A vertigo attack can appear suddenly and be debilitating. It is much more than just a simple dizziness from time to time!
Instead, vertigo makes your world spin around you and your entire surroundings can shift before your eyes and seemingly beneath your feet. While your environment is spinning, it can be hard to accomplish anything or simply move through your day.
While vertigo can be a diagnosis, it is important to note that vertigo is more of a symptom than an illness. It is typically a resulting symptom due to some sort of imbalance with your equilibrium.
Around 40% of Americans will experience vertigo at least once throughout their lives, so it is important to know what signs and symptoms to watch out for. Read on to get the facts about vertigo from the AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team.
What Is the Relationship Between Vertigo and Inner Ear Canals?
When you have vertigo, it means that there is some type of imbalance inside your ear canal. When that balance is affected, your equilibrium is thrown off and that is where that spinning and shifting sensation comes from.
Most of the time, vertigo can be attributed to conditions like migraines, labrynthitis and BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) because of their close proximity to your ears and ear canals. In addition to the spinning, other symptoms can appear and make you feel even more miserable. If your case of vertigo is lasting multiple days or even weeks, it is important to be seen by a medical provider to figure out the cause.
Additional Vertigo Sensations
- Intense spinning or world shifting sensations
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
- Motion sickness
What’s a Good Quick Fix for Vertigo?
While most cases of vertigo will fade away on their own, that doesn’t make your current symptoms any less severe at the moment! You can take an OTC anti-nausea medication to help with your upset stomach or try some ginger tea or candies.
If you get vertigo often and know it is attributed to BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), you can do a series of head movements that can help realign calcium deposits within your ear that are causing your imbalance. These movements can provide almost immediate relief, they should only be done with your medical provider’s approval to ensure they are being done correctly.
Tips to Minimize a Severe Vertigo Attack
- Stand up slowly.
- Sleep with your head elevated on an extra pillow.
- Turn your whole body, not just your head.
- Squat to pick up something; avoid bending at the waist.
If your vertigo becomes severe or is recurrent, it is time to see a doctor. Drop by AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne to be seen quickly!
