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Stop the World - When Vertigo Strikes

 
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People who have never had an attack of vertigo have no idea how lucky they are. The dizzy, lightheaded feeling often accompanied by nausea and even vomiting is a most dreadful experience.

What’s worse is that it tends to come out of nowhere and it’s nearly impossible to know how long it will last. At first, it’s easy to assume the condition might be a virus of some sort, but the spinning sensation is a true sign of vertigo.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, associated with inner ear balance and Meniere’s disease, can be caused by an inflammation of the inner ear due to cold, flu or bacterial infection. But sometimes the displacement of otoconial crystals in the inner ear can be triggered by head movement, which causes dizziness that makes standing and walking difficult.

For some patients, a simple OTC medication like Dramamine can help with the nausea, but perhaps the most important thing for vertigo sufferers to learn is the Epley Maneuver. Your doctor can perform the simple exercise in his or her office, or you can learn how to do it on your own. By employing the procedure repeatedly the displaced crystals can fall back into place bringing great relief to the vertigo victim.

Here is a site that shows how the maneuver is done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqokxZRbJfw

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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