Vertigo is marked by a feeling of dizziness and disorientation. This feeling could be so bad that even standing up makes a person feel lightheaded. Vertigo can even make a person feel nauseous.

The five most common causes of vertigo are:

1. Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s disease is a condition that affects the inner ear. It is marked by a buildup of fluid in the inner ear as a result of a viral infection, allergies or an injury to the ear. Along with dizziness, it can also cause a ringing noise in the ears, the feeling of having plugged ears and hearing loss. Vertigo caused by Meniere’s disease can last for months.
2. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This is one of the most common triggers of vertigo. This condition is caused by small crystals that break free and float in the inner ear canals. These canals are known as semicircular canals. Vertigo caused by BPPV is usually short-lived and relieves itself is a few minutes. Moving the head in a certain way or jerky movements can trigger vertigo in such cases. The exact cause of this condition is not clear but it has been often associated with severe head trauma.
3. Labyrinthitis: This condition is also known as vestibular neuritis. It is marked by swelling and irritation of the two vestibular nerves in the inner ear canal. Labyrinthitis may be caused by a viral infection or an inner ear infection. In such cases, vertigo may be accompanied by hearing loss. Older adults are at the highest risk of this condition.
4. Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A simple vitamin deficiency can also cause vertigo and dizziness. Vitamin B12 helps prevent anaemia and keeps nerves and blood cells healthy. Low levels of this vitamin can cause neurological problems that in turn cause vertigo. This is because vitamin deficiencies reduce blood pressure and blood flow to the brain. A simple blood test can help check Vitamin B1 levels and identify a deficiency. Some of the best sources of vitamin B12 are dairy products, meats and fortified cereals.
5. Dehydration: 60% of the human body mass is water. Water plays a number of roles in the human body. One of the most important functions of water is the circulation of nutrients in the body and blood flow. Thus, even mild dehydration can make a person feel dizzy and nauseous. This type of vertigo may be relieved by drinking copious amounts of fluids.

Sound travels through different parts of the hearing system to produce the ultimate sense of sound in the brain. People can hear when a sound wave stimulates the neurological component of the inner ear and takes the sound signals to the brain.

When there is a problem with the ear, human beings cannot hear, or hear garbled sounds. Hearing loss may have different reasons. There may be a tumor in the ear, a problem with the eardrum, the inner ear or the neurological structure. Different conditions can plague the hearing system and cause hearing loss. Some of these conditions can be serious and require medical intervention.

Let us discuss 3 such conditions where the intervention of an audiologist is a must.

Tinnitus and Vertigo

 Tinnitus is a medical term for a sense of ringing in the ears. It’s annoying, to say the least. But more importantly, it could be a sign of hearing loss. This is why people need to see an audiologist if they have a sense of Tinnitus for a prolonged time. An audiologist can first diagnose the condition, and can then treat this problem with the help of specialized hearing aids.

 Vertigo and dizziness are the other two problems that result from a hearing system problem. It may create balance disorders. It is said that vertigo originates in the inner ear. Vertigo can also be treated with the help of physical therapy and medicine.

 Sudden Hearing Loss

 The human ear cannot hear sounds greater than 85 dB in intensity and 20,000 Hertz in tone. If the sound tone is less than 20 Hertz, then too the human ear is not able to hear anything. Between these two polarities, the human ear is able to catch all types of sounds. If human beings are exposed to sound waves of more than 85 dB in intensity, the ears may get damaged. In that case one may suffer from hearing loss. If a person has recently experienced huge changes in air pressure, exposed to blaring music or noise at close quarters, or had an accident causing loss of hearing, one needs to see an audiologist. The ears need to be assessed for trauma, if any, and treated quickly. However, hearing loss may have other reasons too such as reactions to medicines, head injury or some kind of illness that affects the hearing system. An audiologist would be able to make the right determination.

