Vertigo in Mumbai: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Vertigo is more than ordinary dizziness. It is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, moving, or becoming unsteady even when you are stationary. An episode can occur suddenly while standing, walking, turning your head, or even getting out of bed. Some people experience nausea, imbalance, difficulty walking, or a feeling of being pulled to one side.
Although vertigo is commonly associated with the inner ear, several conditions can affect the body’s balance system. Early evaluation can help identify the underlying cause and determine an appropriate treatment plan. Patients looking for vertigo in mumbai can consult Dr. Shama Kovale at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for specialist ENT and vestibular evaluation.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness involving an illusion of movement. The body’s balance system depends on information from the inner ear, eyes, muscles, joints, and brain. When these systems send conflicting or abnormal signals, a person may experience spinning, swaying, imbalance, or disorientation.
Vertigo may be brief and triggered by a particular movement, or it may continue for hours or days. The symptoms and duration can vary depending on the underlying condition.
Common symptoms associated with vertigo include:
Spinning or rotating sensations
Feeling unsteady while standing or walking
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of balance
Head movement-related dizziness
Difficulty walking
A sensation of being pulled to one side
Ringing in the ears in some conditions
Hearing changes in some inner-ear disorders
Common Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo has many possible causes, and identifying the cause is an important part of treatment.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, commonly called BPPV, is one of the frequent causes of positional vertigo. It can occur when tiny calcium crystals within the inner ear move into an area where they interfere with normal balance signals.
Symptoms often appear when a person turns in bed, looks upward, bends down, or changes head position.
Vestibular Neuritis
Vestibular neuritis involves inflammation affecting the vestibular nerve, which carries balance information from the inner ear to the brain. It can cause sudden and significant dizziness, imbalance, nausea, and difficulty walking.
Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis can affect both balance and hearing because inflammation involves structures of the inner ear. Patients may experience vertigo along with hearing-related symptoms.
Ménière’s Disease
Ménière’s disease is associated with episodes of vertigo and may also involve fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, or a feeling of fullness in the ear. An ENT evaluation can help assess whether these symptoms may be related to an inner-ear disorder.
Vestibular Migraine
Some individuals experience vertigo or dizziness as part of migraine-related vestibular symptoms. A person may have balance disturbances even when a typical headache is absent.
When Should You See a Vertigo Specialist?
Occasional lightheadedness may have many causes, but recurring spinning sensations or unexplained balance problems should not be ignored.
An ENT evaluation may be appropriate if you experience:
Recurrent episodes of spinning
Dizziness when turning in bed
Frequent loss of balance
Difficulty walking
Nausea accompanying dizziness
Vertigo associated with hearing changes
Tinnitus with dizziness
Repeated unexplained falls
Persistent imbalance after an infection
Vertigo that interferes with work or daily activities
Sudden severe dizziness accompanied by weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, severe headache, vision problems, or other neurological symptoms requires urgent medical assessment because some serious neurological conditions can produce dizziness or balance disturbances.
How Is Vertigo Diagnosed?
A detailed history is an important part of vertigo evaluation. The doctor may ask when the symptoms began, how long each episode lasts, whether specific head movements trigger the symptoms, and whether hearing changes, tinnitus, headache, nausea, or other symptoms occur at the same time.
Depending on the clinical presentation, vestibular and hearing assessments may be recommended.
The Vertigo Clinic described by Dr. Kovale’s practice includes advanced vestibular assessment such as Video-Nystagmography (VNG), Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP), Computerised Dynamic Posturography (CDP), BERA, and electrocochleography.
These tests can provide information about eye movements, inner-ear reflexes, hearing pathways, and balance function. The appropriate tests depend on the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings.
Treatment Options for Vertigo
Vertigo treatment depends on its underlying cause rather than simply treating dizziness as a single condition.
