Basic information - symptoms, triggers, duration

[This post gives an overview of vertigo. You will learn symptoms, types of vertigo, and common triggers. You will be able to identify the three types of vertigo and triggers for vertigo. You will be able to discuss what will happen at your appointment with your doctor.]
------

Vertigo

There are different types of vertigo but the common symptom is dizziness. Vertigo may be a symptom of another health condition.

Symptoms

You may have some of the common vertigo symptoms. Please see the following infographic:

These are only some of the symptoms. You should discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

Types of vertigo

There are three main types of vertigo. Your doctor will figure out which type you have. Each type of vertigo requires different treatment.

• Rotational, like spinning around or on a merry-go-round
• Imbalance, like when standing on a boat or balance board
• Lightheadedness

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 6)

Duration

Vertigo symptoms can last for different amounts of time - sometimes for just a minute. The symptoms may not always last the same amount of time. You may not have any symptoms for a while but they may return later.

It is helpful if you keep track of when you have symptoms and for how long. This information will help your doctor determine which type of vertigo you have and how to treat it.

• Some types of vertigo last for a few seconds, minutes, or hours.
• Other types of vertigo can last for days, weeks, or years

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 6)

Triggers

Different types of vertigo can happen at different times. Some activities or sounds can make your symptoms worse. For example:

• When there are sounds
• When you cough
• When you move your head or body a certain way
• When you are resting
• When you are walking
• When you play sports
• When you drink alcohol

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 8)

Make an appointment

If your symptoms last for a period of time - more than a week - you should make an appointment with your doctor. There are some symptoms that are more serious. If you are dizzy and have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible:

• You have a new or really bad headache.
• You have trouble hearing or seeing.
• You have trouble talking.
• Your leg or arm goes weak.
• You lose consciousness.
• You fall down or have trouble walking.

(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2017).

------

References

Brandt, T., Dieterich, M., & Strupp, M. (2013). Vertigo and Dizziness: Common Complaints. (2nd ed.). London, UK: Springer-Verlag.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2017). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Retrieved on June 8, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/basics/symptoms/con-20028216.

Preparing for your appointment

[In this blog post, you will prepare for your appointment with your doctor. You will learn about what will happen at your appointment.]
------

Before your appointment

Your appointment with your doctor is important. Your doctor will want to learn about your symptoms. Your doctor will rely on the information you provide.

It is helpful if you can provide as much information as possible. The information you provide will help the doctor to figure out what type of vertigo you have.

Before your appointment, you can prepare a list of your symptoms and notes. The following videos will show you two days you can prepare notes and track your symptoms.

1. Taking notes for your doctor

• Sample notes (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mI9rgXgZYuJt9ykO9of3eY9w4x8d87ToPnuGDCtBido/edit?usp=sharing)

2. Tracking your symptoms

• Sample worksheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JkbdfGSCcFPcFZgiBsG0bLHaZV1RCt4dR62LLV1iVck/edit?usp=sharing)

Preparing questions

You should also prepare a list of questions for your doctor. You may want to ask your doctor these questions:

• Do I have vertigo?
• Is my dizziness a symptom of something else?
• What is vertigo?
• What is causing my vertigo?
• How severe is my vertigo? Should I be worried?
• What can I do to lessen the symptoms?
• What should I do when I have symptoms, like when I get dizzy?
• Is there any medication I can take to help?
• Are there any medications I should avoid?
• Are there any activities I should not do?
• What are my treatment options? Do I need surgery?
• Are there any alternative treatments?
• Are there any specialists I should see? Should I see a neurologist?
• Will my vertigo ever go away?

Your appointment with your doctor

At your appointment:

• The doctor will ask you to share your symptoms, medical history, etc. This information will help your doctor better assess your health.
• The doctor may examine your eyes and any eye movements. This may include shining a light into your eyes while you look in different directions. The doctor may ask you to stare in certain directions, or to move your eyes a certain way. The doctor may ask you to stare at an object as it moves. The doctor may use special instruments to watch your eye move.
• The doctor may ask you to stand or walk with your eyes open and/or closed. The doctor will observe your body movement and balance.
• The doctor may perform other tests, including an eyesight test where you cover and uncover one eye at a time. The doctor may perform other positional and balance tests. The doctor may use a balloon to change the pressure in your ear and see how you react.

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 12-13)

------

Reference

Brandt, T., Dieterich, M., & Strupp, M. (2013). Vertigo and Dizziness: Common Complaints. (2nd ed.). London, UK: Springer-Verlag.

Treatment options

[This post provides an overview of treatment options for vertigo. Treatment will vary based on the type of vertigo and the cause.

