Feeling as though the room is spinning, losing your balance while walking, or experiencing dizziness when turning your head can be unsettling. These symptoms may indicate vertigo, a condition commonly associated with problems in the inner ear or the body’s balance system. Vertigo can affect everyday activities such as walking, working, driving, and even getting out of bed. Vertigo treatment in Mumbai begins with identifying the underlying cause of dizziness and balance disturbances. Dr. Shama Kovale, an experienced ENT specialist associated with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, evaluates ear-related and balance concerns and helps patients understand appropriate diagnostic and treatment options.
Although some episodes of vertigo are brief and improve with treatment, recurring or persistent symptoms deserve medical attention. Understanding the warning signs, causes, available treatments, and recovery measures can help patients make informed decisions about their health.
Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or movement when you or your surroundings are actually stationary. It is different from general light-headedness, weakness, or feeling faint, although these symptoms can sometimes occur together.
The inner ear contains structures that help detect head movement and maintain balance. Signals from these structures work with information from the eyes, muscles, and brain to keep the body stable. When this balance system is disrupted, a person may experience vertigo, unsteadiness, or difficulty coordinating movement.
Common symptoms include:
Symptoms vary depending on the cause. Some people experience short episodes lasting seconds, while others have prolonged dizziness that can interfere with routine activities.
Vertigo can arise from several conditions affecting the inner ear, vestibular nerve, or central nervous system. Identifying the cause is essential because treatment differs according to the diagnosis.
1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): Small calcium particles move into an incorrect position within the inner ear. This can trigger brief spinning sensations when turning in bed, looking upward, bending down, or changing head position.
2. Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation affecting the vestibular nerve can cause sudden, intense vertigo and difficulty maintaining balance. Hearing loss is not a typical feature of isolated vestibular neuritis.
3. Labyrinthitis: Inflammation involving the inner ear’s balance structures may cause vertigo and can be accompanied by hearing symptoms.
4. Ménière’s disease: This condition can cause episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.