Vertigo Treatment in Dubai

Vertigo is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Meaning that vertigo can be caused by a wide range of diseases; from harmless to life threatening. In this article we focus on the most common neurological diseases.

If you are experiencing symptoms of vertigo for long periods of time, the licensed neurologists at GNC Dubai can diagnose the problem and recommend medication or exercises to help ease symptoms.

Types of Vertigo

Peripheral vertigo results from problems within the inner ear and is the most common type of vertigo. There are tiny organs in the inner ear that respond to gravity and sends messages to the brain about a person’s movement and position. This helps maintain balance when standing up. When there are sudden changes to this system, it may result in vertigo with inflammation and BPPV being the most common causes.

Central vertigo typically relates to problems within the central nervous system and can stem from issues within the brain stem. Problems with the cervical spine can also lead to vertigo.

What Causes Vertigo? Symoptoms & Causes

Symptoms of vertigo typically appear even when someone is standing still. These symptoms include loss of balance, or a sense of whirling or spinning. Some may also experience nausea or vomiting. When patients are getting diagnosed, they tend to associate vertigo with dizziness and vice versa. Vertigo will often show signs of abnormal eye movements during physical examinations.

Common symptoms of vertigo include:

1. Spinning
2. Tilting
3. Loss of balance
4. Swaying or being pulled to one direction
5. Nausea
6. Vomiting
7. Abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)
8. Headaches
9. Hearing loss or ringing in the ears

Vertigo is typically caused by a problem with the inner ear, but can also have different causes depending on whether the cause is central or peripheral. Central causes will arise in the spinal cord or the brain, while peripheral causes are due to problems within the inner ear.

The causes of vertigo or dizziness can be manifold. There are various diseases that could cause the symptom of vertigo. It can be a disease of the ear or inner ear, the vestibular nerve or the brainstem. It could take comprehensive examinations to find out the real cause. Here we would like to highlight the most common causes.

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common cause of vertigo. Certain head movements can provoke a vertigo attack. The attacks are short (<30sec). Often the vertigo attack occurs in the night while rolling over in bed. This from of vertigo is caused by small crystals of calcium deposits in the ear canal that periodically become dislodged by specific head positions or movements. It is a very common form of vertigo.
2. Vestibular neuritis: Vestibular Neuritis is caused by an inflammation of the nerve to the semicircular canals, which helps control the balance. It is characterized by a sudden severe attack of vertigo, which lasts for seven to ten days.
3. Ménière disease: This disorder of the inner ear causes spontaneous episodes of vertigo along with fluctuating hearing loss. It is often attended by a Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear.
4. Labyrinthitis: An inflammation of the inner ear structure called the labyrinth, caused by untreated bacterial infections of the middle ear. It can also cause loss of hearing.
5. Head trauma: A violent blow on the head can cause damage to the inner ear. This may lead to balance problems like Vertigo or Dizziness, temporary or permanent.
6. Others: Migraine, Superior canal dehiscence syndrome, Otitis media, Herpes zoster oticus, heart diseases and low blood pressure, Parkinson disease, Brain Stroke, Brain tumor, Acoustic neurome, Vestibular schwannoma, Epilepsy, Chiari malformation, Multiple sclerosis, Cholesteatom, Perilymphatic fistula, Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome, Autoimmune disease, Psychological disorders like panic attacks or anxiety

Diagnostic Procedures

First step should always be a consultation (important is the onset, triggers, duration, frequency, accompanying symptoms of the vertigo) and a comprehensive neurological examination (including coordination, nystagmus and gait testing). Only then a experienced neurologist can evaluate which further tests could be necessary such as:

1. Dix-Hallpike test,
2. AEP – Auditory Evoked Potentials,
3. Vestibular Evoked myogenic Potentials,
4. Audiogram (hearing test),
5. Tympanometry,
6. Videonystagmography,
7. Electrocochleography,
8. Computed tomography (CT) or MRI

There are also quick tests that can be carried out when diagnosing vertigo, these include:

1. Romberg’s test, during which the doctor asks patients to stand with their arms by their sides, with feet together and eyes closed. If the patient appears to become unsteady upon closing their signs, it could be a sign of problems within the central nervous system.
2. During the Fukuda-Unterberger’s test, doctors will ask patients to march on the spot for 30 seconds with their eyes closed. If they appear to rotate to one side, this could indicate a problem in the inner ear which would ultimately cause peripheral vertigo.

Treatment

The treatment of vertigo depends on the underlying cause. Some forms of vertigo will resolve without treatment, but other patients may need treatment for underlying problems. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections or antiviral drugs for infections like shingles. Medications like antihistamines or anti-emetics can reduce feelings of nausea and motion sickness.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy that focuses on strengthening the vestibular system in order to communicate more effectively with the brain about the head and body movements relative to gravity.

Medication

Some medications may provide relief but are not recommended for the long-term. Benzodiazepine medications are effective but may cause side effects such as drowsiness. Doctors may prescribe medications to help with symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, but these will not help treat vertigo directly.

Treating Ménière’s Disease

For those with Ménière’s disease, doctors will recommend a low-sodium diet but may also prescribe medication to help relieve dizziness. Patients are also given the option to take antibiotics or corticosteroids and are recommended to limit their sodium intake while avoiding caffeine, chocolate and alcohol.

Home Remedies for Vertigo –  Vertigo Treatment at Home

While some types of vertigo may only occur once for some people, other types may recur until an underlying condition is found. There are several home remedies that you can use to treat vertigo if you have constant symptoms at home.

The Epley Maneuver

The most effective treatments for BPPV include particle repositioning movements such as the Epley maneuver or a canalith repositioning procedure. During the maneuver, patients are required to perform specific head movements to loosen the crystals within the inner ear. By doing so, it will reduce irritation in the inner ear and resolve symptoms.

Brandt-Daroff Exercises

These exercises can help reduce symptoms of positional vertigo. This method involves quickly lying flat from a seated position with your head pointed away from the side that is causing vertigo, and needs to be repeated daily. Other exercises that can help with vertigo symptoms include a half somersault called the Foster maneuver and the Semont maneuver.

Managing Stress

Types of vertigo, including Ménière’s disease, are often triggered by stress. Developing stress management strategies can help reduce episodes of vertigo. Meditation and breathing exercises are good starting points when it comes to coping with stress. For triggers that cause long-term stress, it’s important to identify these and take the right steps to cut these triggers out of your life completely in order to help reduce your vertigo symptoms and episodes.

Stay Hydrated

Vertigo can sometimes be caused just by dehydration. Reducing sodium levels can help with dehydration but it’s important to make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

Dealing with Vertigo

Vertigo is a condition that can make you feel off-balance and dizzy, often with the sensation that the world is spinning around you. It’s important to understand that vertigo is a symptom, not a specific diagnosis, and it can have various underlying causes, from inner ear issues to problems in the brain.

At GNC Dubai, our team of licensed neurologists is here to help. We can diagnose the root cause of your vertigo symptoms and provide suitable treatments or exercises to alleviate them. Trust GNC as your partner in regaining your balance and improving your well-being. Your journey to a steadier life starts with us.