Vertigo is a common problem, but you should never underestimate its potential impact on your life. The condition disrupts daily activities and causes time away from work in nearly 80% of people with vertigo. The experienced team at ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA offers advanced testing to determine the cause of your vertigo and creates a customized treatment plan to restore your balance. If you experience vertigo, don’t wait to seek help. Call the office in Sewickley, Beaver/Vanport Township, Seven Fields, or Ohio Valley in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, or request an appointment online today.
Vertigo is a form of dizziness that makes you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning around. Along with the sensation of spinning, you may also:
Though vertigo is a type of dizziness, it does not cause lightheadedness.
The cause of vertigo depends on the type of vertigo:
Central vertigo develops from problems affecting the area of your brain that regulates balance. It includes conditions such as:
Certain medications may also cause central vertigo.
Peripheral vertigo occurs when you have a problem with your inner ear or the auditory nerve that carries information from the inner ear to your brain. Possible causes of peripheral vertigo include:
BPPV, the most common cause of vertigo, occurs when calcium crystals (called canaliths) get into the fluid-filled tubes in your inner ear. The crystals interfere with fluid movement, which leads to vertigo.
Your physician at ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA begins by evaluating your medical history, symptoms, and medications you may take. After a physical and neurological exam, they may perform one of many specialized tests, such as:
Videonystagmography helps identify problems in your inner ear and nerve system by tracking your eye movements while changing your body position.
After identifying the cause of your vertigo, ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA develops a treatment plan that targets the underlying problem.
Your treatment may include therapies such as:
Canalith repositioning treatments involve several techniques, including the Epley and Semont maneuvers.
During both techniques, your physician puts you through a series of body movements that change your head position. As you move, the crystals leave the tubes and go into an area of your ear where they don’t cause problems.
If you suffer vertigo or dizziness, call ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA or book an appointment online today.
