How to Prevent Vertigo Attacks?

Vertigo Attacks: Causes, Symptoms & How to Prevent it?

Individuals with vertigo often feel that the environment around them is spinning. Due to this feeling, they may lose balance and feel dizzy. Vertigo can be a sign of an underlying health condition, which, if not treated, can interfere with daily life activities.

Thus, it is necessary to understand the underlying causes of vertigo, associated symptoms, treatment options, and other crucial aspects to prevent further episodes.

Keep reading for detailed insight!

Is It Possible to Prevent Vertigo?

Individuals who suffer from vertigo can prevent further episodes by following the tips mentioned below:

• Know Your Triggers: You may experience vertigo episodes in specific situations or movements. To prevent vertigo, you must be aware of and avoid these triggers.
• Perform Balance Exercises: Vestibular rehabilitation is a physical therapy that helps an individual’s inner ear and brain work together. This helps improve your balance and lowers the risk of vertigo.
• Opt for Routine Health Checkups: Vertigo may be related to other health issues like blood pressure, ear infections, etc. A regular health checkup can detect these issues earlier, preventing the risk of vertigo.
• Listen to Your Physician’s Advice: Always take the medicines your doctor prescribes for vertigo or other health conditions that may trigger dizziness. The proper medication can help prevent further episodes of vertigo.

What are the causes of vertigo?

BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is the most common cause. It occurs due to the misplacement of small crystals in an individual's inner ear. These crystals control an individual's balance and help deliver messages from one's inner ear to one's brain.

Here are some more inner-ear issues that can lead to vertigo:

• Labyrinthitis
• Meniere's disease
• Vestibular neuritis
   

Medicinal side effects may also lead to vertigo in some individuals. Here are some more health conditions that can lead to vertigo:
 

• Migraine
• Injury to the head
• Stroke
• Brain tumour
• Multiple sclerosis or other health problems that affect your nervous system

What Symptoms Are Associated with Vertigo?

You may mistake dizziness as a symptom of vertigo, but it is different. Here’s what you may feel during vertigo:

• Feel like falling
• Spinning of the head
• Feel like everything around you is spinning
   

Some more symptoms of vertigo may include:

• Hearing loss
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Looking pale
• Tinnitus
   

Vertigo may be triggered or worsened by sudden head movements, such as turning over in bed or looking upward. These dizzy spells often happen in brief attacks that can come and go.

What are the treatment options for vertigo?

The treatment procedure for vertigo depends solely on its cause. Check them out below:

• Repositioning Manoeuvres: Tiny calcium crystals that migrate into the inner ear's semicircular canals frequently cause benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Specific head movements are used in canalith repositioning techniques, like the Epley manoeuvre, to help these crystals return to their correct location.

Although a healthcare professional usually performs these manoeuvres, patients can also learn how to do them on their own.

• Vertigo Medication: Medications can help manage acute vertigo symptoms. Common options include motion sickness drugs like meclizine or dimenhydrinate and antihistamines such as cyclizine. These help reduce dizziness, nausea, and vomiting but do not cure vertigo itself.
• Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: This therapy involves exercises to improve balance, vision stability, and overall function. A healthcare provider will customise a program that may include stretching, strengthening, eye movement control, and balance exercises. Patients can practice these at home to manage and reduce symptoms.
• Surgery: Surgery is rarely needed for vertigo and is usually reserved for cases caused by serious underlying conditions like brain tumours or severe neck injuries. A specialist will advise on the appropriate surgical procedure if other treatments fail.

What Should One Do During a Vertigo Attack?

Vertigo can make you feel like the world is spinning, which can be unsettling and challenging to manage. You can follow some practical steps to stay safe and feel better during an episode:

1. Sit or lie down immediately to stay safe from falling down, and stay still until the spinning stops.
2. Focus your eyes on a fixed object to help reduce dizziness.
3. Move slowly and avoid sudden head movements.
4. Stay in a quiet, dimly lit room, or close your eyes if you’re outside.
5. Sip water to stay hydrated, but avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks.
6. Take deep breaths to calm anxiety.
7. Use walls or sturdy furniture for support if you need to move, and let someone know if you need help.
8. Never drive or operate machinery during a vertigo episode.

Individuals experiencing severe and frequent episodes of vertigo must visit their healthcare provider at the earliest. They can detect if any underlying condition is causing such episodes. Now, the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying health issues may be expensive. Therefore, you must get comprehensive health insurance.

For affordable health insurance plans, contact Star Health today!

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→ How to Prevent Vitiligo

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