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Vertigo is a common condition in which a person feels dizzy with gait instability and vomiting. It is a sensation that feels like everything around is rotating. In the younger population, it is commonly associated with inner ear infections while in adults, there may be other underlying causes.
Vertigo can be divided into two types:
Central vertigo is related to dysfunction of vestibule-cochlear system and particularly brain stem of the central nervous system. The most common parts affected are the brainstem and cerebellum. Probable causes can be tumors of the CNS, vestibular migraine, demyelination, and cervical spine issues.
This is the most common type of vertigo accounting for about 80% of all reported cases. It is usually caused by inner ear or vestibule-cochlear dysfunction.
A person with vertigo may experience the following symptoms:
Few accompanying symptoms may be:
The most common cause of vertigo is an inner ear issue. The following factors may play a role in triggering vertigo:
An inner ear infection that affects the two vestibular nerves that are responsible for the communication with the brain about bodily balance spatial navigation is called Labyrinthitis. One of the symptoms of this infection is vertigo.
When small calcium deposits of the ear called canaliths get dislocated from their place and collect in the inner ear, the affected person is off-balanced. This happens because the inner ear signals the brain to maintain body balance.
When fluid builds up in the inner ear, a change in pressure occurs and this may cause ringing in the ear.
Benign skin growth in the middle ear caused by repeated incidences of ear infection is called cholesteatoma. This condition can cause dizziness, hearing loss, and vertigo.
Assessment of symptoms and physical examination reveal enough information to diagnose vertigo. A few scans may be advised to rule out any underlying medical conditions:
This test is carried out to assess the functioning of the central nervous system. The patient is asked to stand with the eyes closed, feet together, and arms by the side. Feeling unbalanced or unsteady indicates issues with the central nervous system.
In this test, the patient is asked to march while standing, with eyes closed. If the patient rotates or leans towards one side, it would suggest issues with the inner ear labyrinth and could cause vertigo.
A combination of several tests is performed to diagnose inner ear problems. To monitor eye movements, the patient is asked to wear goggles while moving the eyes to follow a target. The patient may be asked to move the head and body even after warm and cool water is dripped into the ear canal.
While focusing on a fixed target, the patient is asked to move the head gently to each side. This is done to assess the functioning of inner ear balance in controlling eye movements.
Other tests which can be performed are CT Scan and MRI
Vertigo usually subsides on its own. Certain medications may be required to treat underlying conditions or associated sickness in some cases:
An accurate diagnosis of vertigo is essential so that one does not overlook any life-threatening conditions such as having neoplasms, infection, and any cerebrovascular accidents.
Certain lifestyle changes that help reduce the effects of vertigo are as follows:
Patients suffering vertigo have a fair prognosis and once the underlying cause is taken care of, vertigo would disappear completely.
Max Healthcare is home to 4800+ eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
Max Healthcare is home to 4800+ eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
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