Vertigo: Simple Help, Home Fixes, and When to See a Doctor

Feeling like the room is spinning? That’s vertigo — a specific kind of dizziness that makes you sense motion when you’re still. It’s common, usually not dangerous, and often treatable without complicated tests. Here’s clear, practical advice you can use right away.

Common causes and quick clues

Most vertigo comes from the inner ear. The top offenders are BPPV (tiny crystals in the inner ear that move), vestibular neuritis (a viral irritation), and Meniere’s disease (fluid changes in the ear). Medicines can also trigger dizziness — examples include some muscle relaxants, sleep medicines, or antidepressants. If your dizziness comes with hearing loss or ringing, think inner-ear problems. If you have weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, or severe headache, get emergency care — those can be signs of stroke.

Quick self-tests and what they tell you

One simple check is to sit up from lying down and note how the room feels. If you get a short burst of spinning when you change position, BPPV is likely. The Dix-Hallpike test helps confirm BPPV, but if you’re unsure, don’t push it — ask a clinician. If your dizziness is constant and you feel nauseous or very off-balance for days, that fits vestibular neuritis and needs medical review.

Want a fast safety tip? If you’re dizzy, don’t drive, climb, or operate heavy machinery until symptoms settle. Put a lamp and water near your bed at night and use a cane or hold rails if you must move while symptoms are strong.

Home treatments can help a lot. For BPPV, the Epley maneuver often fixes things in a few tries. Lie back quickly from sitting with your head turned 45 degrees to the affected side and follow a sequence of turns — you can find step-by-step videos from trusted medical sites. If maneuvers cause severe nausea or last more than a week, stop and see a clinician.

Vestibular rehab exercises are great when dizziness lingers. These are simple head and eye movement exercises that retrain your brain to use balance signals better. A physical therapist who knows vestibular rehab will guide you and tailor exercises to your problem.

Medications can ease symptoms short-term: meclizine for motion-type dizziness, anti-nausea drugs if you’re vomiting, or short courses of benzodiazepines in severe cases. Long-term reliance on sedating meds isn’t ideal; rehab is better for lasting recovery. If you take meds that list dizziness as a side effect, talk with your doctor about alternatives.

See a doctor if vertigo is severe, comes on suddenly, follows a head injury, or won’t improve after a week. Expect a focused exam, hearing tests, and sometimes an imaging scan if there are concerning neurologic signs. Most people recover well with simple maneuvers or rehab.

Vertigo is uncomfortable, but it’s often manageable. Start with safe movements, try repositioning maneuvers if appropriate, and get medical help when symptoms are severe or unusual. You don’t have to simply wait it out.