Remember how you felt when you were on a plane that hit turbulent weather? Or as a child, when you were on a merry-go-round that was too fast for your comfort? What did you experience—imbalance, instability, dizziness?

A loss of control is unnerving, and the inability to take charge, is even more. This feeling is too familiar for someone with vertigo — a condition that makes you feel like your surroundings are spinning when in reality you may not be moving at all. Managing your daily life with vertigo gets easier when you understand the condition and you are equipped with the right treatment protocol prescribed by your healthcare provider.

A fine balance: Vertigo Symptoms and Causes

It’s important to know that vertigo is a symptom of an underlying condition, than a disease itself. It is commonly caused by a disturbance in the vestibular system, located in the inner ear, that is responsible for the body’s ability to maintain balance. Vertigo is a sensation that your environment is moving or spinning. Vertigo could also lead to nausea and vomiting occasionally. Other symptoms along with vertigo could include problem while focusing the eyes, loss of hearing in one or both ears, loss of balance, and ringing in the ears. All these symptoms can make it difficult to perform routine activities, like typing out an email, hanging out with friends, working out, or babysitting.

Often the physical symptoms of vertigo are spoken about, but it has a psychological impact on the patient. An episode of vertigo can occur suddenly, without any warning signs. An episode may be mild, lasting for few seconds or severe, lasting for days. Now imagine planning a holiday or even a short drive knowing you may be caught off guard by a vertigo attack! This uncertainty and loss of independence can cause anxiety and emotional distress. Further, what you’re going through and the extent of it, may not always be evident to those around you, which can be even more isolating.