It feels like seasickness
or that dizzy feeling some of us get when we step off a rollercoaster -except,
those suffering from this common condition aren’t boating or at an amusement
park.
Vertigo is an illusory sense of
spinning. It can be frightening and lead to nausea, vomiting, headaches and
other symptoms. Vertigo has been linked to anxiety, a drop in blood pressure,
migraines, multiple sclerosis and Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the ear that
can also cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss. It can also
signal a more serious condition, such as a brain tumor or stroke, although that
is less common.
Many of us
have felt dizziness when standing up
suddenly from a couch, this is not vertigo. The experience for vertigo sufferers is much more intense and includes a
sensation that the world is whirling around them. Sufferers can also experience
nausea and vomiting, symptoms which really get a person’s attention. Additional
symptoms include abnormal or jerking eye movements, headache, sweating and ringing
in the ears.
In many cases, vertigo goes away
without any treatment because your brain is able to adapt to the inner ear
changes. For those who need further treatment options may include vestibular rehabilitation,
medicine or even surgery.
If you experience
vertigo, you should see a doctor to rule out more serious causes. Thankfully
there are simple and effective treatments to stop the spinning!
