Have you ever experienced vertigo? Vertigo is a fairly common health phenomenon, and it has multiple causes. Here, we take a look at the causes and ramifications of vertigo. Then, we discuss four various supplements that could help mitigate or remedy vertigo.
A Brief Look at Vertigo
Vertigo is colloquially associated with experiencing dizziness, but in fact, it is more than that. It is a sensation that the room around one’s self is spinning, combined with a sensation of loss of balance and feelings of dizziness. Additional symptoms that could occur relative to vertigo include nausea, hearing loss or tinnitus, headache, and motion sickness. Vertigo itself occurs as a symptom of a condition and not as a condition in and of itself.
There are many potential causes of vertigo. These include migraine, certain medications, arrhythmia, stroke, diabetes, prolonged bed rest, head injury, and other health conditions. Furthermore, there are two primary types of vertigo. Peripheral vertigo is more common, and it results from issues in the inner ear or vestibular nerve; the most common subtype is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Central vertigo is less common, and is most often the result of a condition affecting the brain.
Estimates of overall incidence of vertigo in the general population is around 5%. If you suspect you could have vertigo, a medical provider can diagnose it using behavioral or medical tests. Available treatment methods include medication, repositioning maneuvers, vestibular rehab therapy, and surgery. The right treatment depends on the causes and type of vertigo someone is experiencing. Hydration, reducing stress, and limiting caffeine all help reduce vertigo, too.
5 Natural Remedies Suggested for Vertigo
Some supplements have evidentiary support for their potential effectiveness in mitigating and preventing vertigo symptoms. Take a look at how these five supplements can help:
Vitamin D and calcium are crucial nutrients for human health, and both are pertinent to the incidence of vertigo symptoms. Supplementing with both vitamin D and calcium together has been shown to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of BPPV symptoms. This benefit is especially prominent for someone with vertigo who has low levels of vitamin D. Taking vitamin D and calcium to reduce BPPV recurrence is highly recommended, because BPPV is a condition with a high recurrence rate.
Magnesium supplementation could be helpful for vertigo. This mineral helps many major bodily processes, including nerve function. By taking a magnesium supplement, you could reduce headaches associated with vertigo.
It is believed that a Vitamin B12 supplement could help alleviate headaches and dizziness, which are often associated with vertigo. That is because deficiency in this vitamin is closely associated with these symptoms.
Ginkgo biloba is an herbal supplement which could help mitigate certain types of vertigo. Research suggests that this could even include vertigo caused by a buildup of plaque in arteries in the brain. A moderate amount of ginkgo biloba taken daily is recommended.
If you or someone you love has vertigo, you should explore all your options for treating it. Consider how these five vitamins and nutrients could help. Talk to your healthcare provider about them before taking any supplement first.