What are the causes of dizziness?
Although vertigo can affect people at any age, it is more common in people over 65 and especially in women, as explained on the Cleveland Clinic website. Several factors are at the origin of vertigo. Here are the most common ones, as explained in PharmEasy:
- Syphilis (sexually transmitted bacterial infection)
- Otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth that affects the middle ear)
- Muscle weakness and ataxia (loss of control of body movements)
- Prolonged bed rest
- Ear surgery
- A stroke (blood no longer reaches the brain.)
- A head injury
- Arrhythmia (an abnormal, irregular heartbeat)
- Migraines
- Diabetes
- Certain medications
- Shingles (viral infection) near or in the ear
- A perilymphatic fistula (fluid from the inner ear spreads into the middle ear.)
- A brain disease
- Hyperventilation (a state of rapid breathing)
- Orthostatic hypotension (the decrease in blood pressure when standing)
- Multiple sclerosis (nerve damage that disrupts nerve flow between the brain and body)
- An acoustic neuroma (a non-cancerous tumour located on the main nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain)
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) (a condition that occurs mainly because of a change in head position.)
- Chronic otitis.
There are also other rarer causes that can lead to feelings of vertigo, including:
- Cholesteatoma (a non-cancerous skin growth due to a chronic infection of the middle ear.)
- Labyrinthitis (the complex structure of the inner ear that contains the organs of balance and hearing becomes infected or inflamed.)
- Vestibular neuritis (inflammation of the vestibular nerve in the ear)
- Meniere’s disease (a buildup of fluid inside the ear.)
Symptoms of vertigo:
As mentioned above, vertigo is itself a symptom of an ailment. It can therefore be accompanied by other telltale signs of a disease, such as:
- A feeling of fullness in the ear (A feeling of a blocked ear, as if filled with water)
- Nystagmus (uncontrollable lateral movements of the eyes)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Balance problems
- Motion sickness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Headaches
13 miracle remedies for vertigo:
This destabilizing sensation that impacts daily life is not a pathology but a symptom that can result from other factors. It is therefore important not to take it lightly and to consult a medical professional to determine the causes and make an accurate diagnosis. To combat vertigo, some natural remedies can be an alternative or an accompaniment to a medical treatment prescribed by the attending physician. Other techniques and maneuvers can be performed to relieve this symptom.
Saffron
Saffron is a brain tonic that has a protective power for the brain. This spice is also known to strengthen the body and prevent the buildup of substances that are harmful to the ear. You can use this spice by incorporating it into your cooked dishes or drinking saffron tea.
Black cumin
Black cumin, also called black cumin seed, can fight against vertigo. When applied externally, it can reduce headaches, dizziness and joint pain, as explained by Doctissimo.
Amla
Amla is used in India to fight certain diseases, as it contains a lot of vitamin C. It has effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help decrease the feeling of dizziness. Prepare a juice from this fruit, add honey to it and drink it.
Guduchi
According to traditional Indian medicine Ayurveda, guduchi improves memory and learning thanks to its antipyretic properties. It can help reduce the symptom of vertigo. Rich in antioxidants, it protects brain cells from damage. Mix guduchi powder with water and drink the solution. For a better action, add neem and coriander powder.
FYI
Only use Ayurvedic remedies after consulting a qualified practitioner who may or may not prescribe a dizziness treatment depending on your overall health.
Turmeric
Turmeric, and more specifically the dried rhizome (horizontally growing underground stem of the turmeric plant) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties often used in traditional medicine. In the case of vertigo, a turmeric paste is to be applied to the forehead to reduce its symptoms.
Almonds
Like saffron, almonds help strengthen the body and brain and fight diseases. According to Persian medicine, they also have the power to prevent the accumulation of pathogenic substances in the ear. Grind a few peeled almonds in water, add honey and drink!
Hydration
A 2022 study concluded that not drinking enough water may contribute to certain vestibular disorders. Being dehydrated could therefore cause dizziness! Indeed, during the study, the scientists found that participants who did not consume the recommended amount of daily water suffered from a dysfunction of the body’s systems.
Vitamin D supplementation
Researchers looked at vitamin D levels in 59 people with vestibular neuritis and compared them to those of healthy people. The result of this 2019 study showed a significantly greater vitamin D deficiency in the patient group. As explained in Futura Sciences, this vitamin D deficiency can contribute to the appearance of dizziness. You can increase your vitamin D intake by taking supplements and sunbathing.
Le Ginkgo Biloba
This herb has the power to relieve the symptoms of vertigo by thinning the blood and improving vascular irrigation. Scientists don’t know exactly how it works, but a 2021 review of studies said that a ginkgo biloba extract was more effective than betahistine in managing vertigo.
Lavender and basil
According to Doctissimo, lavender and basil have anti-stress properties and can fight against psychological vertigo.
Ginger tea
Ginger helps manage motion sickness. On the other hand, and according to a study on ginger powder extract, it is also effective in preventing dizziness. Ginger is even more effective than a manual repositioning like Epley’s maneuver, according to 2015 research. It would therefore be interesting to drink ginger tea to get rid of his vertigo. To make your infusion, peel and grate the ginger root, then add it to the hot water. You can incorporate lemon, honey, or cinnamon to make it taste better.
Acupressure
Unlike acupuncture, acupressure does not use needles. However, these two techniques have the same principles and the same objective: to promote well-being and relaxation.
Acupressure can help manage dizziness when certain pressure points in the body are stimulated. Among them, the P6 pressure point located on both wrists. Press it with your thumb, firmly but without hurting yourself, and make circular movements for 2 to 3 minutes on one hand, then on the other.
Epley’s maneuver
This technique involves performing a series of movements that can help manage vertigo. This maneuver is a repositioning treatment that consists of slowly moving the otoliths from the posterior semicircular canal to the utricle (part of the inner ear of vertebrates) to fight against the consequences of vertigo. This manoeuvre must be carried out by the attending physician.
When to see a doctor?
If you notice any of the following symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible:
- Difficulty speaking
- Numbness or tingling in the legs or arms
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Vision loss or double vision
- Hearing loss
Good to know: If your dizziness persists for more than a day or two, you can’t get up or walk, and you vomit frequently, see a neurologist who will give you a diagnosis and will manage your disease, says Dr. Ashish Bajaj, MBBS, Maryland.
Conclusion
Vertigo can occur frequently, without warning. As you may have seen above, there are various causes that cause vertigo and some remedies can be effective, but if this symptom is prolonged or worsened, and it is accompanied by other unusual body signals, consult a doctor immediately.
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