Vertigo is the sensation that the surroundings or oneโs self is moving but there is no actual movement. One may feel as though he/ she is whirling, spinning, falling or tilting. Moreover, there may be trouble walking or standing. Loss of balance is also common in vertigo. Everyone will experience vertigo at one point in their life, but it is usually temporary, and this is common. But if vertigo occurs often, it may indicate problems in the inner ear. Lightheadedness is different from vertigo. Lightheaded refers to another form of dizziness, where one feels that they are about to pass commonly due to drop in blood pressure and shortage of blood flow to the brain.
Types of Vertigo
Vertigo can be classified into two groups
- Central vertigo
- Due to injuryto the balance center of the central nervous system, often the cerebellum or brainstem
- Accompanied by other neurological problems
- Poor prognosis
- Peripheral vertigo
- Disorder in the inner ear
- Generally good prognosis
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo causes can either be due to damages in the central nervous system or inner ear. Some of the common causes include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Most common form
- Commonly due to sudden head movement or movement in a certain direction
- Seldom serious
- Labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear)
- Due to bacterial or viral infection
- Associated with abrupt onset of manifestation
- Hearing loss
- Meniereโs disease
- Intermittent vertigo
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Hearing loss
- Acoustic neuroma
- Tumor growth of the nerve tissue
- Multiple sclerosis
- Head trauma
- Migraine
- Dehydration
- Reduced blood flow to the base of the brain
- Hemorrhage
- Epilepsy
- Common cold and influence
- Motion sickness
- Certain medications
- Complications from other diseases, such as diabetes
- Riding a Merry-go-round
- Spinning oneโs self round and round
Symptoms of Vertigo
Symptoms will vary depending on the cause. Symptoms associated with vertigo are the following:
- Spinning sensation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty walking or loss of balance
- Unsteadiness
- Altered consciousness level
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Involuntary eye movements
- Sudden falls
First Aid Management for Vertigo
If there is an underlying cause, make sure to get treatment for this. Medications will be prescribed by a medical practitioner. But for the meantime, first aid can be performed to prevent symptoms from becoming worse and avoid casualties during vertigo attacks. Vertigo will disappear on its own with proper treatment.
- Keep still. Sit down or lie down. Avoid bending down or extending the neck.
- Avoid stressful situations to not aggravate symptoms.
- Also, avoid driving vehicles and handling equipment.
- If one wants to lie down, elevate the head using two or more pillows. As much as possible, keep the environment calm and quiet, preferably dark.
- If the person wants to vomit, assist the person to his/ her side.
- Make sure they stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Avoid dehydration at all costs to avoid complications.
- Do not stand up until vertigo completely disappears.
Vertigo should be treated to avoid exacerbating the symptoms. Join in first aid training to learn how to treat people of vertigo and other symptoms involving dizziness.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Vertigo is the sensation that the surroundings or oneโs self is moving but there is no actual movement. One may feel as though he/ she is whirling, spinning, falling or tilting. Moreover, there may be trouble walking or standing. Loss of balance is also common in vertigo. Everyone will experience vertigo at one point in their life, but it is usually temporary, and this is common. But if vertigo occurs often, it may indicate problems in the inner ear. Lightheadedness is different from vertigo. Lightheaded refers to another form of dizziness, where one feels that they are about to pass commonly due to drop in blood pressure and shortage of blood flow to the brain.
Types of Vertigo
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Vertigo can be classified into two groups
ยงย Central vertigo
oย ย Due to injuryto the balance center of the central nervous system, often the cerebellum or brainstem
oย ย Accompanied by other neurological problems
oย ย Poor prognosis
ยงย Peripheral vertigo
oย ย Disorder in the inner ear
oย ย Generally good prognosis
Causes of Vertigo
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Vertigo causes can either be due to damages in the central nervous system or inner ear. Some of the common causes include:
ยงย Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
oย ย Most common form
oย ย Commonly due to sudden head movement or movement in a certain direction
oย ย Seldom serious
ยงย Labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear)
oย ย Due to bacterial or viral infection
oย ย Associated with abrupt onset of manifestation
oย ย Hearing loss
ยงย Meniereโs disease
oย ย Intermittent vertigo
oย ย Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
oย ย Hearing loss
ยงย Acoustic neuroma
oย ย Tumor growth of the nerve tissue
ยงย Multiple sclerosis
ยงย Head trauma
ยงย Migraine
ยงย Dehydration
ยงย Reduced blood flow to the base of the brain
ยงย Hemorrhage
ยงย Epilepsy
ยงย Common cold and influence
ยงย Motion sickness
ยงย Certain medications
ยงย Complications from other diseases, such as diabetes
ยงย Riding a Merry-go-round
ยงย Spinning oneโs self round and round
Symptoms of Vertigo
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Symptoms will vary depending on the cause. Symptoms associated with vertigo are the following:
ยงย Spinning sensation
ยงย Nausea and vomiting
ยงย Difficulty walking or loss of balance
ยงย Unsteadiness
ยงย Altered consciousness level
ยงย Hearing loss
ยงย Tinnitus
ยงย Involuntary eye movements
ยงย Sudden falls
First Aid Management for Vertigo
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย If there is an underlying cause, make sure to get treatment for this. Medications will be prescribed by a medical practitioner. But for the meantime, first aid can be performed to prevent symptoms from becoming worse and avoid casualties during vertigo attacks. Vertigo will disappear on its own with proper treatment.
ยงย Keep still. Sit down or lie down. Avoid bending down or extending the neck.
ยงย Avoid stressful situations to not aggravate symptoms.
ยงย Also, avoid driving vehicles and handling equipment.
ยงย If one wants to lie down, elevate the head using two or more pillows. As much as possible, keep the environment calm and quiet, preferably dark.
ยงย If the person wants to vomit, assist the person to his/ her side.
ยงย Make sure they stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Avoid dehydration at all costs to avoid complications.
ยงย Do not stand up until vertigo completely disappears.
Vertigo should be treated to avoid exacerbating the symptoms. Join in first aid training to learn how to treat people of vertigo and other symptoms involving dizziness.