Vertigo Attack: What to Do?

Vertigo Attack: What to Do? - MalaysiaAcute Conditions

Vertigo Attack: What to Do?

When the world starts spinning, the ability to carry out daily tasks is being hindered. It’s important to learn the signs of a vertigo attack and how to manage it which will be discussed in this article.

What is Vertigo?

Vertigois when you feel as though the environment around you is spinning around, leaving you feeling dizzy, nauseous, and keeping you off-balance. You may be at risk of falling if you’re standing and have a sudden vertigo attack.

Vertigo isn’t a singular disease or condition but is a symptom of other prevailing conditions that affect your balance. It is most commonly caused by an inner ear infection, which affects your balance, among other things; this is known as peripheral vertigo. In rare cases, a brain condition (such as a brain tumour) may be what’s causing the condition; this is called central vertigo.

Your sense of balance is regulated by three sensory systems in the body, one of which is the inner ear. The inner ear contains structures that allow the body to sense position and motion. All three systems work in tandem to maintain your balance. If one of these three systems is disrupted, the other two will keep you balanced. However, if there may be disruptions to how the brain interprets the signals from these systems, it can cause a loss of balance.

Vertigo, Dizziness, and the Fear of Heights

Vertigo anddizzinessare sometimes used interchangeably, but they’re both different sensations altogether. Dizziness is when you feel lightheaded, foggy, giddy, or unsteady. Vertigo, on the other hand, is a kind of dizziness where you feel as though your surroundings are spinning in circles.

Vertigo is also incorrectly used to describe a person’s fear of heights (acrophobia). Those with this fear may undergo a sensation that’s similar to vertigo when they look down from a high point.

Signs of a Vertigo Attack

Vertigo attacks may last a very short while, sometimes spanning a few seconds, while some attacks may last for a lot longer. Some people may not even notice the signs (as it can be very mild for some), while others may have it so bad it affects their ability to perform activities of daily living.

Thegeneral symptomsare:

  • When you feel like the world is spinning
  • Frequent falls due to a loss of balance
  • Difficulty walking in a straight line
  • Frequent nausea (and vomiting)

Other symptoms that may be present include:

  • Hearing loss in one or both ears
  • Tinnitus, or ringing in your ears
  • Motion sickness
  • Headaches or migraines

If you or your loved one are exhibiting any of these signs, you should consider seeing a doctor immediately for a diagnosis. Make sure that the one who might have vertigo doesn’t drive; if that isn’t possible, consider alternative modes of transportation such as e-hailing services, or get the help of your neighbour, family friend, or family member.

Those who may have had a head injury, such as a case of whiplash, might also experience vertigo attacks. If you’re undergoing treatment for the injury, be sure to bring up the episodes with your doctor.

Fainting is another cause for concern and requires immediate medical attention. Other neurological conditions, such as a sudden inability to speak, should also be treated quickly.

Why Should You Be Concerned?

The biggest immediate cause for concern is the risk you or your loved one might have of falling. Vertigo causes you to lose all sense of balance as the whole world seems to spin around you, and as such, it’s very likely that you’ll injure yourself. There could be bone fractures, physical trauma, or concussions that could be life-threatening if not attended to immediately – especially for older adults.

Drivers or pedestrians who have sudden vertigo attacks are at particularly great risk. You might end up walking down a busy road, or collapse onto the sidewalk without warning. Not only will you hurt yourself, but you could also inadvertently cause others to be injured as well.

Vertigo can also impact your activities of daily living (ADLs), especially if they occur frequently enough that you aren’t able to do anything without having to sit or lie down to let the it pass. Episodes that last a few seconds do still need some attention, as again you may be at risk of hurting yourself if you’re not careful.

Other symptoms that might appear, such as tinnitus, can further compound your overall condition, making it that much harder to be able to get through the day with even simple things like chatting with family members. It can quickly compound to a point where you can’t even get out of bed without getting nauseous from a sudden vertigo attack.

It’s therefore important to be able to spot the warning signs early and treat it in order to reduce its overall impact on your wellbeing.

What to Do During a Vertigo Attack

If you or your loved one experience a vertigo attack at home, lie down in a dark, quiet room and rest until it goes away. Be sure not to leave any lights on, as a vertigo attack can make a person more sensitive to light, which can exacerbate symptoms. Try to elevate your head with an extra pillow as well. If you need to get up, slowly get up and sit on the edge of the bed for a short while before getting up.

If you’re in a place where you can’t lie down, sit down instead. If you’re driving, pull over at a safe place and take a break until the vertigo subsides. Standing or moving during a vertigo attack increases your risk of falling, which can cause serious physical injuries such as fractured bones.

Sometimes, anxiety or stress can trigger a vertigo attack. Find somewhere comfortable where you can sit or lie down and relax; relaxation/meditation techniques may be beneficial in managing and reducing the stress you’re feeling. Yoga, breathing exercises, and quiet meditation are good suggestions that can greatly help.

