A Guide to Vertigo

1. A GUIDE TO VERTIGO

2. What You Need to Know Have you ever felt like the world is spinning around you? That sensation could be vertigo, which can cause dizziness and confusion. While often temporary, vertigo can be frustrating to deal with if it occurs often or is a symptom of a more severe condition.

3. What Is Vertigo? Vertigo is a feeling of dizziness or spinning, often accompanied by nausea. People with vertigo may feel as though they or their surroundings are moving when they're not. Vertigo can be caused by inner ear problems or other medical conditions that affect the balance system in your brain.

4. Vertigo Symptoms You May Experience • Nausea • Dizziness • Blurred vision • Feeling faint or lightheaded, perhaps even passing out (not the same as fainting in general) • Irregular heartbeat, especially an irregular pulse that's faster than usual (palpitations) • Trouble walking without falling

5. What Causes Vertigo? There are many causes of vertigo, so it's important to be tested by a healthcare provider if you have persistent dizziness. Some of the most common causes include: • Inner ear problems • Brain problems, such as stroke or tumors (tumors in the brain can cause both hearing and balance loss) • Nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord) • Diseases and conditions that affect blood vessels leading from your heart (for example, high blood pressure)

6. Other Causes of Vertigo • Ménière's disease (a disease affecting the inner ear) • Migraines or other types of headaches • Circulation disorders • Head trauma • Viral infections • Medications—including certain antibiotics and drugs used to treat cancer

7. Diagnosing Vertigo To diagnose vertigo, your medical provider will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. Your provider may also examine you and order tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing or contributing to your vertigo. Some tests include: • A balance test (known as a Dix-Hallpike maneuver) • MRI scan of the brain • Blood tests • Examination of eyes and ears • Hearing testing

8. Treating Vertigo The treatment for vertigo can vary greatly, depending on the underlying cause of your symptoms. In some cases, medication and non-surgical options are enough to manage your condition. For other patients, injections or surgery may be necessary to relieve their symptoms.

9. Consult With Your Provider Vertigo can be distressing, but it is treatable and you don't have to suffer in silence. There are many treatment options available, including medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Medication can help with symptoms while physical therapy may help with balance and coordination. Surgery is usually reserved for situations where vertigo is caused by an issue in the inner ear itself—this is less common but still happens from time to time.

10. Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists at Crystal Run Healthcare Can Help Here at Crystal Run Healthcare, we diagnose and treat vertigo and its symptoms. Our specialists in Otolaryngology will assess your condition and create a plan of care to bring you back to optimum health. Learn more about your options at Crystal Run Healthcare, or contact us to book a consultation with one of our ENT specialists.