Have you ever experienced Vertigo? Vertigo is a medical condition where the sufferer experiences an intense sensation of spinning or swaying dizziness and is often accompanied by loss of balance. The sensation of vertigo often makes a person feel that they or the surrounding environment are moving or rotating, even though they are not.
But actually, Vertigo is not just an ordinary dizziness caused by fatigue or changes in body position. The cause comes from disorders in the vestibular system, namely the body's balance system located in the inner ear. This vestibular system allows us to understand body position as well as changes in movement and gravity.
What are the Symptoms of Vertigo?
You must have experienced some of the following symptoms that can trigger Vertigo, what kinds of symptoms can you anticipate so that you can better know and understand the causes and treatment?
Symptoms of vertigo can vary depending on the cause, but common symptoms include:
- Dizziness or spinning: A strong spinning or swaying sensation that can make you feel as if the world around you is moving or spinning.
- Nausea and vomiting: Vertigo is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, especially if the symptoms are very intense.
- Loss of balance: Difficulty maintaining balance and often feeling unstable when standing or walking.
- Full sensation in the ear: Some vertigo sufferers may feel a sensation of fullness, pressure, or ringing in the ears.
- Increased symptoms when moving: Symptoms of vertigo often worsen when changing head position, such as waking up from sleep or turning around in bed.
- Tilting or falling sensation: Some vertigo sufferers may feel as if they or the environment around them is tilting or about to fall.
What Can Cause Vertigo?
Some causes of vertigo include:
- Vertigo Migraine: Some people who suffer from migraines experience symptoms of vertigo during a migraine attack.
- Head injury: Head injuries, especially those affecting the inner ear or vestibular system, can cause vertigo.
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): BPPV is caused by changes in head position that affect the fluid balance in the inner ear. This often occurs when lying in bed, turning over in bed, or waking up from sleep.
- Meniere's Disease: Inner ear disorders that can cause severe attacks of vertigo, accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, and a sensation of fullness in the ears.
- Stroke or Other Blood Vessel Disorders: Blocked blood vessels in the vestibular system and brain can cause vertigo. In this condition, the patient must undergo intensive treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.
- Stress or Anxiety: Severe stress and anxiety conditions can cause a sensation of vertigo. In this case you can reduce it by doing stress management.
Once you know what things can cause Vertigo, you can understand prevention and how to deal with them to relieve Vertigo symptoms.
How to Overcome the Sensation of a Spinning Head
- Rest : When you experience a vertigo attack, try to sit or lie down quietly. Avoid doing activities that can worsen symptoms.
- Avoid sudden movements: Try to avoid sudden movements or changes in head position that can trigger vertigo, such as lying down too quickly or turning your head suddenly.
- Watch what you consume: Avoid foods and drinks that can worsen vertigo symptoms, such as alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, and foods that contain excessive salt.
- Consult a Doctor: If your vertigo symptoms are prolonged or severe, it is very important to consult a doctor. Your doctor can prescribe appropriate treatment based on the cause of your vertigo.
It should be remembered that the causes of Vertigo can be very diverse, so medical assistance and appropriate consultation are needed to understand the symptoms and causes.
Article written by Dr. Nezzar Erraldin, Sp.N (Neurology / Neurology Specialist at EMC Cibitung Hospital).