What is Vertigo?

Vertigo can be defined as a feeling of dizziness & sickness, arising out of faulty perceived sensations in the brain. Vertigo sensations can occur with or without any sort of movement, & usually lead the brain to feel that the body is off-balance even when that’s not the case. Despite popular belief, Vertigo is not a medical condition in itself, & is usually the result of some underlying illness, side-effects of any drugs, or an injury. More often than not, Vertigo occurs just once for a number of people, however, for certain other people, it is a consistent, ever-occurring issue, that stops people from living their lives to the fullest.

People suffering from Vertigo often find themselves living in constant fear of passing out & losing their balance amid dangerous situations.

A Vertigo patient is required to immediately sit down once they start experiencing dizziness, as they might end up falling & hurting themselves otherwise.

What is Labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis is an ear condition that causes dizziness, spinning sensations (AKA Vertigo), & problems with balance. Labyrinthitis is usually caused by Inner ear infections, surgeries, & other underlying illnesses. Doctors aren’t sure about what exactly causes Labyrinthitis; the condition may occur during or after a viral infection, by swelling in the inner ear nerve, or by some injury in the brain center that controls balance & hearing. Labyrinthitis is also commonly caused by Viruses, & less commonly, by bacteria.

Although it’s not common, some Labyrinthitis patients can also experience symptoms like Nausea, ear pain, Vertigo, & swelling, & inflammation in the ear.

Not always, but usually, Labyrinthitis occurs in bouts that last approximately around 2 weeks, & can be treated with certain medications & home remedies.

In some cases, Labyrinthitis can also lead to BPPV (Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo) & an inner-ear balance condition called Meniere’s disease, which can cause hearing loss, vertigo, ringing in the ears, & a feeling of pressure in the ears.

Symptoms of Vertigo:

In addition to causing a person to feel unbalanced or a sensation of spinning, Vertigo can lead to the following symptoms:

  • nausea or vomiting
  • abnormal eye movements
  • headaches
  • sweating
  • ear ringing
  • hearing loss
  • double vision
  • lack of coordination
  • arm or leg weakness


Causes of Vertigo:

Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV) is the most commonly known type of Vertigo, & is usually caused by a buildup of deposits in the inner ear.
Since the inner ear is responsible for our balance system, BPPV leads to problems with balance & certain movements for people who are suffering from it.
Apart from BPPV, other conditions that can cause Vertigo are:

  • Cold viruses: The common cold has been known to cause ear inflammation. However, this type of vertigo usually resolves within a few days but is known to reoccur.
  • A head or neck injury: Vertigo is one of the most common symptoms that occur after a neck or head injury. It usually happens with injuries that are ongoing & have a debilitating impact on a person’s life.
  • Stroke: According to the American Stroke Association, Vertigo is a common symptom of a Stroke, along with severe dizziness & imbalance. However, usually, a Stroke will cause more than a few symptoms.
  • Vestibular neuritis or VN: Vestibular neuritis is a condition affecting the vestibulocochlear nerve in the inner ear. This nerve is responsible for assimilating & analyzing balance and head-positioning signals received in the brain. When this nerve is inflamed, the brain misinterprets balance and head positioning signals, thus leading to feeling dizzy & sick.
  • Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s disease affects a patient’s hearing in one of the ears. It leads to vertigo, tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears, combined with hearing loss, and a feeling of “fullness” in the ear, also felt like pressure on the insides of the eardrum. Some people with Meniere’s disease also experience severe vertigo, causing frequent bouts of balance loss and falls during daily activities.

Symptoms of Labyrinthitis:

  • Dizziness
  • Spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Problems with balance or walking
  • Hearing loss
  • Earache or ear pain
  • The feeling of fullness in the ear
  • Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
  • Ear discharge

Causes of Labyrinthitis:

  • Researchers and doctors aren’t actually sure about the cause of labyrinthitis. During Labyrinthitis diagnosis, the condition may be caused during -or after a viral infection, swelling, or inflammation in the brain nerve that is responsible for balance & hearing.
  • Viruses can usually cause inner ear infections that can lead to Labyrinthitis & sometimes, bacteria can cause ear infections too.
  • Certain medications may be prescribed for the treatment of inner ear infections that are associated with labyrinthitis, and to treat its various symptoms like nausea, vomiting, ear pain, swelling and inflammation in the ear, and to help cure related dizziness and vertigo, brought on by Labyrinthitis.
  • Home remedies that may help give some relief to Labyrinthitis patients include warm compresses on the affected ear, saltwater gargle, quitting smoking, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever medications.
  • Although Labyrinthitis is not contagious, the viruses & bacteria that cause it could very well be. Hence, it’s important to maintain distance from other people if you are suffering from Labyrinthitis.
  • One should practice good hygiene principles to keep viral or bacterial ear infections at bay.
  • Most Labyrinthitis infections, if treated promptly, resolve within 2 weeks of onset, sans causing any permanent hearing damage to the patient.
  • Labyrinthitis also leads to BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which causes dizziness and vertigo in a patient, & can also give rise to Ménière’s disease, which is often accompanied by Vertigo, ringing in the ears, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.

Treatment of Vertigo

Vertigo treatment consists of a range of home remedies, medications, & exercises. Steroid medications can help with the inner ear inflammation, & water pills can help with fluid buildup.
For repetitive episodes of Vertigo, a physical rehabilitation therapy called Vestibular Rehabilitation can help.
Vestibular Rehabilitation is a helpful therapy that helps Vertigo patients reestablish their balance centers & fix their issues.
In addition to all these treatments, there are several Home Remedies for treating Vertigo. These Home Remedies for Vertigo include:

  • Drinking Ginkgo Biloba
  • Drinking Ginger Tea
  • Taking almonds
  • Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Applying Peppermint essential oil
  • Applying Lemon essential oil
  • Carrier Oils

Treatment of Labyrinthitis:

Once your doctor rules out any other causes in your labyrinthitis diagnosis, Labyrinthitis treatment can depend on the cause, your symptoms, & how long have you been experiencing the problem.
Post Labyrinthitis diagnosis, your doctor might prescribe medications to treat any infection, reduce inflammation, & treat nausea & vomiting.
The medications can also help eliminate dizziness & Vertigo that are common symptoms of Labyrinthitis.
Your doctor may recommend Over-The-Control diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or prescription meclizine (Antivert), promethazine hydrochloride (Phenergan), lorazepam (Ativan), or diazepam (Valium) to help control patient’s nausea and vomiting, and to relieve their dizziness and vertigo.

Medications that your doctor could prescribe to you to treat any inflammation & infections associated with Labyrinthitis include steroids (prednisone), antibiotics, and antivirals. Looking for expert Vertigo & Labyrinthitis doctors in India? Consult NeuroEquilibrium range of vertigo clinics in India. Specialist Vertigo doctors give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition, taking into account your entire medical history, thus providing you with better treatment plans for Vertigo & Labyrinthitis.