Vertigo is a condition that causes a sensation of dizziness or spinning. It can be a debilitating condition, making it difficult for individuals to carry out their daily activities. While vertigo can be caused by a variety of factors it is largely due to inner ear malfunction and you are best advised to seek treatment from an ENT Specialist who specialises in vertigo.
MOST COMMON CAUSES OF VERTIGO
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This is a condition where tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the wrong part of the ear, causing vertigo.
- Inner Ear Infections: Infections of the inner ear, such as vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, can cause inflammation and affect the balance organs, leading to vertigo.
- Meniere’s Disease: A disorder of the inner ear that can cause recurrent episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
- Head Injury: A blow to the head or neck can cause injury to the inner ear or brain, leading to vertigo.
Vestibular Migraine: A type of migraine that can cause vertigo as well as other symptoms such as headache, light and sound sensitivity, and nausea.
ENT doctor helps for vertigo treatment
Here are some ways an ENT doctor can help with vertigo treatment:
- Examination – There may be some findings which will easily determine the cause of the vertigo like ASOM, Mastoiditis, Ear trauma etc.
- Investigations – Some simple investigations including an Audiogram, Impedance, Vestibular Nystagmogram (VNG), Visual tracking, Craniocorpography etc can determine the cause of the vertigo as well as which ear is involved in the pathology.
- Medication: Depending on the cause of your vertigo some medication may be prescribed.
- Procedures: In some instances like BPPV corrective procedures or Manouevres may be the only treatment required. Sometimes rehabilitative exercises are taught – as for peripheral Vestibulopathies or for Presbyastasis.
- Intra Tympanic injections – in some instances like Meniere’s Disease etc
- Surgery: Rarely required – for very selected cases
Follow-up care: Vertigo is one disease which requires follow up care on a regular basis.
Remember – VERTIGO IS NOT A DIAGNOSIS – IT IS A SYMPTOM
Vertigo is just a fancy word used to describe your giddiness – it is important to find out the cause so that proper treatment can be started.
Taking medicines which give just symptomatic relief- like vestibular suppressants – is the wrong approach.
As we have read, many diseases causing Vertigo require either a Manouevre or Exercises – no drug is necessary.
Most patients with Vertigo can be diagnosed with a cause and proper treatment given to grant them long term relief.