As vertigo subsides, try to avoid making sudden twists, turns, or movements with your head to reduce the risk of another attack. You might be prescribed medications to help with managing the symptoms or reduce the likelihood of future vertigo attacks. Take note if any of these medications give you any side effects. Drowsiness might be one likely side effect, so don’t drive or operate any machinery or appliances once you’ve taken your medicine.

Vertigo attacks can happen at any time, so it’s important that you stay prepared for the eventuality of an attack. Make sure you’re getting medical attention if it is severely impacting your life.

Treating Vertigo with Physiotherapy

Medications might help with some symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, but they only help with acute symptoms or ease the severity of attacks. For chronic cases where it seriously affects you or your loved one,physiotherapy is known to lead to better recovery outcomes for vertigo, either by better-managing symptoms so that you or your loved one can perform ADLs, or by preventing vertigo attacks entirely.

Your doctor will recommend the kind of physiotherapy you’ll need to do to recover. They’ll teach you how to do it and make sure you do it correctly. Later on, you can do them from the comforts of your own home once you’re discharged. Here are some treatment methods that might be suggested for you or your loved one.

Canalith Repositioning Manoeuvres

For cases of peripheral vertigo, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) which is an inner ear disorder, one of four canalith repositioning procedures may be recommended. The purpose of a canalith repositioning procedure is to reposition loose canalith particles, or otoconia, to an area in the inner ear where it won’t cause vertigo symptoms. Loose particles may end up in the semicircular canals of the inner ear, which is what causes vertigo.

Canalith repositioning procedures basically involve simple head exercises to move these particles to where they need to go. The most common manoeuvre is the Epley manoeuvre. Here are the steps to do it:

  • Tilt your head 45 degrees to whichever side is causing vertigo.
  • Quickly lie flat on your back with your head slightly off the edge of the bed/table in the same position. Note that your symptoms might worsen when you do this. If you have a pillow, keep it behind your head.
  • Wait 30 seconds before going to the next step.
  • Slowly turn your head about 90 degrees to the opposite side.
  • Carefully rotate the rest of your body so you’re looking at the floor. Your head should still be slightly angled. Wait another 30 seconds.
  • Slowly sit upright with your head “centred and tilted down.”
  • Sit still for about 15 minutes before repeating the process.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

You might need to repeat this procedure two more times. It’s usually done before you go to bed, so you can sleep off any symptoms you might experience. Other manoeuvres include the Semont manoeuvre and the Brandt-Daroff exercise.

Your doctor will usually show you how to perform these procedures before you can do it on your own. Care should be taken when you perform any of these manoeuvres: if done incorrectly, it can shift the canalith particles to the wrong area in your inner ear, further compounding your vertigo. Don’t rush these procedures as well, as that can also make your symptoms worse.

The good news is that the Epley manoeuvre does have an average success rate of 80 percent. However, this procedure only applies to cases of BPPV; for other inner ear disorders, such as Meniere’s disease, other treatment methods may be required instead.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

This form of therapy involves practising various exercises to help with managing vertigo symptoms. Much like canalith repositioning procedures, this is also recommended for those with inner ear disorders that cause vertigo.

If you or your loved one has a vestibular disorder (affecting your sense of balance and spatial orientation), vertigo symptoms may slowly improve over time through compensation: this is when the brain relies on your other senses to make up for the impairment of your vestibular system. This happens over time, but not everyone might go through it at the same pace. VRT aims to help improve your condition through the promotion of this compensation.

You’ll first need to have your symptoms and your overall condition evaluated before an exercise plan can be formed tailored to your needs. Certain types of exercises will be recommended to you, including habituation exercises to treat symptoms of dizziness caused by movement or visual stimuli. Other exercises may include eye movement control for those with visual difficulties, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises.

These exercises reduce your risk of falls and help improve your sense of balance. You may even find the attacks occurring far less than usual, or that symptoms are less severe. You’ll need to undergo several sessions based on how well you’re responding to therapy.

What About Central Vertigo?

Unfortunately, central vertigo can’t be treated with physiotherapy methods, especially considering it mainly involves parts of the brain that regulate your sense of balance. The root cause of central vertigo needs to be ascertained and then treated with medications and other types of treatment.

Need Help with Vertigo?

If you or your loved one are experiencing frequent vertigo attacks, treatment is your best bet. However, given our hectic schedules or certain commitments, it can be difficult to find time to undergo physiotherapy to treat the symptoms, even when you need it. Luckily, you can still do it from the comfort of your own home.

Here at , our highly qualified penjaga are well-equipped to help you or your loved one withhome physiotherapy. You’ll receive highly personalised care without needing to leave the house, which can have a positive impact on your overall recovery. The convenience is also a big boon if you have limited mobility options available, and it also helps you save on extraneous costs that can cut into your savings.

We provide simple, transparent pricing without the constraints of a contract. We’ll work with you to come up with a care plan tailored to you or your loved one’s needs. Download our app to book a home physiotherapy and/or caregiving session today and let us help you with your recovery! References

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