Vestibular Neuritis i.e. Labyrinthitis:
This type of vertigo is caused by viruses in the inner ear or by ear infections. The chronic infections lead to inflammation, which in return damages the nerves that are the ones needed for communicating with the body or the brain about the orientation and the balance.
Vertigo can also be triggered by:
- Brain tumor or stroke
- Strong headaches or migraines
- Medications that might cause damage in your ears
- Neck or head injuries ( these kinds of injuries require surgery)
BPPV:
BPPV or Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo leads to inner-ear problems that often manifest with dizziness. The symptoms of BPPV are spinning, caused by the change of the position of your head or episodes of vertigo that repeat i.e. positional vertigo.
The primary cause of this type is the moving within the ear of the crystals or calcium crystals ( i.e. ear rocks or otoconia). These ear rocks lie in the labyrinth that a part of the ear. Then after the movement, the vestibular system is affected.
This system has three structures that are loop-shaped ( semicircular canals).
Some sensors look like hair and fluid that actually monitors the movements of the head.
These calcium crystals are also called canaliths. The canaliths dislodge from their position in the one part of the ear i.e. utricle, the go in the semicircular canals. This is when the problem occurs, due to the fact that based on the fluids, nerves found in the ear to brain send signals about the position of the body and head.
Within the inner ear, there are small openings that hold fluids. The fluids move in tiny canals and then send signals about your position that is relative to the earth( bent over, upright or sideways). That is the thing that typically helps you to maintain your balance.
When you move your head, it is differently oriented. That causes the movement of the fluids. The forced or sudden move of the head shifts the ear rocks and leads to abnormal accumulation of fluids.
Then nerve hairs that are sensitive are stimulated by the ear rocks, and in return, they send signals to the brain, but those signals are false.
Simple movements may cause BPPV:
- Leaning your head to one side
- looking down or up
- Fast jerks in the head caused by car accidents
- Exercising
- While sleeping rolling over onto one side (lack of sleep and stress are tied to the development of BPPV and make vertigo worse, possibly due to the and tossing in bed)
Meniere’s Disease:
This type of vertigo is a severe and rare disorder of the inner ear. It develops after there is abnormal fluid accumulation in your inner ear. That accumulation causes the change of the pressure levels in the ear. This disease can cause tinnitus i.e. ringing in the ears, but it may also lead to loss of the hearing.
The Meniere`s disease can be sub-classified that depends on the semicircular that is affected. The fluid in the lateral or even the posterior canal can be the cause.
There is an estimation that around 0.2 percent of people between 40 and 60 suffer from this disease. This type of vertigo is much rarer than the other two.
Statistics
- 40 % of people ( to be accurate around 125 million people) over 40 years, experience severe vertigo to the point where they need to consult a doctor
- There are more than twelve balance disorders that might cause vertigo
- Three principal types of vertigo are vestibular neuritis, BPPV and Meniere`s disease.
- The number one cause of balance disorders like vertigo is BPPV. Every year BPPV affects 2% of the population.
- Around 0.2 % of people between the age of 40 and 60 suffer from Meniere’s disease, that is
a rare form of vertigo.
- Women are twice as likely to suffer from vertigo than men.
- Around 80% of people that have BPPV after having the head maneuvers feel relief.
- People that had vertigo, 50% of them usually experience it again in the period of five
Key facts on How to Get Rid of Vertigo
- Vertigo is a group or cluster of symptoms; it is not a condition or disorder.
- Around forty percent of people over 40 years might have vertigo at least once in their life.
- Vertigo is a symptom caused by changes in the inner ears that are abnormal.
- When parts of your ears do not send correct information about your position to your brain that is when vertigo develops.
- Six ways how to get rid of vertigo: head maneuvers (canalith repositioning procedure), healthy diet and stay hydrated, get rest and be active, consult your doctor about other causes of dizziness, physical therapy and make sure to reduce stress.
- Fifty percent of patients that had vertigo, within five-year have that problem again.
- Stress, dehydration, and drop in blood pressure are potential causes of vertigo.
More common in women and people over the age of 50. - Three principal types of vertigo are vestibular neuritis, BPPV and Meniere`s disease.
- Twelve balance disorders cause vertigo.
- BPPV results in problems within the inner ear which cause to feel dizzy – the most common cause of vertigo.
Here’s the Vertigo by Numbers infographic.
Source Dr. Axe