 Recurrent Ear Infections

This is common in children, but that does not mean that adults are immune to it. If there is chronic ear pain, difficulty in hearing along with drainage and fever or a feeling of pressure, an ear infection is most likely. Any doctor can detect an ear infection, however, if it is a recurrent one needs to see an audiologist. He has the wherewithal to evaluate the middle ear with different tests. A person may need treatment that only an audiologist can do.

There can be many situations in which a visit to an Audiologist is warranted; the above 3 are just a tip of the iceberg.

How to Manage Vertigo 

Tiding over an attack of vertigo can be quite challenging. Those who have suffered from vertigo know exactly how distressing it can be! It could happen anytime, anywhere and spin your life out of control within minutes.

Vertigo is a term used to describe a sensation as if everything around you is spinning with a feeling of light-headedness, dizziness and/or unsteadiness. It may be associated with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, altered level of consciousness and hearing loss. It can last a few seconds to a few minutes and occasionally longer too. Vertigo is a common medical problem and affects a large number of people at some point or another during their life.

Some people get recurrent attacks of vertigo and the acute attacks when they come – come suddenly and may lead to falls and injuries to the one suffering. If you or your loved one is suffering from vertigo, it is important to know few First Aid tips, which are of great help during an acute attack of dizziness.

• As soon as you feel that you are feeling giddy, it is very important for you to lie down or sit down to prevent a fall. Lying down and resting your head against a pillow with closed eyes is the best thing to do during an acute attack
• If you are an alone call for help
• If you are driving then pull over to the side as soon as you start feeling dizzy
• Loosen up tight clothing
• Open all the windows in the room as fresh air will help you feel better
• A calm and quiet environment can help alleviate your symptoms
• Avoid bright light; a dark room is preferred
• If you are not nauseous, drink sips of water. Avoid substances that can affect circulation including caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol
• Herbal remedies such as ginger root and mint leaves are known to reduce symptoms in some people
• When you feel the dizziness has settled, turn to your side and get up from the lying down position gradually

Once the acute attack is over it is recommended that you get yourself evaluated for the cause of vertigo. The treatment and management are more successful if you address the cause of vertigo instead of the symptoms. To know more about vertigo

Once the cause is established and you are under treatment, the following steps will help avoid further attacks.

• Once you know you have vertigo, it is important for you to get up from the bed slowly. A sudden jerk to the neck while getting up from the bed can precipitate an attack of vertigo
• Avoid too much of neck extension and strain on your neck as well
• Avoid sudden postural changes
• Sometimes an ear infection too can precipitate an attack of vertigo. If you are suspecting an ear infection, it is better that you get yourself checked and treated for the same to get rid of vertigo
• Fluid intake at regular intervals is known to help
• If you have a feeling that your medications are not helping you, talk to your doctor he might consider changing your medicine

If you are suffering from severe and frequent episodes of vertigo you must take Homoeopathic treatment to get long-lasting and complete relief. Homeopathy is based on natural laws and holistic principles. It takes into consideration the complete history which not only helps to find out the cause but also helps treat the root cause of vertigo. There are more than 50 natural, chemical and side-effect free medicines in the Homeopathic repertoire for vertigo. Consult our expert Homeopathy physicians and get freedom from vertigo today! 

A balancing problem often causes dizziness. When you are standing still, you will have a feeling like everything around you is moving and spinning and that is due to dizziness. Labyrinth is one of the organs present inside the ear, which is a part of the balance system. This organ will interact with the other body organs as well like eyes, bones, joints, etc. Along with these organs, the nervous system and brain can also contribute towards your trouble in balancing.

Symptoms:
There are different symptoms that a person with balancing trouble may face Some of them are as follows:

• Unable to walk straight as everything around seems to be spinning
• Unable to stand up
• Vertigo or dizziness
• A tendency to fall down while walking
• Lightheadedness
• Blurry vision
• Disorientation

There are some people who also have problems such as nausea, vomiting, blood pressure, change in heartbeat, diarrhea, anxiety, etc. These symptoms usually last for a short time, but in rare conditions, they last really long.

