Vertigo is a state of dizziness where you feel like your head and the world around you are spinning. Vertigo is often a result of an internal problem that causes you to feel off balance. The problem emerges from an infection or illness with your inner ear, responsible for body balance. The inner ear promotes body balance by sending signals to your brain to allow certain body movements relative to gravity.
Vertigo cannot be described as an illness but rather as a symptom of many health problems. The reason for vertigo is mostly linked to a problem in your ears. However, other problems may lead to spinning dizziness.
Common causes of Vertigo
As you seek urgent care for vertigo in a walk-in clinic in Houston near you, consider that it may be caused by various factors, including the following:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – is a condition where small particles of calcium from your body gather in the inner ear. The specific cause of BPPV has not yet been established, but it is linked to aging.
- Meniere’s disease – features a change in the ear pressure by causing a build-up of fluids. The condition will often be accompanied by symptoms other than vertigo, including tinging sensations in your ear and even hearing loss.
- Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis – is a viral infection of the inner ear that causes inflammation in your inner ears, disrupting the balance of your body.
- Cholesteatoma – is a growth or tumor that grows in your inner ear, usually due to recurrent ear infections. Although the skin growth may be non-cancerous, it may cause vertigo and even lead to hearing loss.
- Head or brain injuries and conditions resulting in strokes, blood clots, and tumors.
- Ear surgeries
Other than the above-mentioned causes, some risk factors for vertigo include:
- Low blood pressure
- Motion sickness
- Looking down from great heights
- Recurrent and severe migraine headaches
- Pregnancy and hormonal changes cause a change in the body fluids
How to know if you have Vertigo
It will be obvious that you have vertigo when you notice that the dizziness you experience does not go away after a while.
Symptoms of Vertigo:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lack of balance and lightheadedness
- Nystagmus – a term that refers to abnormal eye movement or jerking of the eyes
- Hearing loss
- Headaches
- Ringing or tingling sensation in your ears
How long does Vertigo last?
Some forms of vertigo are very short-lived and resolve on their own. For example, if your vertigo is caused by being in high places, you may not need treatment vertigo urgent care clinic near you, but rather to avoid high places.
However, other causes of vertigo require urgent care near you to diagnose and treat the health issues causing vertigo.
Ways to treat Vertigo
Depending on the cause of your spinning dizziness, treatment will vary, with some measures more invasive than others. Some of the following measures are necessary for treating vertigo:
Medications for Vertigo
An antibiotic can help treat the infection in your ears, and some pain relievers can help ease any pain you may be experiencing.
Surgery
Some inner ear problems need surgery for you to regain your sense of balance, particularly when they pose the risk of hearing loss.
Lifestyle changes to prevent Vertigo
- Cutting down on caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea
- Reducing sodium intake
- Avoiding alcohol consumption, smoking, and other tobacco usages
- Squatting instead of bending over when picking things
- Keeping your head elevated when sleeping.
- Taking more time and exercising more caution when getting up, especially from your sleep
Summary
Treating and managing vertigo is purely dependent on the underlying cause of the dizziness. It is why you need to seek Houston urgent care when you get any sudden difficulties standing upright due to spinning dizziness. If it is your first time feeling dizzy, you may not be able to tell the difference between mere dizziness and vertigo until your visit a doctor near you.
