Article Contents
- What is Vertigo?
- Three Types of Vertigo
- What Causes Vertigo?
- Symptoms of Vertigo
- Migraine and Vertigo Link
- How Long Does A Vertigo Last?
- A Simple Fix For BPPV
- Other Home Remedies For Vertigo
- How To Prevent Vertigo?
- The Brandt-Daroff Exercises
- The Role of Diet
- Essential Oils As Vertigo Fix
- Acupressure Points For Vertigo Relief
Vertigo affects millions of people around the world. The proof of this is when you search the word “vertigo” in online search engines like Google and Bing, you’ll literally find thousands if not millions of results about people looking for vertigo fix.
It is a widespread condition associated with a feeling of dizziness much like when getting at great heights. If you’re in a tall building, the dizziness you’ll feel is almost a similar feeling of vertigo.
What is Vertigo?
In medicine, vertigo is defined as a sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness in the absence of movements. This feeling of spinning around is caused by the underlying pathology inside the ear, which sends to the brain via the sensory nerve pathways.
When vertigo occurs, it creates the feeling as if the surrounding environment is spinning of moving. This feeling is felt even if the person is sitting or standing without making any movements.
Vertigo, in a medical point of view, is not similar to the fear of heights. Acrophobia is the term referring to fear of excessive heights, which can also result in the sensation of dizziness.
Three Types of Vertigo
There are three types of vertigo in which benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV is the most common one. BPPV affects million of people even doctors are no exception.
The other two types of vertigo are vestibular neuritis and Meniere’s disease. A person diagnosed wit these two vertigo types should always seek professional assistance. Therefore, talk and consult with your doctor if you have either of these two.
On the other hand, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) has simple fixes you can do at home. Below we’ll be covering a simple fix for BPPV done and recommended by a doctor.
Additionally, other inner ear conditions such as perilymph fistula, labyrinthitis and SSCDS(superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome) may also eventually result to vertigo.
What Causes Vertigo?
There are two most common vertigo causes such as a disturbance inside the balance organs found inside the inner ear.
It can also be due to the disturbance of the parts of the brain via the sensory nerve pathways.
Symptoms of Vertigo
Often, the cause of vertigo is due to changes in head position. However, there are several symptoms of vertigo described as tingling, spinning, swaying, as if you are pulled to one direction and difficulty balancing.
Other sensations which may accompany vertigo include;
- Jerking or abnormal eye movement
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Loss of hearing
- Ringing inside the ear
- Sweating
- Headache
Migraine and Vertigo Link
One of the sensations that may accompany vertigo is a headache. This is a fact as Mayo Clinic explains the link between vertigo and migraine.
How Long Does A Vertigo Last?
BPPV(benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) type can last in the range of 20 to 30 seconds, but not longer than 1 minute. The other types of vertigo such as the Meniere’s disease can last between a few minutes to 24 hours.
Vestibular neuritis, on the other hand, can last between a few days to several weeks. In short, if you suffer from vertigo longer than 1 minute, it’s not BPPV. If that happens, consult your doctor.
A Simple Fix For BPPV
Here’s how to get rid of vertigo as taught by a doctor. A University of Colorado doctor, Carol Foster developed a simple and natural treatment for vertigo.
Here solution can be done in a few maneuvers and can be done easily at home. Dr. Carol Foster’s method of treating BPPV has become an internet sensation helping people with vertigo who seek for a solution online.
Here’s the original video by Carol Foster, which is mentioned in the video above. Dr. Foster’s explanation is so simple. Should you have any vertigo occurrence, try her method.
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First Step: Tip your head towards the ceiling.
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Second Step: Put your head in an upside-down position(similar to somersault maneuver)
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Third Step: While in second step, turn your face towards the left elbow.
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Fourth Step: Wait for the dizziness to go away and raise head at the same level of your back.
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Fifth Step: While the head is on back level, wait for the dizziness to go way completely.
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Sixth Step: Sit back quickly.
Other Home Remedies For Vertigo
Again, we are referring to the BPPV type of vertigo. If your vertigo lasts more than a minute or even days, consult your doctor for proper assistance. Vertigo that lasts several minutes is a different type.
Other two common and widely used BPPV self-treatments or vertigo fix are namely; deep head hanging and Epley maneuvers.
In one study1, researchers found that the deep head hanging maneuver has a 95% effectiveness.
1. The Epley Maneuver
Just like the deep head hanging, the Epley maneuver is one of the repositioning maneuvers for BPPV. Here’s how to do it!
How To Prevent Vertigo?
There seems to be no specific exercise that can prevent the re-occurrence of BPPV. In one study2, researchers found that performing the Brandt-Daroff exercises has little effect.
However, don’t get disappointed, yet. Diet may play a vital role in preventing the occurrences, or re-occurrences of BPPV.
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol are a helpful effort as these can worsen dizziness. In addition, managing stress and addressing depression are also valuable and helpful in BPPV prevention.
Lastly, taking care of your head such as wearing a helmet when cycling, for instance, is a good prevention for head trauma. Plus, taking care of the ear to avoid inner ear infections are among the important things to do to prevent BPPV.
The Brandt-Daroff Exercises
Regardless of the findings of one study mentioned earlier, it may still be worth performing the Brandt-Daroff exercises. Along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, it may still be helpful for vertigo prevention.
Here’s how to do the Brandt-Daroff exercises.
The Role of Diet
A study published in the International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology3 found the importance of diet for PBBV patients.
Their conclusion recommends a reduction of carbohydrates and fat intake while increasing dietary fiber intake.
When it comes to what foods appropriate for BPPV prevention, it’s ginger. Although there are no particular studies linking ginger to BPPV, it is effective for dizziness and nausea treatment. Foods rich in magnesium are also worth considering.
Avoid consuming foods containing a high amount of sodium. Fried foods especially those cooked in high temperature with vegetable oils should also be avoided.
On the other hand, including healthy fats in a diet can also be helpful.
Vestibular Disorders Association also has tips about diet for BPPV.
Essential Oils As Vertigo Fix
Essential oils are among the effective and natural ways to relieve pains, nausea, and dizziness. Although BPPV is not mentioned specifically, but these are symptoms of vertigo.
- Lavender
- Basil
- Peppermint
- Ginger
- Cypress
- Rosemary
- Clary Sage
- Frankincense
- Tangerine
- Rose
- Lemon balm
To relieve symptoms of vertigo, use essential oils as a massage lubricant or inhale the fragrance.
When it comes to supplementation, there is not much for vertigo. But, there’s one supplement for relieving vertigo symptoms called Vertisil available at Amazon.
Acupressure Points For Vertigo Relief
Don’t go just yet if you any of the vertigo remedies mentioned don’t work for you. There’s another vertigo fix you can try. This is an ancient technique similar to acupuncture, but no needles involved.
This is acupressure for vertigo. Watch and listen where and how to put pressure on these points for relieving vertigo.
