TREATMENT OF VERTIGO

by Dr. Rajesh Shah

Vertigo, or dizziness is not a disease, rather it’s a symptom of an underlying disease. The term vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs as a result of a disturbance in equilibrium (balance) of the body. Some other commonly used terms for vertigo are dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness and unsteadiness.

Vertigo can be subjective (the patient feels that he is moving/spinning) or objective (the patient feels objects around him are moving or spinning). Some of the things that can worsen the vertigo are moving the head, changing position, turning while lying down, etc. There may be certain other symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abnormal eye movements, etc) associated with the vertigo depending on the underlying disease.
 

Causes of vertigo:
Vertigo can be caused due to disorders of the vestibular system (structures in the inner ear), vestibular nerve, brainstem or cerebellum. In some cases, the cause of vertigo may remain unknown. Certain medications and environmental chemicals may also damage the structures of the inner ear or the nerves and thereby result in vertigo. Alcohol can induce vertigo in some people even when taken in small quantities. Systemic causes of vertigo include orthostatic hypotension, head injury, migraine, cardiovascular disorders, stroke, multiple sclerosis, etc. BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is the most common form of vertigo.

Remarks:
Treatment of vertigo has to be directed towards the underlying cause of the condition. Cases with BPPV (the most common form of vertigo) and labyrinthitis respond very well to Homoeopathic treatment. Also vertigo due to migraine or trauma (to head or neck) responds well to the treatment. It must be noted that often patients get very panicky due to symptoms of vertigo and this may only worsen the condition of the patient. Hence stress can be a trigger in increasing the already existing symptoms. Homeopathy can also help to alleviate the anxiety associated with the vertigo. Certain rehabilitation exercises also help in controlling the symptoms and returning back to normalcy. In case of drug-induced vertigo, the medicine in question has to be stopped after proper evaluation.

Suggestion about Homoeopathic treatment:
Homoeopathy is strongly recommended for Vertigo. As discussed above, the medication will help the patients to get back to normalcy without having to bear any of the side-effects of conventional medication. It helps not only in controlling the intensity and frequency of the attacks of vertigo, but also in alleviating the anxiety that is frequently associated with this condition. It improves the general immunity and vitality of the patient apart from targeting the cause of the vertigo.

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