Vertigo - why it happens and what to do as Denise Welsh shares 'miserable' condition

Loose Women’s Denise Welsh told the show she had vertigo

Loose Women presenter Denise Welsh has told of her years of suffering from a debilitating condition. The actress says she has spent the last 15 years having to deal with the symptoms of vertigo which can leave her feeling “drunk without the fun of getting there”.

But what is vertigo and is there a cure? This is what the NHS says.

What is Vertigo?

According to the NHS vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition in itself. It says it is the feeling that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning.

It says on its website: “Vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning – enough to affect your balance. It’s more than just feeling dizzy. A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours. If you have severe vertigo, it can last for many days or months.”

What causes vertigo

Inner ear problems, which affect balance, are the most common causes of vertigo. These include:

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where specific head movements cause vertigo
• Ménière’s disease – a rare inner ear condition, which sometimes involves ringing in the ear ( tinnitus ) or loss of hearing

Other things that can cause vertigo include:

• migraine
• some types of medicine – check the leaflet to see if it’s listed as a side effect

Sometimes the cause is unknown.

How to ease vertigo?

Do

t recommends eight steps you can take if you are suffering from a vertigo attack. It advises:

lie still in a quiet, dark room to reduce the spinning feeling

move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities

sit down straight away when you feel dizzy

turn on the lights if you get up at night

use a walking stick if you’re at risk of falling

sleep with your head slightly raised on 2 or more pillows

get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a while before standing up

try to relax – anxiety can make vertigo worse

Don’t

But it also warns against two things. It said:

do not bend over to pick things up – squat to lower yourself instead

do not stretch your neck – for example, while reaching up to a high shelf

Treatment for vertigo

Most people with vertigo get better without treatment. Treatment will depend on the cause. A GP might prescribe antibiotics if it’s caused by an infection.

You could also be given exercises to do to try to correct your balance. Antihistamines can sometimes help with vertigo symptoms.

When to get medical help

When to see a GP

See a GP if you have vertigo that will not go away or keeps coming back. They will ask about your symptoms to try to find out what could be causing them.

A simple test that involves you moving quickly from a sitting to a lying position might be done to check your balance. This could bring on symptoms. You might also be referred to a specialist for further tests.

When to ask for an urgent GP appointment

Ask for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111 if you have vertigo and:

• have a severe headache
• are being sick or feel very sick
• have a very high temperature or feel hot and shivery

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

When to dial 999 or go to A&E

You have vertigo and:

• double vision or loss of vision
• hearing loss
• trouble speaking
• leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling

Always take someone who cannot be woken up to A&E or call 999.