What is vertigo?
Vertigo is basically a sensation of spinning or turning. With the objective type the world feels like it is spinning, while with the subjective type you will feel that it is your own body that is spinning. This usually indicates that there is a problem with the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear that affects balance. As such it may also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In order to understand this phenomenon it is important to understand the inner workings of the ear.
Balance
Balance is generally defined as the state of stability or equilibrium in the body. This is maintained by a system located in the ear called the vestibular apparatus, which has numerous connections to the brain. The vestibular apparatus sends messages to your brain telling it your position in space, and the brain will move the body accordingly in order to maintain balance. When things go wrong with this system you can end up with things like vertigo, dizziness, and light-headedness.
Contrasting to dizziness and light-headedness
It is very important to contrast this symptom with dizziness and light-headedness, as they each indicate separate underlying problems. Dizziness is often described as being unsteady or drunk and while there is a feeling of imbalance, there is generally no true sense of spinning. It is not caused by any problems with the inner ear.
Light-headedness is generally a symptom that precedes a fainting spell. Associated symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, clammy hands and visual disturbances. It is not caused by inner ear problems either, but is caused by a temporary lack of blood flow to the brain. This usually indicated that there is a problem with the heart or blood vessels. This may include low blood pressure or postural hypotension, meaning there is a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up, so there is a temporary lack of blood flow to the brain.
Causes
There are a variety of causes of balance problems. This includes anything that affects the ears, eyes, brain, or the sensory receptors present in the skin, joints and muscles.
Diagnosis
A suspicion can usually be made based on your history and symptoms. Naturally the doctor will have excluded the possibility of this being dizziness or light-headedness due to an underlying condition. There are special tests that can be performed to test balance and hearing. An MRI or CT scan can also be helpful in this regard. Referral to a specialist may be needed.
Management
Management will depend largely on the cause. More often than not there is no single cause that will reverse the symptoms but you can be helped to manage this problem. This is called vestibular rehabilitation. A specialist will help you to develop special exercises that will help you to balance. In this way you will be able to help reduce the symptoms. It is also advised that you take certain precautions to prevent any accidents that may happen as a result of your balance disorder.
