Vertigo

In this factsheet:
• The Facts on Vertigo
• Causes of Vertigo
• Symptoms and Complications of Vertigo
• Diagnosing Vertigo
• Treating and Preventing Vertigo

Diagnosing Vertigo

Many diseases can cause dizziness, especially diseases that involve poor circulation and low blood pressure. The first step of a diagnosis is a complete medical checkup.

Audiometry is a thorough test of various hearing abilities. A device that measures eye movements in various situations, an electronystagmograph, provides clues about the nature of the problem. In platform posturography, you stand on a movable platform and your responses to movement are recorded.

Treating and Preventing Vertigo

Many cases of vertigo, even severe vertigo, such as in labyrinthitis, clear up on their own, but it usually takes time. Depending on the cause of the vertigo, a doctor may recommend any number of treatments, ranging from antibiotics and other medications to surgery. The doctor may also suggest some exercises that help to build tolerance to vertigo, making episodes less intense and shorter.

For benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, there is an effective treatment called the particle repositioning maneuver. Your doctor may perform this series of head movements on you during an acute attack, then teach you how to do the movements yourself should the attack recur. There are several commercially available aids to help you do this maneuver correctly.

If vertigo is due to motion sickness or a certain type of movement, it can be prevented by avoiding the trigger or by using a technique called visual fixation, where you can help prevent vertigo by fixing the eyes on a specific point on the horizon.

Rehabilitation programs can also help people with vestibular damage to recover their balance and coordination and overcome vision problems.

*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Previous | 1 | 2 | 

This condition and disease information is written and reviewed by the MedBroadcast Clinical Team.