Overcome Vertigo

People who experience vertigo report that they feel like the world is spinning around them or that the inside of their head is spinning. This false sense of spinning can be very disorienting and should be treated when possible. Vertigo can be overcome through a variety of treatments.

Steps

Diagnosing Vertigo

1. Know the symptoms of vertigo. Vertigo can affect people differently. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
   • Feeling a sense of spinning, tilting, or swaying
   • Feeling unbalanced or pulled to one direction
   • Feeling nauseous
   • Headache
   • Sweating
   • Abnormal/jerky eye movements
   • Ringing in the ears or temporary loss of hearing
2. Know the causes of vertigo. Vertigo can be caused by many things. Here are some of the most common causes:
   • BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is caused by tiny calcium crystals that build up in the ear canal.
   • Meniere's disease is an inner ear problem that is caused by fluid buildup and changing pressure in the ear.
   • Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis is an inner ear problem usually related to viral infection. The infection causes inner ear inflammation around the nerves that help the body sense balance.
   • Note: All of these causes will need to be diagnosed by your doctor before you consider treating them yourself.
3. Consult your doctor. Dizziness and other symptoms of vertigo may actually be caused by serious brain issues. So it is best to be sure that you are actually experiencing vertigo, and not something more serious.

Avoiding Potential Causes of Vertigo

1. Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages. These items, when consumed, can aggravate the symptoms of vertigo.
2. Determine the movements that cause your vertigo. Sometimes certain motions or movements of the body will set off your vertigo. It is helpful to avoid these movements if possible.
   • For example, if shaking your head quickly makes you dizzy with vertigo, avoid doing that motion with your head. Of, if looking down from a height or elevated level causes your vertigo, try to stay on the ground level whenever possible.
3. Get medicine from your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe medicines that are used to treat motion sickness or nausea and vomiting.
   • Or, if your vertigo is a symptom of an ear infection, your doctor may prescribe you some antibiotics.

Using Natural Remedies

1. Drink plenty of water. A lack of water can disrupt the natural functioning of the body and lead to vertigo. Doctors recommend that you drink 8 glasses of water every day.
2. Figure out if certain movements provoke your vertigo. It could be caused by turning your head in a certain direction or by turning around. Over time, repeat this movement. This will train your brain to not experience vertigo when doing this movement, or at least to a lesser degree.
3. Use aromatherapy. In mild cases, aromatherapy can be helpful to stabilize the nervous system. You could also get an aromatherapy massage.

Practicing the Epley Maneuver

1. Determine what kind of vertigo you have. If you have BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), you can try some simple steps to alleviate the symptoms. These steps are called the Epley Maneuver.
   • Note: A doctor will need to diagnose that you have BPPV before you should consider attempting this technique.
   • Additionally, it might be helpful to see a physical therapist for assistance with performing the Epley Maneuver, at least the first time you do it.
2. Determine which ear the vertigo occurs in. If the calcium crystals exist in your left ear, use the following steps.
   • When you get diagnosed with BPPV, ask your doctor which ear the calcium crystals are in so that you know which side is affected by the vertigo.
   • If the vertigo occurs in your right ear, switch the steps to the opposite side.
3. Sit on the edge of your bed. Turn your head to the left 45 degrees and place a pillow under you on the bed so that it rests between your shoulders when you lie down, rather than under your head.
4. Lie down on the bed. Quickly lie down on the bed face up. Keep your head on the bed at a 45 degree angle. Keep the pillow under your shoulders. Maintain this position for 30 seconds so that any vertigo you are experiencing ceases.
5. Turn your head. Turn your head halfway, to a 90 degree angle, to the right without raising it off of the pillow. Maintain this position for 30 seconds.
6. Turn your head and body. Rotate your head and body so that you are on your side to the right. You should be looking at the floor in this position. Maintain this position for 30 seconds.
7. Slowly sit up. Take it easy and let your body readjust. Hopefully your vertigo will be gone.
   • This method alleviates vertigo in 80-90% of patients.

Exercising and Using Other Balancing Techniques to Alleviate Vertigo

1. Try normal balance exercises. Stand with your feet together on a balancing board and keep your hands by your sides. Hold the position for as long as possible. Try not to sway.
   • Once you perfect this technique, try closing your eyes while doing it to take it to further improve your vertigo.
   • These balancing techniques work to improve vertigo because it allows you to stabilize your body's reaction to the vertigo and the more you experience it, the easier it is to control when it occurs.
   • Additionally, practicing balancing techniques will make you less likely to fall when you experience vertigo in public. It will also make you less confident about going in public in the event that you experience an episode of vertigo.
2. Try the Romberg exercise.. This exercise will help you overcome your vertigo through balancing.
   • Stand with your back to the wall and place a chair directly in front of you. You can use the wall or the chair for support if you feel like you are about to fall.
   • Stand with your feet together and your arms at your side.
   • Maintain this position for 30 seconds.
   • Do this exercise twice daily. You can even try doing it with your eyes closed once you are comfortable doing it with your eyes open.
3. Try a sway exercise. This exercise will help you face the spinning feeling and push through it so that you can handle it better in the future.
   • Stand with your back to the wall and place a chair directly in front of you. You can use the wall or the chair for support if you feel like you are about to fall.
   • Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place your arms at your side.
   • Gently sway or lean forward, then slowly lean backward so that your weight shifts from your toes (when you sway forward) to your heels (when you sway backward).
   • Keep your feet firmly on the ground during this step of the exercise. Additionally, make sure that your entire body sways; do not just bend at the hips.
   • Over time, increase the distance that you sway forward and backward.
   • Try doing this exercise 20 times in a row.
4. Try Wii balance games using the Wii Fit balance board. Games like walking a tightrope, snowboarding, or soccer can help rehabilitate you by allowing you to practice your balance in the comfort of your own home.
   • Additionally, the fact that these games are enjoyable means that people will most likely spend more time practicing their balance with them and will probably improve more quickly.
5. Try Tai Chi. The slow movements of this martial art are a great treatment because rapid movements can cause vertigo. So using Tai Chi is an effective way to practice moving your body slowly while you pay attention to how your body responds to the motions.

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