Vertigo

Vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning) is a distressing symptom, especially when it happens regularly. The multispecialty team at Advanced Medical Care in Brighton Beach (Brooklyn) and Forest Hills (Queens), New York, uses advanced diagnostic tools to find the root cause of your vertigo so that you get the most effective treatment. Call the office nearest you today or schedule an appointment online to get help for your vertigo.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation that the room around you is moving even though you’re sitting or standing still. It makes you feel dizzy and off-balance and can worsen when you stand or change the position of your head.

The sensation can last a few seconds or a few minutes. In severe cases, vertigo can go on for hours, even days.

Vertigo is common, affecting up to 40% of people in the United States at some point during their lives.

What causes vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom that develops from problems with the inner ear (peripheral vertigo) or the brain (central vertigo). Among the conditions that cause vertigo are:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Meniere’s disease (buildup of fluid in the ear)
• Labyrinthitis (inflammation in the inner ear)
• Migraines
• Seizures
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Stroke
• Arrhythmia
• Head injuries
• Tumors

BPPV is a peripheral vertigo and its most common cause. With BPPV, changing the position of your head triggers vertigo.

Some medications, alcohol, and prolonged bed rest can also cause vertigo.

When should I seek medical help for vertigo?

Advanced Medical Care experts recommend that you schedule an appointment if your vertigo develops suddenly, is a recurring problem, or is getting worse. The neurologists at Advanced Medical Care conduct a thorough evaluation to find the underlying cause of your vertigo.

They review your symptoms and medical history and complete a physical and neurological exam. They run neurological tests, including:

Electronystagmography (ENG)

ENG is a series of painless tests that evaluates involuntary eye movement to help diagnose balance disorders and inner ear problems.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An EEG measures the electrical activity in the brain to look for signs of seizure activity.

The team could also request bloodwork and imaging studies of the head and brain.

What are the treatments for vertigo?

The Advanced Medical Care team personalizes your vertigo treatment plan based on the underlying cause. Treatment for vertigo can include:

• Physical therapy
• Medication therapy
• Vestibular rehabilitation training (strengthening your sense of balance)

If a brain tumor or neck injury is the cause of your vertigo, the team will probably recommend surgery.

You can trust the Advanced Medical Care team to identify the best vertigo treatment to improve your quality of life. Call today or schedule your vertigo consultation using the online booking tool.