Vertigo: Symptoms and Treatment
July 31, 2009
Those who suffer from vertigo may suffer from a false sensation that their surroundings are moving. They may also suffer from a spinning or whirling sensation or a lack of balance in their body. Vertigo attacks may last for a few seconds to a few days and can be sporadic or constant. Additional symptoms may include blurred vision, involuntary or abnormal eye movements, slurred speech, feeling of fainting, hearing loss, vomiting or nausea, tinnitus, sweating or diaphoresis, numbness etc.
Sometime the condition is so difficult to be diagnosed that even doctors can misinterpret the description of symptoms of a vertigo patient. You must explain your symptoms clearly to the doctor for getting a correct diagnosis.
You may be asked to go through a series of tests to ascertain what is exactly causing your vertigo problem. These tests will monitor the interaction and effectiveness of the somatosensory system, the inner ear or vestibular system, the vision system and the pressure sensors in your feet. The tests will also help you to understand how these systems enable you to have a good balance and overall stability. This diagnosis or tests will also enable you to know where the problem lies exactly which will help you have better direction regarding the course of treatment.
The assessment may include a electronystagmography (ENG) test and a videonystagmography (VNG) test. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment methods will vary. Treatment may include surgery, vestibular rehabilitation training, medications, balance training and others.
Vestibular rehabilitation is the most important treatment which may be combined along with surgery or medications for treating the disorder associated with vertigo. Vestibular rehabilitation helps to retrain the brain to adapt to impaired vestibular system function through various exercises. Also Canalith repositioning maneuvers are a new technique used to control the problems associated with this condition. This is composed of a few head movements aimed at eliminating the deposits of calcium found in the vestibular canal and bringing it to its normal position. Though vertigo is a complicated problem, if diagnosed early it can be treated effectively with the latest medications and techniques.
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