Vertigo Treatments at Euclid Medical Group
Vertigo is a common condition that affects a surprisingly large percentage of adults.
Vertigo is often times thought of as another word for dizziness. However, dizziness can mean either vertigo or lightheadedness and it’s important to know the difference.
Unlike Vertigo, lightheadedness is a feeling that you are about to faint or pass out. With lightheadedness, you do not feel as if the environment around you is moving. Vertigo is a condition where you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning even though you are in a stationary position.
What is Vertigo
Vertigo is a result of conflict between signals sent to the brain by various sensory systems of the body that control balance and position. Your brain relies on the input from 4 Sensory Systems working in harmony with one another to maintain balance.
These Sensory Systems are as follow:
- Sensory Nerves: Nerves throughout your body constantly track position and orientation and communicate with your brain to make adjustments in order to keep balance.
- Vision: Your eyes tell your brain where you are in relationship to your environment and what adjustments need to be made.
- Skin Pressure: This sensation provides information to your brain about your body’s relationship with gravity.
- Inner Ear: Your inner ear plays a vital role in detecting motion, changes in position and communicating that information to your brain to maintain balance.
Causes of Vertigo
Causes of vertigo typically stem from problems with one of the 4 Sensory Systems. When one or more of these systems is not working properly, the information being supplied to your brain becomes distorted and vertigo can develop.
Vertigo may be caused by such things as:
- Injuries or trauma to your ears, eyes or head.
- Damage to your Central Nervous System.
- Inhaling or ingesting chemicals (including medications)
- Disorders including:
Meniere’s Disease (Disorder of the Inner Ear)
Labyrinthitis (Inflammation of the Inner Ear)
Migraine Headaches (when associated with Vertigo is termed Vestibular Migraines or Migrainous Vertigo)
Peripheral Vertigo
Vertigo caused by problems with the inner ear is called Peripheral Vertigo. Any cause of inflammation in the inner ear such as a common cold or bacterial infections may cause Peripheral Vertigo, as may chemicals and physical trauma.
Central Vertigo
Vertigo stemming from the brain is called Central Vertigo. Central Vertigo is typically milder than Peripheral Vertigo but involves neurological problems such as slurred speech and double vision.
Problems with the central nervous system including migraine headaches and multiple sclerosis may lead to vertigo.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo.
BPPV is usually initiated by moving your head in certain directions or sudden head movements. These may include tipping your head up or down, and by lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed. You may also feel out of balance when standing or walking. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can be a bothersome problem.
Symptoms of Vertigo
Symptoms of Vertigo include spinning and a sensation of motion or disorientation. Symptoms may also include one or all of the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Vision problems
- Abnormal eye movements
- Hearing loss
- Ringing in the ears
- Speech problems
- Weakness
These symptoms can last from as little as a few minutes to many hours. The symptoms may also be chronic.
At Euclid Medical Group, we’ve been distinguishing the difference between vertigo and lightheadedness for years and have great vertigo treatments. This enables us to implement the proper treatment plan to relieve your dizziness. Our treatments are safe, effective and do not involve the use of prescription medications.