Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition itself. It's the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning. This feeling may be barely noticeable, or it may be so severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do everyday tasks. Attacks of vertigo can develop suddenly and last for a few seconds, or they may last much longer. If you have severe vertigo, your symptoms may be constant and last for several days, making normal life very difficult. Other symptoms associated with vertigo may include:
loss of balance – which can make it difficult to stand or walk
feeling sick or being sick
dizziness
Treating Vertigo can be managed naturally with a variety of home remedies. One of the most common ways to manage vertigo is a technique called the Epley maneuver. This involves a set of steps done before bed each night until the symptoms of vertigo resolve for at least 24 hours. Ginkgo biloba is a Chinese herb known for resolving the symptoms of vertigo. It works by managing blood flow to the brain to relieve dizziness and balance issues. Ginger root can be steeped in a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Honey can help with the bitter taste. Drinking ginger tea twice a day may help dizziness, nausea, and other vertigo symptoms. Dehydration can cause symptoms of vertigo. Even mild dehydration can trigger the condition. Staying hydrated can help minimize dizziness and balance issues.
Benign positional paroxysmal vertigo or BPPV is the most common type of vertigo. A buildup of deposits in the inner ear causes BPPV. Vertigo is a common symptom that can follow a head or neck injury. Vertigo related to a neck or head injury tends to resolve but can be debilitating and ongoing. Meniere’s is a condition that affects hearing in one ear. It causes symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Some people with Meniere’s disease have severe vertigo, causing balance loss and falls.
Depending on what's causing your vertigo, there may be things you can do yourself to help relieve your symptoms. Your GP or the specialist treating you may advise you to do simple exercises to correct your symptoms, sleep with your head slightly raised on two or more pillows, get up slowly when getting out of bed and sit on the edge of the bed for a minute or so before standing, avoid bending down to pick up items, avoid extending your neck, for example, while reaching up to a high shelf, move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities, do exercises that trigger your vertigo, so your brain gets used to it and reduces the symptoms.
