Vertigo is a very annoying disorder that manifests itself with dizziness, mental fog and the feeling that the surrounding environment is moving. They can also cause nausea, vomiting and loss of balance and, since the causes can be different, it is important to rule out a whole range of diseases before intervening to alleviate them. Once the cause is understood, there are several methods to effectively treat vertigo.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Calming Vertigo
Step 1. Move slowly
If you feel dizzy, the worst thing you can do is change positions quickly. Try to reduce the feeling of lightheadedness by moving extremely slowly. By moving slowly, you will be able to stay clearer and more focused. To avoid the risk of falling, you should move close to a wall or a stable object in order to have a support.
- Take short breaks between movements if you feel the need to.
- Dizziness shouldn't stop you from getting out of bed or moving. Do not feel obliged to remain still or lying down, the important thing is to be patient and make cautious movements.
Step 2. Avoid situations that force you to look up
If you look upwards for a long time, the discomfort and the feeling of disorientation could increase. You will feel better by keeping your head straight, with your chin parallel to the floor. If you need to tilt your head, do it very slowly, whatever the direction.
- Symptoms shouldn't get much worse if you look up for just a few moments, but postpone any activities that would force you to sit with your head tilted back for a long time. Staring at a screen above eye level may also aggravate the feeling of discomfort.
- Symptoms may also intensify when you look down.
Step 3. Don't focus your gaze on moving objects
Looking at something that moves quickly, for example a car or a train, may make you feel dizzy. You may also have a hard time focusing on objects that are very close or far away. If symptoms intensify whatever the subject of the gaze, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths; it may be enough to immediately feel better.
Step 4. Don't stand horizontally
If you find that your dizziness gets worse while lying down, use pillows to keep your head slightly elevated. The advice is to keep the torso at a 45 degree angle to the legs, you can sit on a recliner or lie down in bed and support your head with pillows.
Step 5. Rest in a calm environment
By staying in a dark, quiet room, dizziness and other symptoms may lessen. Lie down or sit as advised in the previous step, with your head supported by pillows or in a recliner, and turn off all lights and electronic devices. It is likely that if you are in a calm environment, your dizziness will lessen.
Relax for at least twenty minutes. Later you may find that the symptoms have passed. If you are still dizzy, give yourself another twenty minutes of rest in the dark and in silence
Method 2 of 4: Perform the Epley Maneuver
Step 1. Determine which ear is causing the dizziness
Sit on the bed in a spot that allows you to hang your head slightly over the edge after lying down. Turn your head to the right while sitting, then lie down quickly. Wait a minute and notice if you feel dizzy, then repeat the movement by turning your head to the left. If dizziness occurs when your head is turned to the right, it means that the right ear is the culprit or vice versa.
Step 2. Turn your head slowly 45 degrees
Sit on the edge of the bed and turn your head 45 degrees in the direction of the ear that is causing the dizziness. The chin must not reach over the shoulder.
For example, if the dizziness comes from the left ear, you will need to turn your head to the left. If, on the other hand, it is the right ear that causes them, you will have to turn your head 45 degrees to the right
Step 3. Rest your head on the bed
Lie down quickly after placing a pillow so that it rests under your shoulders. The head must remain turned towards the ear that is causing the dizziness. Keep your shoulders and neck relaxed and stay in this position for 1-2 minutes.
Step 4. Turn your head 90 degrees
Remain lying down and slowly turn your head 90 degrees in the opposite direction. Do not lift your head, it must rest against the edge of the bed. Stay with your head turned for 1-2 minutes.
If your left ear is causing the dizziness, you need to turn your head 90 degrees to the right. If, on the other hand, the dizziness comes from the right ear, you need to rotate it 90 degrees to the left
Step 5. Turn to the side where you don't feel dizzy
Stand on your side so that your good ear is facing down. Turn your head (but not your body) to be able to look towards the floor. Stay in this position for 1-2 minutes.
For example, if your dizziness is caused by your left ear, you need to turn onto your right side
Step 6. Repeat the movements as needed
In some cases it is enough to perform these poses in series only once to relieve dizziness. However, sometimes the Epley maneuver must be repeated. Do this three times a day until the symptoms have passed. stop when you have not been dizzy for 24 hours.
Repeat the Epley maneuver when you wake up, at lunchtime and in the evening before going to bed
Step 7. Avoid standing horizontally or tilting your head forward or back for a week
Use a recliner or several pillows in bed to keep your torso at a 45 degree angle to your legs when sitting or sleeping. Also try to keep your head straight as much as possible to prevent dizziness from returning.
- If you want to be on your side, remember to turn the ear that caused the dizziness upwards.
- If you need to shave or put in eye drops, do so without tilting your head back.
