{"id":770,"date":"2017-06-19T06:21:29","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T06:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=770"},"modified":"2021-03-11T17:10:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T17:10:31","slug":"17-home-remedies-treat-vertigo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/17-home-remedies-treat-vertigo\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Home Remedies to Treat Vertigo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vertigo is not a condition in itself but rather a symptom like tinnitus. This describes the feeling of dizziness and can be very unpleasant and unsettling experience. Vertigo doesn\u2019t only put us at risk of falling and causing injury but it can also cause feelings of sickness and even lead to vomiting. This is because the body will often interpret vertigo as a symptom of an illness or even toxicity\/poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus it will then want to \u2018purge\u2019 the system. If you\u2019re just a little dizzy, then this extreme reaction can be overkill, leaving you really struggling for no real reason!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what causes vertigo? There are countless different triggers and to understand them, it can be helpful to first understand how the body handles balance to begin with. You might remember from highschool biology then that the balance is situated largely in the ears. Equilibrioception is at least partially based on the way that fluid called endolymph moves around inside the semicircular cannals of the ears and brushes against the thin hair cells of the capular. This allows the brain to ascertain its orientation and this information is then coalesced with information from the eyes and the limbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Problems occur when information from one or all of these sources is compromised. This can then result in contradictory signals, which in turn cause the individual to feel as though they are spinning around or falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are a number of different solutions to this issue and in this post, we\u2019ll examine some of the best ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.  Head Rotations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the dizziness is caused by the wrong information coming from the semicircular canals as well as the utricle <\/a>and saccule in the vestibule. Especially if you have moved quickly recently, you might feel that the world is still spinning when it should have stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply rotating your head slowly in each direction can help you to essentially \u2018reset\u2019 this input and thereby overcome the sensation of dizziness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.  The Epley Manoeuver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vertigo<\/a> can come in a variety of different forms depending on the cause. One kind, called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV, is caused by small crystals of calcium becoming loose in the middle ear. These can then move around and send false positives that confuse the brain as to its orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, there is a simply solution that can fix this which is to employ the Epley Manoeuver. Here, you sit on the edge of your bed and turn your head 45 degrees to the direction of the problem (you must first identify which ear is causing the problem). Now place a pillow underneath your shoulder and lie down quickly with your face up. Wait for thirty seconds as the vertigo subsides and then turn your head 90 degrees to the other direction without raising it. Wait another 30 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, turn the head to look at the floor and sit up slowly. Again, this should be enough to \u2018reset\u2019 the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>3.  Neck Massage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another kind of vertigo is known as cervical vertigo. This is caused by injury or swelling to the neck, which in turn places pressure on the nerves<\/a> that run up the side of the neck to the brain. This in turn can result in false signals once more, which tell the body it is facing a different direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good way to solve this issue is simply to get a neck massage. This will help to reduce swelling in the neck and thereby relieve pressure from the nerves. You can likewise use a compress or warm bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>4.  Head Massage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re getting that neck massage<\/a>, it can also be a good idea to ask for a head massage. This is another way to help send more blood to the brain which can often improve symptoms of vertigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you need even more reason to get a massage, consider that a head massage will help you to unwind. We will see in a moment that this is another important strategy when it comes to overcoming vertigo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>5.  Relax<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vertigo can often be caused by stress and is a particularly common symptom of panic attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue here is hyperoxia<\/a>: when we become stressed, stress hormones such as norepinephrine and adrenaline cause us to breathe more rapidly. In turn, this can then cause us to take in too much oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution in this case is simply to try and stay calm. Correct breathing will help to calm acute stress, while meditation and CBT can be good long-term solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>6.  Correct Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The correct way to breathe in order to address vertigo, is to take slow, steady breaths. Do this by using the stomach <\/a>before the chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allow the abdominal muscles to relax and then protrude. This will create space in the abdominal cavity, which the diaphragm will drop down into, allowing the lungs to fill with air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fill the lungs from the bottom upward and try to hold each breath inward and outward for the same amount of time (a few seconds usually).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>7.  