If you’ve experienced vertigo, you know how disorienting and frustrating this condition is. Causing balance issues and symptoms like dizziness, unsteadiness, and vision troubles, vertigo makes your life more difficult than it needs to be.
At Jacksonville ENT Surgery, our board-certified providers have years of experience diagnosing and treating vertigo in patients in Jacksonville and Lake City, Florida. When you see our team, you can rest assured you’re in good hands.
We’ve put together this guide explaining everything you need to know about vertigo, how it’s treated, and the ways we can help you find relief.
Many people think of vertigo as experiencing dizziness, but it’s actually an illusion that your body or the environment you’re in is moving. Vertigo is classified as either peripheral or central, depending on what causes it.
There are three main causes of peripheral vertigo:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a very common type of vertigo caused when tiny calcium particles get lodged in your inner ear, leading to short and intense episodes of dizziness. These episodes often come on after changes in head position.
Another form of vertigo is Ménière’s disease, a condition triggered by fluid buildup and changing pressure within the ear. Ménière’s disease can also cause tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, and hearing loss.
Finally, vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis is an inner ear issue that’s normally caused by an infection affecting the nerve that senses balance. The disruption to the nerve causes vertigo and a reduction in your ability to hear.
Sometimes vertigo is triggered by other conditions, including:
These causes of vertigo are classified as central vertigo.
There are several distinct symptoms of vertigo that you experience regardless of the type of vertigo. These include:
It’s important to understand the causes and symptoms of vertigo to get the right treatment. If you’ve recognized the signs of vertigo, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Jacksonville ENT Surgery.
If you think you’re experiencing vertigo, it’s essential to inform your medical provider to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes vertigo can resolve on its own, but not always.
If BPPV causes your vertigo, your brain may adapt to changes in the inner ear over time and turn to other mechanisms to maintain balance. However, vertigo may persist and negatively impact your daily activities and overall quality of life.
If you have Ménière’s disease or vestibular neuritis, your vertigo may not resolve without medical intervention. And the longer you wait to see a specialist, the worse your condition may get.
Getting an accurate diagnosis ensures the root problem is addressed, so your first step should always be to seek advice from a professional, like our providers at Jacksonville ENT Surgery.
Your provider discusses your symptoms and reviews your medical history to understand your unique situation. Then, they perform a physical exam and order any lab work and necessary tests, like an audiogram.
Once your provider determines the cause of your vertigo, they develop a personalized vertigo treatment plan just for you. Here’s an idea of what your plan may include:
Many medications can help manage your symptoms. Vestibular suppressants can alleviate dizziness, diuretics can treat Ménière’s disease, and antiemetics help control nausea and vomiting.
If you have BPPV, your provider may recommend canalith repositioning maneuvers, such as the Epley maneuver. This involves moving your head and body in specific ways to reposition calcium crystals in your inner ear to alleviate vertigo symptoms.
Your provider may also recommend a special physical therapy called vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) to improve balance and reduce your symptoms. VRT exercises retrain the brain and central nervous system to make up for vestibular dysfunction.
If none of these treatments provide relief, or your case is severe, your provider may recommend injections or surgeries.
Treatments for central vertigo can be similar to those for peripheral vertigo, like medications for managing symptoms and VRT therapy. Your provider prescribes specific medications or exercises based on your underlying condition.
Lifestyle treatments can be key in treating central vertigo. Dietary changes, stress management practices, and getting adequate rest go a long way in managing central vertigo symptoms.
If you want to know more about putting an end to your vertigo, we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone at the Jacksonville ENT Surgery nearest you!
