Last week we focused on looking at natural remedies which you could use for reducing dizziness. But what do you do when the dizziness is too intense? Here we’ll be looking at various extreme vertigo causes and methods that you can use, to lessen the severity of vertigo:

The Link Between Post-Traumatic Vertigo & BPPV

If one has suffered injury to the head or neck, it can result in sensations of vertigo. This form of vertigo in particular is referred to as post-traumatic vertigo. To further add onto this, the crystals within the inner ear (also known as otocania) can become displaced and moved into the wrong places within the ear. This can result in the individual being diagnosed with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo).

It is common for vertigo sufferers to experience positional vertigo, in this case BPPV. Extreme vertigo causes such as post-traumatic vertigo are usually first treated with certain head maneuveurs, such as the epley maneuver or brandt-daroff maneuver. These exercises focus on moving the displaced inner ear crystals to their correct placements.

The following video demonstates how to perform the epley maneuver

Here’s a video on how to perform the brandt-daroff maneuver

A Neurological Outlook Of Central Vertigo

Central vertigo is vertigo that’s caused by the central nervous system. What is meant by this, is that vertigo normally occurs because of a condition related to the brain, which usually pertains to the brainstem or cerebellum.

The brainstem is in charge of autonomic processes within the body, such as digestion, breathing, blinking and conscious awareness. It is located at the base of the brain and is connected with the spinal cord. The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain and plays a huge part with coordination, motor control and cognition. If either one of these regions of the brain become damaged or compromised, it can result in conditions such as vertigo, memory issues, lack of balance and poor coordination.

It is recommended for those who may suffer from central vertigo to be referred to a neurologist, ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) or audiovestibular physician. Various tests and scans can be performed for extreme vertigo causes related to the central nervous system, which will help in finding the root cause to your symptoms.

Reasons Behind Central Vertigo

Central Vertigo can be due to the following:

  • Multiple Sclerosis – Affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), resulting in reduced functionality of the body.
  • Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) – mini strokes usually due to a lack of blood supply to the brain or eyes.
  • Strokes
  • Brain/CNS tumors
  • Head trauma
  • Infections