Vertigo is a false sensation of spinning or motion (yourself or surroundings moving) despite being still, often from inner ear issues like BPPV or vestibular neuritis. For accurate diagnosis and management, consulting a vertigo specialist in Delhi is recommended.
Core Symptoms
The hallmark is rotational dizziness lasting seconds to days, triggered by head position changes; it worsens with movement.
| Symptom | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Sensation | Spinning/tilting room, imbalance causing falls; lasts minutes (BPPV) to hours/days (labyrinthitis). |
| Associated Issues | Nausea/vomiting, sweating, pallor; eye jerking (nystagmus), tinnitus, hearing loss/fullness. |
| Neurological Add-ons | Headache, double vision, slurred speech, limb weakness (if central cause like stroke). |
Patterns and Red Flags
Peripheral vertigo (ear-related): Sudden, with nausea but normal neuro exam. Central (brain): Persistent, with ataxia or focal deficits—seek ER for severe headache, chest pain, or one-sided weakness. Episodes recur; heat or fatigue exacerbate. A vertigo specialist in Delhi helps differentiate these causes accurately.
Vertigo treatment targets the underlying cause to restore balance and reduce spinning sensations effectively. Common peripheral causes like BPPV, vestibular neuronitis, Ménière’s disease, and anxiety each require distinct strategies, often combining repositioning maneuvers, medications, and rehabilitation under guidance of a vertigo specialist in Delhi.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV stems from displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear canals, triggering brief vertigo episodes with head position changes. The Epley maneuver, a series of guided head tilts performed by clinicians, repositions these crystals in 80-90% of cases within one to two sessions, providing rapid relief. Repeat maneuvers or the Semont technique may follow if symptoms persist, with home exercises for maintenance under supervision of a vertigo specialist in Delhi.
Vestibular Neuronitis
Acute inflammation of the vestibular nerve, often post-viral, causes severe, prolonged vertigo with nausea but no hearing loss. Initial vestibular suppressants like meclizine or dimenhydrinate ease acute symptoms for 3-5 days, followed by vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) exercises such as gaze stabilization and balance training to promote neural compensation. Steroids may accelerate recovery in the first week, guided by a vertigo specialist in Delhi.
Ménière’s Disease
This inner ear disorder involves fluid buildup, leading to episodic vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and fullness. A low-salt diet (under 2g daily) paired with diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide reduces endolymphatic pressure, cutting attack frequency by 60-80%; betahistine improves blood flow. Intratympanic steroids or gentamicin injections offer escalation for refractory cases, with surgery as a last resort under care of a vertigo specialist in Delhi.
Anxiety-Related Vertigo
Psychogenic vertigo arises from hyperventilation, muscle tension, or panic amplifying vestibular signals. SSRIs like sertraline (starting at 25-50 mg) address underlying anxiety over 4-6 weeks, combined with VRT and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to desensitize balance responses. Short-term benzodiazepines like lorazepam provide bridge relief, alongside mindfulness or breathing exercises, ideally managed with a vertigo specialist in Delhi.
