Key Takeaways – Vertigo Dizziness Treatment & Management
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Vertigo is a common condition in Australia, affecting around 46% of people aged 50+, often linked to inner ear problems like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
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Self-care tips such as resting in a dark, quiet room, avoiding triggers, and moving slowly may help reduce vertigo symptoms.
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Home remedies like ginkgo biloba, yoga, meditation, vitamin D supplements, and limiting alcohol can provide relief depending on the underlying cause.
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Over-the-counter vertigo medicines in Australia, such as dimenhydrinate, may ease nausea and dizziness, while stronger options require a doctor’s prescription.
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Vertigo exercises (e.g., Cawthorne Cooksey, Brandt-Daroff, Gaze Stabilisation) guided by a physiotherapist may improve balance and reduce recurring dizziness.
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Medical treatments like the Epley manoeuvre are effective for BPPV by repositioning inner ear crystals to stop dizziness.
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Surgery is a last-resort option for severe vertigo cases when other remedies fail, usually performed by ENT specialists.
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Diagnosis requires a doctor’s assessment, including a physical exam, medical history, and sometimes blood tests to find the root cause.
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Preventing vertigo attacks involves staying hydrated, reducing stress, doing gentle exercises, and following treatment tailored to the cause.
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While no direct first aid method exists for vertigo, enrolling in a CPR First Aid course equips you with vital skills to assist someone during sudden dizziness or related medical emergencies.
According to Healthdirect, an information service the government funds, doing self-care tips, taking medicines, performing certain vertigo exercises Australia has, having treatment, or undergoing surgery may treat vertigo dizziness. The treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms, which a doctor will ask about aside from conducting a physical examination and recommending blood tests to diagnose it. Vertigo is a type of dizziness that makes you feel like your room is spinning and may be distressing. Unfortunately, its prevalence is 46% for Australians who are 50 years old and up. Read further to learn what you may do if it occurs and how to treat it properly.
How to Treat Vertigo Dizziness?
One or more of the following treatments may apply depending on the cause of your vertigo dizziness. The availability of a first aid kit with vertigo medicines inside may help if you experience them frequently.
Do Self-Care
The following self-care tips may help vertigo get better on its own.
- Sit or lie down in a dark and quiet room
- Avoid your known triggers
Most triggers involve certain head positions or getting up from bed quickly.
Use a Home Remedy
Healthline, a health information site, states that home remedies may help with vertigo and dizziness.
- Ginkgo biloba extract in liquid or capsule form.
- Yoga, tai chi, meditation, and deep-breathing techniques for vertigo that arise due to stress
- Adequate amount of sleep for vertigo that occurs due to sleep deprivation
- Vitamin D supplements as a study suggests that the symptoms of people with BPPV worsen when they have a lack of it
- Limiting alcohol as it may change the composition of the fluid in your inner ear
The above home remedies may not be effective for vertigo, which affects a health condition.
Take Medicines
A doctor may recommend taking medicines to help manage nausea and vomiting. Dimenhydrinate is also a vertigo medication available over the counter in Australia that may be effective as a first aid. The Australian Public Assessment Report for Cinnarizine / Dimenhydrinate, available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s website, provides more information about the medicine.
Perform Certain Exercises
A GP may suggest seeing a specialist physiotherapist to guide you on exercises that may help with your vertigo. For instance, myPhysioSA, which provides physio services to major South Australian sporting clubs, lists the following exercises to treat vertigo dizziness. Some of these exercises can act as effective vertigo cures.
- Cawthorne Cooksey Exercises
- Gaze Stabilisation Exercises
- Brandt-Daroff exercises
Visit its website for further explanations about these moves.
Have a Treatment
If you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a health professional may refer you for canalith repositioning (Epley manoeuvre). This procedure involves movements to move the crystals in your inner ear back into their correct position.
Undergo Surgery
According to an article by the ENT clinic, which specialises in ear, nose and throat operations, surgery is the last line of treatment for BPPV. One option involves dividing nerves to prevent the signals from travelling to the brain and treating symptoms. A health specialist may recommend this vertigo treatment if none of the other remedies work.
How to Identify the Treatment for Vertigo Dizziness?
Vertigo treatment depends on its cause. To diagnose it, a doctor may ask about your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and order blood tests.
What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a type of dizziness that causes you to feel like the room is spinning and makes you imbalanced. In most cases, it is distressing and worrying, but it does not always mean you have a severe medical condition.
What are the First Signs of Vertigo Dizziness?
Aside from a feeling of the room spinning, vertigo may also have the following symptoms.
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Paleness
Some people may also experience sweating.
How Common is Vertigo in Australia?
Ausmed, a provider of CPD education for health professionals, reports that the prevalence of vertigo in Australians is 46% for those 50 years old and up. An inner ear problem is the primary cause, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is under it.
What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)?
The Better Health Channel, a Victorian Government website, explains that it occurs when inner ear crystals shift from the utricle to a semi-circular canal.
It is the most common cause of vertigo, especially in those aged 65 and up.
How to Prevent Vertigo Dizziness Attack?
WebMD, a medical team that works with doctors and health experts, lists the following things you may do to prevent vertigo.
- Reduce anxiety by doing yoga and deep breathing.
- Hydrate yourself well throughout the day to reduce the risks of vertigo symptoms flare.
Applying the treatment according to the cause may be the most effective prevention method.
Conclusion
Self-care, home remedies, medicines, exercises, treatments, and surgery may treat vertigo. Treatment depends on the cause, which may be an inner ear problem or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Vertigo is a type of dizziness that causes you to feel like the room is spinning and may involve other symptoms. Unfortunately, its prevalence is 46% for Australians aged 50 and up. Treating the underlying condition, yoga, deep breathing, and hydration may help prevent the attacks.
While there is no direct first aid process for vertigo, having first aid and CPR training is still a significant benefit. Apart from being equipped with the skills to handle various medical emergencies and situations, it also trains you to handle necessary casualties, such as when a person is struck with vertigo. Enrol in any CPR First Aid first aid course today. Our various Australia-wide first aid training locations can accommodate you wherever you are.