Method 3 of 4: Perform the Foster Maneuver
Step 1. Determine which ear is causing the dizziness
Sit on the bed in a spot that allows you to hang your head slightly over the edge after lying down. Turn your head to the right while sitting, then lie down. Wait a minute and notice if you feel dizzy, then repeat the movement by turning your head to the left. If dizziness occurs when your head is turned to the right, it means that the right ear is the culprit or vice versa.
Step 2. Get on your knees on the floor
Kneel without resting your thighs and buttocks on your calves and heels. The legs must be bent to form a right angle. Place your hands on the floor, directly under your shoulders, then lift your chin and look at the ceiling for 5-10 seconds.
Place a towel under your knees so you don't feel pain, or do the maneuver on a carpet
Step 3. Tilt your head towards the floor
Keeping your knees and hands flat on the ground, tilt your head forward and bring your chin to your chest. Bend your arms to rest your forehead on the floor while keeping your hips high. Stay in this position for about thirty seconds.
Step 4. Turn your head
While in this position, turn your head in the direction of the ear that is causing the dizziness. At this point the gaze should be turned towards the shoulder; stay still for 30 seconds.
For example, if your dizziness comes from your left ear, you need to turn your head to the left
Step 5. Lift the front of the body
Lift your head (without turning it) and quickly straighten your arms to return with your back parallel to the floor. Keep your neck straight and the ear that does not cause dizziness pointing downwards. Stay with your knees and hands flat on the ground and your head tilted at 45 degrees for 30 seconds.
Step 6. Raise your head
Lift it so that the top of the skull points towards the ceiling, while the chin points towards the floor. The head must in any case remain inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the shoulder which corresponds to the "sick" ear. At this point stand up very slowly.
Step 7. Repeat the process
If you still don't feel well, do the Foster Maneuver again. You may have to repeat it several times to relieve the feeling of dizziness. However, it is good to rest for 15 minutes after the first attempt and then try again. There is no maximum number of attempts you can take to make the dizziness go away, but it's best to see a doctor if you don't get any benefit after 3 or 4 times.
Step 8. Sleep on the side where you don't feel dizzy and with your head elevated for a week
Lie in bed so that the healthy ear is facing up. Place a couple of pillows under your head to keep it elevated, and use a few more to keep you from changing sides while you sleep.
Method 4 of 4: Ask the Doctor for Help
Step 1. Make an appointment with your doctor
Although dizziness is generally associated with non-serious causes, it cannot be ruled out that it may be a serious condition causing your symptoms. They could be from an infection or even something more serious. If dizziness recurs, it is best to see your doctor.
Step 2. Treat yourself with antibiotics
In many cases, dizziness is caused by the presence of inflammation or fluid inside the ear. This does not necessarily mean that there is an infection, it could simply be the result of an allergy or a problem affecting the Eustachian tube. Viral infections pass on their own and cannot be treated with drugs, but if it is a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic therapy.
If the fluid in your middle or inner ear is infected, your doctor may recommend that you use antibiotics, nasal steroids, or a saline decongestant spray
Step 3. Take a dizziness control medication
Your doctor may prescribe a drug specifically formulated to relieve the symptoms of dizziness. It is generally an option that is considered in the case of certain conditions, including central vertigo, vestibular neuronitis and Ménière's disease. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe prochlorperazine or antihistamine therapy.
These drugs are taken for 3 to 14 days. If they work, your doctor may decide to give you an additional prescription to use if needed
Step 4. Get advice from a specialist
If your condition does not improve, your doctor is likely to prescribe an ENT examination. The otolaryngologist has the knowledge and experience to make an accurate diagnosis and provide you with the necessary care.
- In general, it is advisable to consult a specialist if the proposed exercises do not work or if the symptoms related to dizziness are acute, unusual or have lasted for more than a month. You should see an otolaryngologist even if dizziness is accompanied by a hearing disorder.
- Your otolaryngologist will likely undergo a specific test called electronystagmography to see if there are any problems with the connections between the inner ear, brain, and nerves. He may also prescribe an MRI scan.
- You can also contact your doctor for advice on a good physiotherapist who will teach you how to perform the exercises correctly.
Step 5. Consider getting surgery
In rare and extreme cases, your doctor may recommend that you undergo surgery. During the operation, the ear structures containing the endolymph will be enlarged to block dizziness.
This solution will only be offered to you if all other treatments have not worked and dizziness prevents you from living your life normally
Advice
- It is important to follow your doctor's recommendations and take the medications prescribed to you regularly.
- Consult your doctor before starting any type of vertigo treatment.
- In most cases, dizziness is not related to a disease and symptoms often disappear quickly with simple treatments.
- If your doctor has instructed you to exercise or diet, follow his recommendations carefully.
Warnings
- You shouldn't drive or operate machinery when you feel dizzy.
- If dizziness worsens or new symptoms appear, see your doctor right away.