This post will describe common treatments for vertigo. After reading, you will be prepared to discuss treatment options with your doctor.]
------

Treatment for vertigo can include medication, exercises, and counseling. At times, vertigo can resolve on its own.

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 47)

Treatment when having vertigo:
When you are dizzy, try to hold something to steady yourself. Try not to move. Your doctor will tell you what else to do when you are dizzy.
(Meniere's Society, 2013)

Treatment with medication:

Based on the type of vertigo you have, your doctor may prescribe a drug. In some cases, the drug will treat the symptoms. Your doctor will tell you when and for how long you should take these drugs. Drugs may only treat immediate symptoms. You may not need to take them forever.

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013).

Other types of vertigo may require long term drugs to treat the cause.

Your doctor can tell you whether or not medication is an option. If medication is an option, you may wish to ask your doctor:

• When should I take the medication? How many times per day?
• Can I take the medication with food?
• Are there any side effects?
• What should I do if I have side effects? Are any side effects serious?
• Are there any activities I should avoid?
• When should the medication start working? How will I know if it is working?
• How long will I need to take the medication?
• Are there any alternatives to taking medication?

Physical therapy:

Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to work on your balance. Physical therapy means exercises and movements.

A physical therapist will assess your condition. He or she may watching your eye movement and body movement. The therapist will teach you different exercises (Cleveland Clinic, 2017). You will perform the exercises a certain number of times each week or day. With time, your balance may improve and you may have fewer symptoms.

You can learn more about physical therapy for vertigo in the these links:

• Exercise Therapy Can Help Dizziness From Inner-Ear Illness (Henneberger, 1994)
• Treating Vertigo with Physical Therapy (MoveForwardPT, 2010)
• Vertigo Treatment (University of Colorado Denver, 2013)
• Vestibular Rehabilitation (Cleveland Clinic, 2017)

Counseling:

Your doctor may prescribe counseling sessions. A therapist will help you work through feelings and other issues. Based on the cause of your vertigo, a psychiatrist may prescribe medication.

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 49)

Other treatments:

Surgery is not usually treatment for vertigo, but may be an option based on the cause. Your doctor will let you know if surgery is possible.

(Brandt, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2013, p. 50)

Alternative treatments:

Ask your doctor about alternative treatments. For example:

• How to get rid of vertigo (DrAxe.com, 2017)
• Tai chi and yoga, change in diet, and special footwear have helped some people with vertigo (Vestibular Disorders Association, n.d.)

There are a lot of websites and posts about alternative treatments. These may or may not be backed by science. Please discuss alternative treatments with your doctor.

Considerations:

With any treatment, there are things you should consider. Please watch this gif: https://www.powtoon.com/c/ftc9LGCRTn2/1/m

------

References:

Brandt, T., Dieterich, M., & Strupp, M. (2013). Vertigo and Dizziness: Common Complaints. (2nd ed.). London, UK: Springer-Verlag.

DrAxe.com. (2017). How to get rid of vertigo. Retrieved on June 10, 2017, from https://draxe.com/how-to-get-rid-of-vertigo/.

Henneberger, M. (1994, January 26). Exercise therapy can help dizziness from inner-ear ills. New York Times. Retrieved on May 30, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/26/us/exercise-therapy-can-help-dizziness-from-inner-ear-ills.html.

Meniere's Society. (2013). Short-term measures. Retrieved on June 10, 2017, from http://www.menieres.org.uk/information-and-support/treatment-and-management/short-term-measures.

MoveForwardPT. (2010, June 7). Treating vertigo with physical therapy [video file]. Retrieved on May 30, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylo-fB90YRA.

University of Colorado Denver. (2013, October 14). Vertigo Treatment - How to Treat Vertigo [video file]. Retrieved on May 30, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VWyPgfMuvM.

Vestibular Rehabilitation. (2017). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved on May 30, 2017, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/vestibular-rehabilitation.

Vertigo in children

[You will learn about symptoms of vertigo in children. You will learn about treatment for vertigo in children.]
------

Dizziness in children is not uncommon. One survey found that “More than 1 in 20 (nearly 3.3 million) children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a dizziness or balance problem.” (National Institutes of Health, 2016).

(Infographic - https://infograph.venngage.com/p/276530/vertigo-in-children-from-nih-study)

Vertigo in children can be difficult to diagnose. Children may not complain or they may not know how to explain their symptoms.

Symptoms

Children may explain dizziness like “‘a Cup & Saucer ride in an amusement park.’” (Kaga, 2014, p. 57). They may be able to draw what their symptoms feel like. They may say they feel unsteady or weak, or they may look pale. They may say they feel like vomiting, and may have a headache. (Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

Children can have symptoms for varying time. They may last for a short period of time, and they may disappear for a while.

