Vertigo itself is not a condition but rather a symptom of a number of different conditions. Vertigo causes dizziness and nausea and this can not only be highly unsettling and uncomfortable but may also be dangerous should it occur while the individual is driving or when they are walking down stairs. For some people, this condition can be debilitating and life changing.
While there are many conditions that lead to vertigo, generally the problem is the result of disagreement between the vestibular system, muscle spindles and eyesight. The body uses information from all these different senses in order to make assumptions about its orientation, movement etc. If the information doesn’t agree however – for instance if you look like you’re moving but don’t feel like you are – then this can cause the body to react as though you have been poisoned or taken in a toxin. Thus it attempts to purge the system by making you feel nauseous and sick.
In other cases though, dizziness can be caused by an insufficient supply of blood or oxygen to the brain. This in turn causes your brain to stop functioning properly as the cells are starved of energy, which in turn can create a sensation of light-headedness and eventually lead to fainting!
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to control vertigo symptoms or even to cure them in some cases. Read on and we’ll look at some of the best effective home remedies to get rid of vertigo.
1. Epley Manoeuver
There are a number of different types of vertigo, categorized on the basis of their symptoms and their causes. For instance, one form of vertigo is known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: or BPPC. This type of vertigo is caused by tiny crystals of calcium which become loose within the middle ear. These then move around as the patient moves, which in turn excites the tiny hairs that line the middle ear and inform the body about orientation.
Luckily, there is a simply solution to this which can help to rectify the problem at least temporarily./ To use the Epley Manoeuver, the patient must sit on the edge of a bed and turn their head 45 degrees to the direction of the problem ear. You then place a pillow underneath your shoulder and quickly lie straight down with your face pointing upward. Wait thirty seconds and you should notice that the vertigo begins to subside. Now turn your head 90 degrees to the other direction, without raising it, and wait another 30 seconds.
Lastly, turn your head to look at the floor and sit up slowly. You should now have reset the problem.