VERTIGO. WHEN EVERYTHING SPINS.

Vertigo is a perception of the movement, spin, and displacement of objects causing us to feel unstable, unbalanced and as though we are falling into the abyss.

TYPES OF VERTIGO

The types of vertigo are central and peripheral.

1. PERIPHERAL VERTIGO

Peripheral vertigo occurs when the inner ear or the nerve that goes through it, are affected. They are the most common and have the best prognosis and treatment.

The three most common types of peripheral vertigo are:

• BENIGH PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO

It presents itself very suddenly, can last for a few seconds and takes place when we tilt or stretch our neck when we are lying down. It is very frequent, especially in women between the ages of 40 and 50.

The dislodging of small stones of calcium called otoliths, which are present within our inner ear and contribute to maintenance of our equilibrium, is the most important cause of this type of vertigo.

SYMPTOMS

• Tilting of objects

• Feeling of falling into the abyss

• Nausea and vomiting

• Loss of stability

TREATMENT

The treatment is conservative and consists of completing a range of head movements in the consulting room of a specialist. This treatment will enable the otoliths to realign themselves again and cause the vertigo to disappear.

• MÉNIÈRE’S DISEASE

This is another type of peripheral vertigo. It is produced by an accumulation of liquid within the inner ear and can emerge at any age, however it is more frequent to appear around the age of 40.

Episodes can last from minutes to hours.

SYMPTOMS

• Tilting of objects

• Feeling of falling into the abyss

• Nausea and vomiting

• Loss of stability

• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears

• A feeling of fullness within the ear

• Loss of hearing

• It only affects one ear

TREATMENT

DIET

We have to reduce the ingestion of salt and liquids, to prevent their retention within the inner ear. The salt present within ready-made meals, cold meats, salty snack, salt cured meats and fish, etc. should be reduced.

Around 65% of patients improve after taking these dietary measures. When the diet does not improve this condition, a pharmacological treatment is applied. A surgical treatment is the best option in the most severe cases.

• VESTIBULAR NEURITIS

This is the third most frequent type of peripheral vertigo and it is produced by infections of the nerve within the inner ear, primarily caused by viruses such as herpes zoster, bacteria, toxics, etc.

SYMPTOMS

• Loss of stability

• Vomiting

• Nausea

TREATMENT

The administered treatment and its resolution will depend on the cause that originated it.

2. CENTRAL VERTIGO

Central vertigo occurs when haemorrhages, thrombus, tumours, multiple sclerosis, etc. affect the structures of the central nervous system.

SYMPTOMS

• Impaired balance

• Intense headache

• Difficulty swallowing

• Double vision

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of vertigo, either peripheral or central, takes place by completing an extensive medical history, an exploration of the ear and adjacent structures and a CT and MRI.