Causes of balancing trouble:
Bacterial or viral infection, blood circulation disorders, and head injury can be some of the reasons for affecting the internal part of the ear. Along with that, aging and some kind of medications can also cause balance trouble. Basically, the four areas mentioned below may lead to a trouble in balancing:

• Any problem in the brain and its connecting nerves
• Labyrinth disturbances
• Any kind of problem with the body apart from the brain and head
• Problems related to blood flow

How is the balancing problem diagnosed?
Based on the symptoms and many other factors, the affected individual will be diagnosed. It is not at all easy to detect balancing problems. The following tests are conducted to determine the problem:

• Blood tests
• Exams for hearing
• Scans for brain
• Scans of head

Here is how an audiologist can help you
When you are having hearing and balancing issues, it is always good to consult a certified audiologist. Vertigo or balancing problems can be due to many conditions inside the ear; therefore, an audiologic evaluation should be conducted. The basic cause and the possible treatment for it can be suggested with the help of this evaluation only.

Based on the audiologic evaluation results and the medical findings, the audiologist will be able to find a way to treat dizziness. You will be provided more information about Vertigo in order to understand it in a much better way. So, when the cause is clear and you understand the ailment better, it gets easier for the doctor to treat you and you will be relieved from the scary feeling of getting unbalanced and falling.

What Causes Meniere’s Disease?
Meniere's Disease is a disorder that basically affects the sense of balance and hearing of the patient. This condition takes place in the inner ear and it may cause problems like vertigo, where patients experience a spinning sensation and a ringing sound as well. This is a chronic disorder, which requires a number of lifestyle changes so that it can be managed and treated without becoming a debilitating problem.

Read on to know more about the symptoms and causes of the condition.

Symptoms: The various signs and symptoms of this disease include a feeling of fullness in the ear, which has been affected by the condition. Also, most patients have a spinning sensation and a ringing sound in the affected ear. Nausea and vomiting may also be caused by this condition, along with sweating and loss of balance. It is also normal to feel uncoordinated when you are suffering from this condition.

Secondary Symptoms: This condition may also cause many other complications, which are known as secondary symptoms. These include anxiety, depression and stress. This usually happens due to the problems in the ear and even the problem of vertigo. This may cause problems for people who climb heights or ladders for their work or even for other recreational causes. The constant sense of dizziness and spinning may cause a person to become anxious and undertake stress when it comes to carrying out various kinds of functions in day to day living.

Causes: There are various causes of this condition, even though many medical reports suggest that the exact cause has not really been understood so far. As any doctor will tell you, the in the inner ear there is a labyrinth which contains fluids. When there is a problem with the composition and level of these fluids, the patient may develop Meniere’s Disease. This condition specifically affects the inner part of the ear. This part is made up of passages and a cavity as well as soft membrane like structures with hair like sensors. These sensors respond to the fluid’s movement within the ear. When this fluid does not have the appropriate levels, it can lead to many complications like Meniere’s Disease, which affect the nerve impulse that these sensors catch and transmit to the brain.

Stages: This disease progresses over a set of three stages. In the very first stage, the patient will experience much dizziness and nausea, before that progresses to the second stage. In this stage, the patient will have moderate to severe vertigo. This is also known as the middle stage. Finally, this may culminate into the third or late stage, which leads to more frequent episodes of vertigo. The hearing of the patient and the ringing sound in the ears will also get worse in this stage.

Vertigo is that sensation when a person feels that the world is spinning around him. It is a feeling of off balance.

While having a Vertigo, people often complain about feeling dizzy, basic daily activities like walking or moving becomes really intense for them. These episodes can impact everyday life.

Is Vertigo common?

Experiencing Vertigo at least once during a lifetime is quite common. It is often seen in older people, but it can happen to anyone at any age. Women are a little more prone to experience an episode of Vertigo than men.

Types of Vertigo:

There are two major types of Vertigo:

1. Central Vertigo: Central Vertigo occurs when there is a sudden and temporary malfunction in the brain, precisely in an area called the cerebellum.