Many things can cause vertigo in children. For example, infections like meningitis can cause vertigo. Some children who have migraine vertigo. It can also be caused by head trauma or injury. Your child’s doctor will help to determine the cause of vertigo.

(Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

The appointment

The doctor will ask your child to explain what they are feeling. You can also tell the doctor what you have observed. The doctor will perform a physical and may ask to do additional testing. Additional testing might include imaging, like a CT scan. It may also include the doctor observing your child walking. The doctor will also look at your child’s eyes and ears. The doctor may do tests where they move your child’s head or body position.

(Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

You can read more about tests the doctor might do here:

• Pediatric vestibular disorders - assessment (Vestibular Disorders Association, 2016).

Treatment

Treatment for children is similar to treatment for adults. Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the cause of vertigo, and how severe it is.

Treatment might include medication and physical therapy, and sometimes surgery. The doctor might prescribe medication for times when your child has symptoms. If vertigo is caused by an infection, the doctor might prescribe medication for longer-term use. When vertigo happens, your child may need to stop and rest.

Sometimes vertigo can be triggered by food. Caffeine, chocolate, and some cheese, may cause or worsen symptoms. You can discuss food triggers with your doctor.

(Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

------
References

Child Neurology Foundation. (2017). Vertigo. Disorder directory: learn from the experts. Retrieved on June 5, 2017, from http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org/disorders/vertigo/.

Kaga, K. (2014). Vertigo and Balance Disorders in Children [electronic book]. Modern Otology and Neurotology. Tokyo, Japan: Springer.

National Institutes of Health. (2016, January 27). More than 1 in 20 U.S. children have dizziness and balance problems. Retrieved on June 7, 2017, from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/2016/more-1-20-us-children-have-dizziness-and-balance-problems.

Vestibular Disorders Association. (n.d.). Pediatric vestibular disorders. Retrieved on June 6, 2017, from http://vestibular.org/pediatric-vestibular-disorders.

Vestibular Disorders Association. (2016). Part II - Pediatric vestibular disorders. Retrieved on June 6, 2017, from http://vestibular.org/sites/default/files/page_files/Documents/Pediatric%20Part%20II_Assessment.pdf.

Resources for the patient and family members

[You will learn about resources and support available to people who suffer from vertigo.]
------

Finding a specialist

You might want to see a doctor who specializes in vertigo. The Vestibular Disorders Association has a directory of doctors. You can search by location. The directory is available here: http://vestibular.org/finding-help-support/provider-directory.

Support groups

Many support groups are available across the country.

• The Vestibular Disorders Association lists support groups for people with vertigo. You can search support groups by location. The directory is available here: http://vestibular.org/finding-help-support/support-directory. You can start a new group if there is not one near you.
• There are several support groups available on Facebook. These are created by other people who suffer from vertigo. They are not intended to give medical advice. They are online. You can discuss your experiences with people with the same condition. Most of these groups are private and you will need to request to join.
• Vertigo Support Group
• Cure Vertigo Now Support Group
• MDJunction hosts a discussion board for people with vertigo. You can post questions. Other people with vertigo will reply and share their experiences. Doctors do not monitor the forum. The forum is not meant to give medical advice.
• The Whirled Foundation supports people with balance problems. They provide an action plan to guide you through diagnosis and treatment. The group is located in Australia.
• There are support groups specific to certain causes of vertigo, too.
• Meniere’s Society - Meniere’s disease is a specific condition. The group provides resources related to vertigo and dizziness too. The group is located in the United Kingdom.

Tips for family members

(Infographic - https://infograph.venngage.com/p/276836/5-tips)

Additional resources

• The Vestibular Disorders Association posts research, articles, and events on their website and Facebook group.
• They provide information on disability benefits, a symptom checker, and links to many other resources.
• They also have infographics to help you understand disability and balance.
• They have a list of questions that you may be wondering about. Questions relate to controlling your symptoms and how to reduce stress.
• Many books related to vertigo are available. Your local library may have some of these books.
• They have videos where patients with vertigo talk about their treatment.
• The Invisible Disabilities Association supports people with disabilities that are not seen. This means that your symptoms are not visible to others. To learn more, visit their website.
• The Journal of Vestibular Research publishes articles. You will find many articles related to vertigo and dizziness. You may want to discuss the articles with your doctor. You may want to ask your doctor to explain the findings to you. To read the journal, visit their website.

------

References
The following websites were utilized in preparing a list of resources:

• Meniere's Society (http://www.menieres.org.uk/)
• Vestibular Disorders Association (http://vestibular.org/)