While other balance disorders may also be prone to exercise-induced dizziness, with BPPV it's the constant change in head positions that will trigger dizziness. This is why dizzy patients often say that yoga, swimming, weightlifting, and even jogging are workouts they avoid altogether.
Working around your client's vertigo
Aim to keep the head as vertical as possible throughout the workout. Also avoid exercises where your client's head is going through a change in elevation, which can aggravate symptoms as well. That means avoiding step-ups, squats, and lunges.
When you exercise, your body breaks down sugar molecules to create energy and power your muscles. If you exercise without fueling your body, you'll run on a low glucose supply. As a result, your blood sugar levels will drop, resulting in hypoglycemia. Your vertigo will feel worse.
Stress, anxiety and depression can all trigger vertigo attacks. Do what you can to avoid these pressures or to manage them when they can't be prevented. Talking to a friend, taking time to relax, or using meditation techniques could help.
Treating vertigo
During a vertigo attack, lying still in a quiet, darkened room may help to ease any symptoms of nausea and reduce the sensation of spinning. You may be advised to take medication. You should also try to avoid stressful situations, as anxiety can make the symptoms of vertigo worse.
Walking is a simple but powerful exercise for vertigo. It can help improve your balance. Walking with greater balance will allow you to function better on your own, which in turn may lead to improved self-confidence.
If you're experiencing a vertigo attack, the best thing to do is lie down in a quiet, dark room, close your eyes, and take deep breaths. This may help ease any nausea symptoms and reduce the sensation of spinning.
“In rare cases, people who experience debilitating vertigo might need surgery, but I find that lying down in the dark, avoiding lights, TVs, and other distractions, and just getting some rest can ease my symptoms,” she said.
If you have vertigo, you may be able to prevent your symptoms from getting worse by: Avoiding sudden movements or position changes. Keeping still and resting when you have symptoms. Avoiding bright lights, TV, and reading when you have symptoms.
No matter what you're battling, without quality and consistent sleep, your body will not respond as well to treatment. This holds especially true for those recovering from balance disorders, vertigo attacks, and lingering dizziness.
Vestibular rehabilitation — Most people with vertigo feel better if they keep their head still. However, lying still and not moving your head can actually delay recovery in the long term. Vestibular rehabilitation can help people recover from vertigo that is caused by a problem within the vestibular system.
Many experts recommend that you try and sleep on your back, as the crystals within your ear canals are less likely to become disturbed and trigger a vertigo attack. If you happen to get up in the middle of the night, rise slowly as opposed to making any sudden movements with the head or the neck.
Over time, ear crystals may dissolve, but bear in mind that this could take weeks or longer, and during that time, a person would have to endure the extreme discomfort of BPPV, where even the slightest head movements would throw their world into disarray.
Fluid retention in the inner ear can cause vertigo, so include some of these fruits rich in potassium to lessen symptoms such as bananas, grapes, apricots, etc.
Anything that dislodges the crystals from the utricle can cause BPPV. Having a past head injury is a major cause. Other times, BPPV may result from other problems with the vestibular system. These can include Ménière disease or vestibular neuritis.
If you are dizzy at all or recovering from a vertigo attack, then driving should be avoided.
Sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleep deprivation, have been linked to an increased risk of vertigo and dizziness. Lack of quality sleep can affect the brain's ability to regulate balance and spatial perception, contributing to these symptoms.
Vertigo is just one symptom that can occur with chronic stress and anxiety. So learning a few stress management techniques can help with vertigo and your overall well-being. Mental health experts recommend habits such as: Getting enough sleep.
Summary. For most people with vertigo, the spinning sensation lasts a few seconds to several minutes and usually goes away without treatment. People with recurring vertigo may have severe problems in the inner ear canal or brain, or have another medical condition contributing to the problem.
Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) often complain about fatigue during a vertigo attack.
Nearly 40% of Americans will experience vertigo at least once in their lifetime, it's more common in folks over age 65, it affects women more than men, and we see more occurrences in Winter than Summer.