Vertigo is a symptom and not a disease by itself and can have several causes. When a person experiences vertigo, the sensation is of the outer surroundings spinning around him or her, or as if the person feels he or she is spinning in space. This type of dizziness occurs all of a sudden, can come and go unpredictably, and is usually accompanied by equilibrium problems, nausea and vomiting. Mild occurrences may be just a feeling of light-headedness or a rocking sensation.
Vertigo generally results due to a disorder of the nerves and the balance mechanism structures in the inner year, known as the vestibular system, which can sense the position of the head and movement of the body. Vertigo is almost always accompanied by involuntary movements of the eyes, also known as nystagmus. Sitting up suddenly or moving around could worsen the condition.
What are the Causes of Vertigo?
There are several causes of dizziness linked to vertigo; here are a few of them:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV: BPPV pertains to brief and intense occurrences of vertigo linked with the changes in the position of the head. It often happens when people sit up in bed on waking up in the morning or when they turn over while lying in bed. It takes place when the otoconia, or crystals of calcium carbonate that occur naturally in the inner ear come loose and get into the wrong areas of the canals in the inner ear. When the particles of calcium shift, they result in stimulating the sensors in the ear, thus causing an attack of vertigo. Medical science still does not know why BPPV is caused, although the conjecture is that it could be caused by aging. BPPV could also be triggered by a trauma to the head.
Meniere’s Disease: This condition involves fluid building up excessively in the inner ear. Typically, there are sudden attacks of vertigo, which can last for half an hour or even longer. Apart from the dizziness, some of the other symptoms are: a feeling of fullness in the ear; tinnitus, or a ringing or buzzing in the ear; and hearing loss that comes and goes. It is not know yet what exactly causes Meniere’s disease.
Vestibular Migraine: Those who are afflicted with this condition are extremely sensitive to movement. The vertigo that results from vestibular migraine can be set off in various ways, such as: riding or driving in an automobile; being in a place that is confusing or crowded; if the head is turned quickly; or even by watching movement on the television screen. A vestibular migraine can cause sensations like: tinnitus; hearing that seems muffled; hearing loss; or unsteadiness or imbalance. In most people afflicted with this condition, the vertigo and the headache do not necessarily occur simultaneously. Rather, some of the triggers that usually result in an attack of migraine may actually cause vertigo, instead of the headache. These episodes of vertigo may last for just a few minutes or even several days.
Inner Ear Inflammation: The symptoms of inner ear inflammation, also known as labyrinthitis or vestibular neuronitis, are intense and sudden vertigo which can last for several days, accompanied by nausea as well as vomiting. This condition can be disabling, necessitating bed rest in order to lessen the symptoms. Luckily, this type of vertigo usually abates and clears up by itself. Although it is not know yet what causes this condition, it is suspected that it could be due to a viral infection.
Schwannoma or Acoustic Neuroma: This is a benign tumor that occurs on the acoustic nerve. The inner ear is connected to the brain through the acoustic nerve. An acoustic neuroma can cause dizziness, tinnitus, loss of hearing, and loss of balance.
Some of the other causes of vertigo could be serious neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis, brain hemorrhage, or stroke. Sometimes, vertigo can even be triggered off by rapid changes in motion such as rides in roller coasters, airplanes, cars, and boats.
How to Dry Up Fluid in the Inner Ear
An imbalance is created in your inner ear when too much fluid is produced in the inner ear or not enough fluid is reabsorbed through your natural inner ear fluid recycling system. Fluid in your inner ear can cause dizziness, fullness of the ears, ringing in the ears or permanent damage to the inner ear structures and hearing loss. A doctor will determine if you have an inner ear fluid imbalance by running tests and performing a physical and historical medical evaluation.
Instructions
things you’ll need:
- Diuretics
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Eat a low-sodium diet. According to Loyola Medicine, the fluid produced for the inner ear contains a delicate balance of minerals, including sodium (salt). If this balance is altered, too much fluid may be produced. Diets which are high in sodium may be the culprit. Your doctor may prescribe a low-sodium meal plan that will cut many snack foods, frozen foods and restaurant meals from your diet.
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Take water pills. Diuretics, or water pills, may be prescribed by your doctor to help relieve pressure in the inner ear and reduce fluid production in the inner ear. Diuretics reduce fluid in your entire body, however, and can lower your levels of potassium. If your doctor prescribes diuretics, be sure to follow her medication and diet recommendations closely.
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Use antibiotics. In the most severe cases of inner ear fluid imbalance known as Meniere’s disease, your doctor may prescribe the use of antibiotics to partly destroy cells in the inner ear, reduce the production of fluid and relieve vertigo. The use of antibiotics will likely cause some hearing loss, with an average patient hearing loss of 30 to 40 percent.
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Tips & Warnings
- Fluid in the inner ear is not the same as fluid in the middle ear — commonly known as “water in the ear” or “swimmer’s ear.” Where topical and home remedies may work for fluid in the middle ear, fluid in the inner ear is more difficult to dry up and should be managed under the care of a physician.
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