2. Peripheral Vertigo: Peripheral Vertigo occurs due to a problem in areas of vestibular nerve or the inner ear. This area connects the inner ear and the brain. Peripheral Vertigo is the most common type of Vertigo.

According to the American Institute of Balance, Peripheral Vertigo is generally a more serious and dangerous problem compared to Central Vertigo.

Recurrent Spontaneous Vertigo with Head-Shaking Nystagmus:

Recently, researchers discovered a new type of Vertigo called “Recurrent Spontaneous Vertigo with Head-Shaking Nystagmus” or (RSV-HNS).

To diagnose RSV-HNS, the patients need to sit in a room without lights. The examiner changes the position of their heads, first in forward direction, then in side to side direction for about 15 seconds. The camera records the patient’s eye motions. It results in those who have RSV-HSN making an eye movement which lasts longer than the others. This movement is known as “nystagmus”.

Compared to other types of Vertigo, RSV-HSN shows a more severe sensation of motion sickness. People with RSV-HSN experience things like nausea, headaches, vomiting, and an unwillingness to head motions. These symptoms can be experienced anywhere from a couple of times a week to once a year.

The reason behind RSV-HSN is still unknown. Doctors recommend that proper medication helps to improve the condition.

Treatment for Vertigo:

A major part of the treatment of Vertigo depends on the cause of the Vertigo. Often, Vertigo goes away without any treatment. The reason behind Vertigo curing itself is that people adapting to the inner ear changes and finding different mechanisms to maintain balance.

Why a neurologist is the right choice to consult for vertigo?

The patient of vertigo should not visit an ENT doctor and must consult a good neurologist as basically it's either a problem of brain or of abnormal signals from the vestibular nerve from the ear. In no way it is a problem of ear per se. A neurologist has the training and expertise to deal with it, not an ENT doc. Also, it's important to consult urgently as sometimes it can be a sign of brain stroke (specially if associated with imbalance). Importantly, to rule out brain lesions like cyst, tumor, clots and nerve infections, consulting a neurologist is the best option available.

Apart from this, these are a few treatments:

1. Medicines: Medication tends to give relief to symptoms like motion sickness associated with Vertigo.

2. Vestibular Rehabilitation: Under this treatment, doctors try to aim at the patient’s vestibular strengths which send the signals to the body movement and head related to  gravity.

3. Canalith Repositioning Manoeuvres: In this treatment, a physical therapist suggests different head and body movements, which help to release the deposit out of the canal and into an inner ear which can be absorbed by the body. This treatment is quite effective to treat Vertigo.

4. Surgery: If the reason behind causing Vertigo is some serious internal problem like tumor or a head injury, then, in such circumstances, surgery is highly recommended.

Conclusion:

There are many treatments and medicines available for Vertigo. They are totally dependent upon the cause, symptoms, and condition of the patient. This is why it is important to consult a doctor or specialist for the best treatment option.

A balancing problem often causes dizziness. When you are standing still, you will have a feeling like everything around you is moving and spinning and that is due to dizziness. Labyrinth is one of the organs present inside the ear, which is a part of the balance system. This organ will interact with the other body organs as well like eyes, bones, joints, etc. Along with these organs, the nervous system and brain can also contribute towards your trouble in balancing.

Symptoms:
There are different symptoms that a person with balancing trouble may face Some of them are as follows:

• Unable to walk straight as everything around seems to be spinning
• Unable to stand up
• Vertigo or dizziness
• A tendency to fall down while walking
• Lightheadedness
• Blurry vision
• Disorientation

There are some people who also have problems such as nausea, vomiting, blood pressure, change in heartbeat, diarrhea, anxiety, etc. These symptoms usually last for a short time, but in rare conditions, they last really long.

