What is vertigo?
Vertigo is a type of dizziness. It makes you feel as though the room is spinning around you. The sensation worsens if you move your head.
As well as the sensation of the room spinning, vertigo can also cause other symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Sweating
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
You might also have abnormal eye movements (nystagmus).
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of vertigo. It isn’t a serious condition, but it can affect your quality of life and cause distress.
What causes vertigo?
Vertigo is usually due to a problem with your inner ear or the area in your brainstem responsible for balance.
Conditions that can cause vertigo include:
BPPV
With BPPV, tiny calcium particles called canaliths form clumps in the canals of your inner ear. The inner ear is an essential part of the system that keeps your body balanced. Canaliths interfere with the balance function of your inner ear. The cause of BPPV isn’t clear, but it’s more common as you get older.
Meniere's disease
Meniere's disease is another inner ear condition. It’s likely due to a buildup of fluid in your ear and the change in pressure this causes. As well as vertigo, Meniere's disease can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss.
Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is an inner ear problem that develops when you have an infection. The infection causes inflammation in your inner ear, near the nerves that help keep your body balanced.
Other possible causes of vertigo include:
- Head injury
- Neck injury
- Stroke
- Tumor
- Certain medications
- Migraines
The ENT of New Orleans team provides in-office vestibular testing. They can diagnose the cause of vertigo and dizziness. They also provide hearing tests in-office and have considerable experience in caring for patients who have vertigo and dizziness.
How is vertigo treated?
The treatment the ENT of New Orleans team recommends for your vertigo depends on what's causing it. Quite often, vertigo goes away without you having to be treated. The reason for this is that your brain can partially or fully adapt to the changes in your inner ear and use other means to maintain balance.
If you do need treatment, vestibular rehabilitation is one of the main approaches. Your vestibular system sends messages to your brain about your movements and how they relate to gravity. Vestibular rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy that helps to strengthen your vestibular system.
To find out more about vertigo or to schedule a consultation, call ENT of New Orleans today or book an appointment online.
We see patients all throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Call us to book your appointment today.