Garlic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eating a little garlic<\/a> might be able to help ease vertigo in a number of ways. Firstly, garlic is a vasodilator meaning that it can widen the blood vessels and thereby encourage more bloodflow to the brain. At the same time, garlic is also useful for settling the stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, because garlic has a strong taste, this can sometimes be enough to help \u2018distract\u2019 from the dizziness and help you to feel a little more human. Strong smells also have this effect. This will also kill an infection, if that is the cause of your vertigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>8.  Fall Prevention Exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are prone to falling over due to bouts of vertigo, then see a physiotherapist and they might prescribe fall prevention exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall prevention can take many forms and involve a number of different processes. However, several factors are commonly involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one, fall prevention will often involve strengthening for the muscles and connective tissues in the legs, ankles and feet. This can help to give you more control over your limbs and might also be used to counteract imbalances. Muscle imbalances can actually be a big problem if they cause the patient to \u2018compensate\u2019 by changing their gait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if one leg is weaker than the other, this can place painful pressure on the spine<\/a> and change the way that the patient walks \u2013 increasing their chances of a fall. Often these kinds of imbalances can go completely unnoticed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>9.  Balance Exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Balance can also be trained using a variety of exercises <\/a>and this is a very useful strategy for preventing falling and overcoming vertigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, balance training can include training for the central nervous system (CNS) to improve the reflexes. \u2018Reflexive strength\u2019 describes the kind of strength that causes our leg to kick out when someone taps the knee with a hammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s this same type of reflex though that also enables us to automatically adjust our posture when we start to fall in order to catch our weight. Essentially, muscles automatically contract when they are forcibly lengthened and this allows us to catch our balance without any conscious intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>10.  Clean Your Ears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An ear infection can often lead to issues with the inner ears which can further upset your sense of balance. To solve this, you should see a doctor and get prescribed a course of antibiotics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, make sure to keep your ears clean and to avoid using cue tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>11.  Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being over tired is a common cause of vertigo and many of us will find we feel a little dizzy <\/a>and tired first thing in the morning. Make sure you are getting enough high quality sleep and do what you can to make sure the environment you are sleeping in is as conducive to rest as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get up slowly in the morning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>12.  Concentrate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember, all of your senses play a role in your balance. This is why one of the most common tips for overcoming travel sickness<\/a> (which is a similar problem) is to concentrate on a single point in space that will have a fixed position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The horizon works, or you can look at a picture or window on a wall. Concentrate on that and this will help your body to reorient itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>13.  Lie Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lying down can often help you to not only let the fluids in your ears settle, but also let more blood and oxygen <\/a>back into your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember: the rest of the time your heart is fighting gravity in order to get the blood to where it needs to be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lie down on something solid like the floor and maybe close your eyes for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>14.  Hold Onto Something<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another option is to try holding onto something. This is another way to send a new signal to the brain <\/a>telling it which way is down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an old trick many of us will use when drinking \u2013 which is another common cause of vertigo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>15.  Drink Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Water is the ultimate \u2018cure all\u2019 and it is just as effective when it comes to treating vertigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vertigo is often caused by dehydration<\/a>, which happens because the brain starts to shrink once it has lost fluid and this causes it to pull away from the inside of the skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This causes headaches and light headedness, so take a lie down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>16.  Eat Some Sugar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just oxygen that the brain needs to function properly: it\u2019s also sugar<\/a>. If your blood sugar has dipped very low, then this will often cause you to feel anxious, shaky and yes \u2013 dizzy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for a source of sugary carbohydrates such as chocolate or cake. This is the one opportunity you can get to eat sugar guilt-free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>17.  Caffeine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A good way to get that sugar would be in a sweet cup of tea or coffee. This will encourage vasoconstriction<\/a> which will narrow the blood vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, this can help to reduce dizziness that is caused by low blood pressure because it makes it easier for blood to travel against the direction of gravity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine also clears adenosine from the brain to wake you up and generally gives you a boost!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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