Spinning Still - A Case of Vertigo, Symptoms & Treatment

2008-04-08 19:51:10 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Health & Fitness)

Dallas, TX (WiredPRNews) —When the room started spinning for no known reason and headaches and sweating started becoming more than she could handle, Erin Musquiz knew something was wrong. While she exhibited no obvious symptoms of a flu or a cold, Erin’s dizzy spells became more troublesome and started keeping her up at night. After four days of lightheadedness, hot flashes, headaches and nausea, Erin saw her family doctor.

Vertigo - Overview

According to WebMD.com, vertigo is

“a feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. You may feel as though you are spinning, whirling, falling, or tilting. When you have severe vertigo, you may feel very nauseated or vomit. You may have trouble walking or standing, and you may lose your balance and fall…Imprecisely called dizziness, the term vertigo is the specific term used to describe an illusion of movement. Unlike nonspecific light headed or dizziness, vertigo has relatively few causes.”

Vertigo can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear such as an infection. Aside from major head traumas or neck injuries such as whiplash, vertigo can be associated with hearing loss and can also be motivated by decreased blood flow to the brain. In more common cases, vertigo can follow severe migraines, which tend to run in family history.

Symptoms of Vertigo

Not to be confused with the feeling of faintness or lightheadedness, vertigo can exhibit the following symptoms:

-Disorientation
-Headache
-Nausea or vomiting
-Sweating
-Abnormal eye movements
-Ringing in the ears
-Difficulty speaking
-Weakness
-Difficulty walking

Treating Vertigo

Once Erin visited to her family doctor, blood pressure tests, vision and ear exams and a walking evaluation was done to examine the level of her symptoms. As a matter of safety, it is not recommended that vertigo be treated at home without medications unless the individual can remain stationery and hydrated for a period of 4-7 days. “Vertigo can be treated with medicine you take by mouth, through medicine placed on the skin (as a patch), or drugs given through an IV.” In addition to the medication prescribed by physicians, there are several physical maneuvers which can be used to treat the condition and alleviate the feeling of “spinning.” These include a series of movements that will allow the sufferer to control the symptoms until the discomfort ceases.

“Vertigo caused by problems in the inner ear, while usually self-limited, in some cases can become completely incapacitating. The use of drugs and rehabilitation exercises are the mainstay of treatment. Most commonly this will make the symptoms completely go away or make the condition tolerable.” Erin was given a 10 day prescription for Meclizine hydrochloride (Antivert), a commonly prescribed medication for vertigo and was told to remain sitting or laying down for the next 3 days, as well as to avoid operating vehicles until the vertigo passed.

Vertigo is a dizzying illness that can come on as quickly at it leaves while rendering the sufferer virtually loopy. Erin described the feeling similar to that of being intoxicated with a heavy head. Following the proper instructions from her doctor and remaining safely laying down, Erin should be feeling better–and STILL–in no time.