How is Vertigo Treated?

Vertigo is a treatment that ear, nose and throat specialists find themselves dealing with on a routine basis. It’s likely that you or a loved one will experience some sort of vertigo in your lifetime, whether that’s a short lived and mild experience, or a chronic case of vertigo. If you ever find yourself experiencing the sensation that the room is moving around you, or that you’re moving when you’re definitely not, you may be experiencing vertigo yourself and it’s important that you reach out to an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT) for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Here’s a little more information on vertigo treatment, so you can know what to expect when you do consult an ENT and undergo vertigo treatment.

How is vertigo treated?

There are a number of different treatments for vertigo. This is largely because vertigo itself isn’t a health condition. Instead, it’s simply a set of symptoms that people will experience as a result of a different health condition. Often, these conditions are ones that are based in the ears, nose or throat. This is why an ENT is the perfect professional to reach out to if you feel that you are experiencing vertigo! Here are some of the steps that you are likely to pass through if you do consult an ENT about your vertigo.

Diagnosis

First and foremost, your ENT will diagnose the condition that is causing your vertigo. This can be a complex process, so while it is being carried out, your ENT is likely to treat your symptoms with temporary solutions that will minimize experiences of nausea, dizziness and more. It’s likely that you will be prescribed travel sickness tablets, which will effectively subdue your symptoms by suppressing information that is passed from your inner ear to your brain. Consultations and tests will then help to highlight the underlying cause of these symptoms.

Treating Common Causes of Vertigo

There are a number of common causes of vertigo and your vertigo could be caused by any one of them. Your ENT will do their utmost to identify the definite cause and then treat it. Here’s how some of the most common causes of vertigo are treated:

• Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s disease is a condition that impacts the inner ear. Alongside experiences of vertigo as a result of this disease, you may also experience tinnitus, feelings of deep pressure within your ear or even hearing loss. Unfortunately, there isn’t an outright cure for Meniere’s disease, but your ENT will be able to prescribe medication that will help you to manage your vertigo when it does arise.
• Viral infections: Another common cause of vertigo is viral infections within the ear. These will generally pass of their own accord, but your ENT will prescribe you with medication to control your vertigo symptoms while your body tackles the virus. They may also show you exercises that can relieve symptoms.
• Migraines: Sometimes, migraines can cause vertigo symptoms. If this is applicable to your case, your ENT will be able to find whether there are any ear, nose or throat related triggers setting off your migraines and will show you how to avoid them in your day to day life.

As you can see, treatment of vertigo can be complex. This is mainly due to the sheer number of possible causes of your symptoms. But working with an ENT can help to diagnose the cause and offer relief as quickly as possible!