit the discomfort of vertigo are:
- One teaspoon of gooseberry powder soaked in one teaspoon of coriander seed for overnight and drank with some sugar the next morning is very beneficial.
- Lemon juice mixed with some black pepper and salt and drank will ease dizziness.
Avoid intake of caffeine, alcohol and processed foods. Drink lots of water to remain hydrated and avoid dizziness.
Exercise regularly as it will help deal with vertigo. Limit sudden movements like jerking suddenly. Breathing exercises and therapies like yoga will help deal with vertigo.