Vertigo and dizziness can be a very disturbing feeling. You may feel like the world is spinning or tilting, experience nausea, headache, shortness of breath, racing heart, and/or sweating. The dizziness may come and go, lasting for seconds, hours, or even days.
The most common cause for vertigo is one or more issues occurring within the inner ear. Parts of the inner ear control balance and when inflammation, infection, or a collection of calcium changes the normal makeup of the inner ear, vertigo can occur.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), also called positional vertigo, is caused by a buildup of calcium in the inner ear. Specific and controlled head movements can reposition the calcium deposit and restoring a normal balance to the inner ear.
Meniere’s disease is a condition that may cause repeated spells of vertigo, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and hearing loss. With Meniere’s disease, vertigo spells tend to last longer, minutes or even hours, and may be caused by fluid in the inner ear.
Vestibular neuritis, or labyrinthitis, is likely caused by a virus that triggers swelling around the nerve that controls balance. With vestibular neuritis, vertigo is sudden and serious and accompanied by nausea, vomit, and difficulty standing and walking. The spells may last several days.
If you seek medical assistance for vertigo, tell your doctor about how long the episodes have been going on and the associated symptoms, such as nausea, that you experience. Orlando Ear, Nose, and Throat associates can help you to pinpoint the cause of your vertigo and recommend treatment options to realign the world right-side up again.
