Vertigo, a condition that makes people feel a spinning sensation and disrupts one’s balance, is form of dizziness that people experience. The dizzy feeling can come and go, while you’re standing or sitting down. People can experience different types of Vertigo. Objective Vertigo gives people the impression that their surroundings are moving even though they are not. Subjective Vertigo is the exact opposite, in the sense that people feel like they’re moving around. Anyone of any age can experience Vertigo.
Causes
Vertigo has been linked to existing conditions like Meniere’s Disease, or it can pertain to an incident that caused damage, e.g. a car accident. Most of the causes for Vertigo have been linked to an issue within the inner ear. Central Vertigo is the only type where the cause is associated with an injury to the brain or spinal cord. The inner ear contains sensory organs for hearing and balance. If and when it’s affected, it can cause issues that range from mild to severe. Research has shown that small calcium particles can clump and cause an issue within the inner ear.
Vertigo can be identified, but it has been narrowed down to several factors.
- Fluid imbalance
- Improper fluid drainage due to a blockage or
- Rupture in the membrane of the Inner Ear
- Endolymph Bursts (Endolymph is the fluid in the inner ear, the burst causes the fluid to move into other areas of the ear causing damage)
- Composition of the fluid in the Inner Ear
- Irregular Immune Response
- Autoimmune disorders
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Head Trauma
- Severe migraines
- Allergies
- Genetics
- Virus within the body
- Brain or spinal cord injury
- Certain Medications
- Stroke or tumor on brain
- Diabetes
Symptoms
The symptoms people experience with Vertigo can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The signs can often be associated with other conditions like motion sickness or being lightheaded. When the symptoms progress or are quite persistent, it’s easier to asses whether or not you’re experiencing Vertigo. It’s common for two or more of the symptoms to occur at a time.
- Spinning or dizziness sensation
- Feeling like the room is moving
- Balance issues
- Disorientation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lightheaded feeling
- Motion sickness
- Sense of weakness
- Sweating
- Impaired vision or abnormal eye movement
- Migraines or sever headaches
- Falling or fainting
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss or Tinnitus (abnormal loud buzzing or roaring noises in the ear)
Healing From Vertigo Naturally
There are several things you can do to help when the symptoms of Vertigo present themselves. If you’re in motion, it’s best to slow your movement down to try and get a handle on the dizziness. Avoid looking up or down, focus on a distant object, and keeping your head parallel to the ground. Repetitive movements don’t help when dizziness occurs so laying down and performing particular movements can help. The Vertigo Alleviating Movements consist of exercises that require you to do head tilts at 45 degree angels, relaxation methods for the neck and shoulders, and holding certain positions. Sleeping with your head elevated or keeping one ear lower than the other has also been been known to help. Some people also use the magnet method, where you lay down on top of it for 30 minutes helping to move the calcium crystals trapped in the inner ear.
Adjusting your diet and consuming foods that provide benefits to the body is always best. Because Vertigo is related to the balance of the fluid, you want to eliminate things like salt, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, and foods that contain MSG from your diet. All of these things are found in a lot of everyday foods and contribute to fluid retention that affect the blood vessels’ functions. By eliminating these things from your diet, it can help balance out the fluid in the inner ear. Staying hydrated by consuming half your body weight in ounces of water is vital. Foods like almonds, bananas, grapes, peaches, walnuts, and cashews help prevent dizziness and provide the body with key nutrients.
Foods high in magnesium can also help aid with the condition of Vertigo. Magnesium helps with biochemical reactions in the body, which are responsible for all body processes. Because this mineral helps body aches, nerve function, and muscle relaxation, it can help with Vertigo.
Certain foods have super benefits that can further help with the condition of Vertigo. You should consume natural foods that have anti-inflammatory properties and eat fruits and vegetables that promote circulation and fluid retention within the body. Some foods can also be used as medicine. Garlic, for one, helps improve circulation and can also be used as an extract to help with inner ear issues.
Decreasing the amount of stress in your life is a great natural remedy for any health issues you may be experiencing. The body always responds to stress and it can pose a threat on your health both physically and mentally. Reducing the amount of stress in your life can also help eliminate the anxiety one usually experiences with having the Vertigo. People usually have anxiety because of the symptoms that are associated with Vertigo. When you reduce your stress levels, the symptoms Vertigo presents aren’t as severe.
If you’re a person who smokes, quitting can help improve the condition of Vertigo. Smoking can stress the body and trigger the symptoms of feeling unbalanced.
Ensuring that you get the proper rest at night can help. Sleeping helps to heal the body and makes repairs when the body is resting. The fluid in the body affects your blood vessels. When a person gets the proper rest at night it helps improve his/her brain function and blood vessels, specifically helping to aid with the conditions of Vertigo.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