Causes of balancing trouble:
Bacterial or viral infection, blood circulation disorders, and head injury can be some of the reasons for affecting the internal part of the ear. Along with that, aging and some kind of medications can also cause balance trouble. Basically, the four areas mentioned below may lead to a trouble in balancing:

• Any problem in the brain and its connecting nerves
• Labyrinth disturbances
• Any kind of problem with the body apart from the brain and head
• Problems related to blood flow

How is the balancing problem diagnosed?
Based on the symptoms and many other factors, the affected individual will be diagnosed. It is not at all easy to detect balancing problems. The following tests are conducted to determine the problem:

• Blood tests
• Exams for hearing
• Scans for brain
• Scans of head

Here is how an audiologist can help you
When you are having hearing and balancing issues, it is always good to consult a certified audiologist. Vertigo or balancing problems can be due to many conditions inside the ear; therefore, an audiologic evaluation should be conducted. The basic cause and the possible treatment for it can be suggested with the help of this evaluation only.

Based on the audiologic evaluation results and the medical findings, the audiologist will be able to find a way to treat dizziness. You will be provided more information about Vertigo in order to understand it in a much better way. So, when the cause is clear and you understand the ailment better, it gets easier for the doctor to treat you and you will be relieved from the scary feeling of getting unbalanced and falling.

Vertigo is marked by a feeling of dizziness and disorientation. This feeling could be so bad that even standing up makes a person feel lightheaded. Vertigo can even make a person feel nauseous.

The five most common causes of vertigo are:

1. Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s disease is a condition that affects the inner ear. It is marked by a buildup of fluid in the inner ear as a result of a viral infection, allergies or an injury to the ear. Along with dizziness, it can also cause a ringing noise in the ears, the feeling of having plugged ears and hearing loss. Vertigo caused by Meniere’s disease can last for months.
2. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This is one of the most common triggers of vertigo. This condition is caused by small crystals that break free and float in the inner ear canals. These canals are known as semicircular canals. Vertigo caused by BPPV is usually short-lived and relieves itself is a few minutes. Moving the head in a certain way or jerky movements can trigger vertigo in such cases. The exact cause of this condition is not clear but it has been often associated with severe head trauma.
3. Labyrinthitis: This condition is also known as vestibular neuritis. It is marked by swelling and irritation of the two vestibular nerves in the inner ear canal. Labyrinthitis may be caused by a viral infection or an inner ear infection. In such cases, vertigo may be accompanied by hearing loss. Older adults are at the highest risk of this condition.
4. Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A simple vitamin deficiency can also cause vertigo and dizziness. Vitamin B12 helps prevent anaemia and keeps nerves and blood cells healthy. Low levels of this vitamin can cause neurological problems that in turn cause vertigo. This is because vitamin deficiencies reduce blood pressure and blood flow to the brain. A simple blood test can help check Vitamin B1 levels and identify a deficiency. Some of the best sources of vitamin B12 are dairy products, meats and fortified cereals.
5. Dehydration: 60% of the human body mass is water. Water plays a number of roles in the human body. One of the most important functions of water is the circulation of nutrients in the body and blood flow. Thus, even mild dehydration can make a person feel dizzy and nauseous. This type of vertigo may be relieved by drinking copious amounts of fluids.

Balance disorder is more prevalent in old people, but they are not the only ones who are affected by it. There are many causes that can lead to balance disorder and some of them can be controlled. Balance problem causes spinning of head coupled with dizziness while standing or sitting, which can lead to an injurious fall.

Symptoms
The common symptoms of balance disorder include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Depression, anxiety or fear
• Blurred vision
• Disorientation
• Tiredness
• Inability to concentrate
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure

Causes

• Ear infection: If the vestibular system (which is also called the labyrinth) inside your ear gets infected and inflamed, it can cause balance disorder. This is because the inner part of the ear is responsible for coordination and balance. This condition is known as labyrinthitis and it is frequently accompanied by dizziness and vertigo. Viral and respiratory infections can also cause labyrinthitis.
• Poor circulation: Certain diseases associated with the circulatory system, such as stroke can cause dizziness and various other balance problems.
• Medications: There are certain medications that can lead to balance disorder, such as medications to normalize blood pressure can cause dizziness. Ototoxic drugs are infamous for causing ear problems that lead to imbalance. Sometimes its ill effects are felt only during the period of using, but many people have suffered permanent ear damage.
• Other causes of balance disorder include head injury, imbalance of chemicals in the brain, arthritis, neurological conditions and aging.

