Questions About Vertigo Have Answers
Vertigo is something most people will feel at some point in their life. However, the majority of them will likely recover within hours and never feel it again. So, what exactly is vertigo? Vertigo is the feeling that the room is spinning around you. This, of course, leads to people being unable to function properly. However, vertigo itself is not a condition in and of itself. Instead, it is a symptom of a variety of other health issues. People will report everything from a mild case of vertigo to a debilitating version of it. Understandably, there are a lot of questions surrounding vertigo. It is not the most straightforward of conditions. This article will attempt to answer many of the questions that people have about vertigo.
The 6 Big Questions About Vertigo
1: Is vertigo the same as being dizzy?
A: This is one of the most common misconceptions regarding vertigo. The term "being dizzy" is usually given as an umbrella term for simply feeling unbalanced. And yes, that term would cover vertigo as well. In addition, vertigo does not mean that someone is becoming dizzy because of a fear of heights. A fear of heights has nothing to do with vertigo.
2: Is Vertigo a common thing?
A: Yes, vertigo is rather common amongst Americans. In fact, over 40% of Americans have reported feeling vertigo at some point or another. That number increases as a person ages. It should also be noted that even though 40% of Americans will experience vertigo, not all of them will experience the same level of severity.
3: What causes vertigo in the first place?
A: The fact is that there are a large number of things that can cause someone to experience vertigo. For example, someone going through the common cold may experience vertigo at some point. However, there are other more serious reasons why vertigo may occur. These may include things such as Meniere’s disease, Labyrinthitis, and Vestibular neuronitis, to name a few.
4: Is vertigo a sign of something more serious that could be occurring?
A: Fortunately, vertigo is often not caused by something severe. In most cases, the feeling of vertigo is tied to being sick with the common cold or the flu. However, there are cases in which vertigo is a sign of something more serious going on within your body. In rare cases, the feeling of vertigo may be caused because of an underlying heart condition or a transient ischemic attack that affects the brain stem. However, it is never recommended to diagnose yourself. Always seek the services of a medical professional if you feel your vertigo is severe.
5: Do low-salt diets work to reduce vertigo?
A: If you are suffering from Meniere’s disease, having a low-sodium/low-salt diet may be the way to go. Because those with Meniere's disease have an abnormal amount of fluid within their years, having a high sodium and high salt diet can increase that fluid, thus leading to vertigo. Removing or diminishing these ingredients from your diet may help to reduce the fluid and thus avoid vertigo.
6: How is Vertigo treated?
A: The treatments surrounding vertigo are meant to minimize the symptoms of it rather than cure it. Because vertigo causes a number of symptoms within itself, there are going to be multiple treatments for it depending on what you feel. For example, those feeling nauseous from the spinning are likely to be provided with Anti-nausea or anti-vomiting medications. Those with a lot of fluid build-up may see themselves taking specific medications as a means of reducing it and thus the rest of the symptoms of vertigo.
