Dizziness is a common symptom of physical weakness , but frequent dizzy spells can mean an underlying condition called vertigo

• Disturbance of the balance mechanism in the ears or in the balancing signals from the joints , muscles , or eyes

• Blood pressure and heart medications , alcohol , ear infections , and diseases that affect the functioning of the nerves and brain , like diabetes , stroke or spinal cord injury

• Abnormal blood pressure or sugar levels , wax in the ears , and blocked ears from a cold or anaemia

• Medical conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo , menieres syndrome ( increased ear pressure with ringing in the ears , deafness ), and spondylitis ( inflammation of the backbone joints )

Patients suffering from vertigo may have some or all of the following symptoms , including a feeling of spinning , tilting , swaying , unbalance , being pulled to one direction , nausea , abnormal or jerking eye movements ( nystagmus ), headache , sweating , ringing in the ears or hearing loss . Symptoms can last a few minutes to a few hours or more , and may come and go .

To diagnose the condition , a doctor will perform a number of tests , while patients might be asked to maintain a vertigo diary with the following information :

• Is the feeling there all the time ? Or is it caused by movement and position changes ? Does it worsen when you are tired , in the dark , outside , while walking on uneven surfaces , or haven ’ t eaten ?

• Is it brought on by lying down , sitting down , or standing up ?

• What is your current status regarding fears of moving around in the dark , taking walks alone , carrying out parenting activities , driving , being in enclosed spaces like malls , reading , watching TV or using the computer , travelling , getting in and out of bed , doing household chores , concentrating on something ?

• Does physical activity of any kind worsen feelings of vertigo ?

• How would you rate your symptoms -- as negligible , bothersome , interfering with outdoor activities , disrupting both work and home duties , causing you to take medical leave often , or a total inability to work ?

In many cases , vertigo goes away on its own , but in others may have to be treated with medication or surgery if conditions persist . Prescribing medication to control infection , vomiting , giddiness , and allergy is one treatment option and can be done in combination with multi-vitamins that help nerves recover and regenerate . Another option is to use steriods or antibiotics . Either a transtympanic steroid or gentamycin injection ( through the ear drum ) can be administered for very severe cases of dizziness that don ’ t respond to medication , but gentamycin can produce side effects , such as hearing loss .

A disorder related to vertigo , called tinnitus or menieres syndrome ( ringing in the ear ), may also be treated medically , either by injecting a steroid through the ear drum , by using a device that applies pressure pulses to the ear like a pump to help lower ear fluid pressure , or with hearing aids that deliver a soft noise that hides the ringing . These special hearing aids to stop ringing in the ears and pulsed pressure devices to reduce ear pressure can also be used to treat vertigo .

Physical therapy or manoeuvres are also an option for treating vertigo and can include :

• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy ( VRT ) for vertigo , an exercise-based programme to improve balance and reduce dizziness

• Canalith repositioning manoeuvres , a clinical procedure involving the sequential movement of the head into four positions

Surgery for vertigo aims to correct the cause of the vertigo and , in extreme cases , tries to destroy or damage the nerve endings in areas that are generating false nerve signals . Some hearing is sacrificed in such cases .

A final option for patients is to practise self-care measures to limit the effects of vertigo or to stop it from reoccuring , and include :

• Physical therapy , such as vertigo – specific exercises , along with general fitness and balance exercise programs , like tai chi or yoga

• Controlling diabetes , blood pressure , cholesterol levels , weight and salt intake , and limiting total fluids consumed per day to three litres

• Identifying movements , positions and situations that cause giddiness , and avoiding them

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that can lower the risk of vertigo n

In many cases , vertigo goes away on its own , but in others may have to be treated with medication or surgery if conditions persist

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