Prevention-

• Balanced diet: Meniere's disease is a condition that causes ear problems, which lead to vertigo. It is primarily connected to the change in the volume of fluid in the inner ear. Try to eliminate salt from your diet and abstain from alcohol in order to prevent such a condition.
• Prevention of ear infections: otitis media is a common kind of ear infection seen in children, but adults can have it too. It causes dizziness and nausea. A proper care with herbs can manage it effectively
• One can also take steam inhalation for flu to keep away the flu-related infections in the ear.
   

Have you tried a host of conventional therapies, taken numerous medications, consulted the best physicians - but a cure still seems elusive?

If you are looking for a faster and completely natural method of healing from these balance disorders, Ayurveda is your best option.

What is Tinnitus?
The word tinnitus is a latin derivative meaning ‘to ring’. In this condition, the person suffers from a disparity of sound in both ears without any external noise present, like hissing, roaring clicking, whistling and others.The ringing can be sporadic or continuous and the volume ranges from minute to blooming to clamourous.

Tinnitus has also been associated with-

• Sensorineural hearing loss in people with a vata dominant type of body
• Pulsatile tinnitus or rhythmic pulsing, a thumping sound that coordinates with the heartbeat.

Globally, 50 million, which is 10-18% of the total population, suffer from tinnitus.

What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is characterized by a feeling of sudden rush in the head which leads to swaying or spinning. This makes it difficult to stand in an upright position. Ayurveda calls it ‘brahma’.

Causes-
Ayurveda states that vertigo is an outcome of ‘pitta and vatta dosha’.

• When these ‘doshas’ becomes overactive, it imbalances the entire functioning system and causes irritating sensations like ringing in the ears.
• ‘Vestibular imbalance’ in the inner portion of the ear is another reason causing vertigo
• When adequate oxygen flow to the ear is disrupted, it also causes abnormal ringing in the ears

Treatment-
Panchakarma is a five (pancha) therapy (karma) which makes use of complete ayurvedic techniques in detoxification and body-mind healing. It eliminates diseases from their roots by examining individual needs like the body constitution, pitta dosha, age, digestive fire, and other factors. It is a proven therapy to restore the optimal health of the body, vitality and inner balance.

This rejuvenating program believes in two major treatment methods- ‘shodhana’ and ‘shamana’. Shodhana is cleansing of the body and Shamana refers to treatment with medications.

1. Panchakarma to treat Tinnitus

• Nasya or errhine medications- Nose drop oils like vacha calms and balance the prana vayu. The oil is warmed, put in one nostril and it flows out of the other. This removes excess vata from the head and the neck area.
• Abhyanga is of two types- Shiroabhyanga is a head massage and padabhyanga is a foot massage. In padabhyanga the soles of the feet are rubbed with warm sesame oil which calms the prana vayu. The oil penetrates deep into the skin, relaxes the body, nourishes every starved cell and removes excess waste products. It propels arterial and lymphatic circulation.
• Karnapoorna or ear drops are used to relax the vata in the ears. Approximately ten drops of sesame oil is applied and allowed to stay for five-ten minutes. The ear is cleaned and the process is repeated for the other ear.
• Kawala and Gandush is the gargling of specific medicated oils or kawath (liquid). It provides strength to the nerves of the ears and appeases the vata gandush.

2. Panchakarma to treat Vertigo
The science of Ayurveda does not state vertigo as a chronic disease. Rather it is a disorder of the nervous system. The vitiated pitta is responsible for causing the spinning sensation. This is where the Ayurvedic method of Panchakarma benefits the human body by balancing the pitta and purifying it. The healing techniques include-

• Abhyanga or regular oil massaging
• Swedana or treatment by applying herbal steam
• Lymphatic massage
• Basti or medicated enemas
• Nasya or administering oils through the nostrils