Canal Repositioning
For appropriate cases of BPPV, canalith repositioning procedures such as the Epley manoeuvre may help move displaced inner-ear crystals back to their normal location.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation consists of structured exercises designed to improve balance, gaze stability, coordination, and the brain’s ability to adapt to changes in vestibular signals. It may be useful for selected patients with persistent imbalance.
Medication
Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor may prescribe medication to manage symptoms such as nausea or dizziness. The specific medicine and duration of treatment should be determined by a qualified clinician.
Treatment for Ménière’s Disease
Patients with Ménière’s disease may require an individualized management plan that can include dietary measures, medication, monitoring of hearing, and other interventions depending on the severity and frequency of attacks.
Management of Vestibular Migraine
When vertigo is associated with migraine, management may involve identifying triggers, lifestyle measures, and migraine-specific treatment under appropriate medical supervision.
Dr. Shama Kovale: Qualifications and Clinical Experience
Dr. Shama S. Kovale is a senior ENT surgeon and Voice & Swallowing Specialist practicing at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. She has more than 23 years of clinical and surgical experience in ENT.
She completed her MBBS, DLO and MS in ENT from B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai. Her advanced training includes specialized training in voice and swallowing disorders at the University of California, Davis, USA, a fellowship in phonosurgery at Bombay Hospital, and cochlear implant surgery training at P.D. Hinduja Hospital.
Her professional experience includes working at established institutions such as Hinduja Hospital, Bhagwati Hospital, and A.J.B. ENT Hospital.
Although her broader ENT expertise includes voice, swallowing, airway disorders, cochlear implants, and endoscopic ENT surgery, her practice also includes evaluation and management of vertigo and balance disorders.
A Comprehensive Clinical Environment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
Dr. Kovale practices at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute in Four Bungalows, Andheri West. Her practice is associated with a dedicated Voice and Swallowing Centre and access to advanced ENT evaluation.
For patients with dizziness, a comprehensive hospital environment can be useful when symptoms require hearing assessment, vestibular testing, specialist ENT evaluation, or coordination with other medical specialties.
Dr. Kovale’s patient-focused approach emphasizes understanding the patient’s symptoms, identifying the likely source of the problem, and developing an individualized management plan.
Why Choose Dr. Shama Kovale for Vertigo Care?
Patients searching for the Best ENT in Mumbai may consider Dr. Shama Kovale for specialist evaluation of vertigo, balance problems, hearing-related symptoms, and other ENT conditions.
Her extensive ENT experience and specialized training allow her to evaluate patients with a broad range of ear, nose, throat, voice, swallowing, airway, and balance-related concerns.
For patients searching for ENT Specialists Near Me in Mumbai, Dr. Kovale is available at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri West.
Get Expert Evaluation for Persistent Dizziness
Vertigo can have a significant effect on confidence, mobility, work, and everyday activities. Because different conditions can produce similar symptoms, identifying the underlying cause is an important first step.
If you experience recurrent spinning sensations, positional dizziness, imbalance, or dizziness accompanied by hearing or ear symptoms, an ENT consultation can help determine whether vestibular testing or further evaluation is appropriate.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Consult Dr. Shama Kovale at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for timely evaluation and expert hearing care.
Give Us a Ring: +91-91528 50769
Email: drshamakovaleent@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between vertigo and dizziness?
Dizziness is a broad term that can describe lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or feeling faint. Vertigo specifically refers to a sensation of spinning or movement when there is no actual movement.
2. What are the common causes of vertigo?
Common causes include BPPV, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, Ménière’s disease, and vestibular migraine. Other neurological or medical conditions can also cause balance symptoms, so proper evaluation is important.
3. Can vertigo be treated without surgery?
Yes. Many causes of vertigo can be managed without surgery. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include canal repositioning manoeuvres, vestibular rehabilitation, medication, lifestyle measures, or treatment directed at an underlying condition.
4. When should I seek urgent medical attention for vertigo?
Seek urgent medical assessment when severe or sudden vertigo occurs together with symptoms such as weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, fainting, or significant difficulty walking. These symptoms can indicate a condition requiring immediate evaluation.
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