When you’re looking out the window of a tall skyscraper or you’ve just emerged from a spinning amusement park ride, dizziness is expected. But when you’re just walking down the street or sitting at your desk, the symptom is unexpected and unusual. But for people with vertigo, this is a common reality that can occur at any time. However, a few diet adjustments can help relieve episodes of vertigo.
Identification
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics defines vertigo as “an illusion of motion.” During an episode of vertigo, you will likely have an extremely strong feeling that you are spinning or that the room is spinning around you. Typically, the perception becomes worse if you move your head. In some cases, the perception of motion becomes so severe that it causes nausea or vomiting. Symptoms are only temporary, yet episodes of vertigo typically come and go on a regular basis. Vertigo occurs when the semicircular canals in the ears malfunction. Usually, this malfunction occurs as a result of infection, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, motion sickness, blood disorder or trauma to the ear. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, anemia, alcohol or drug abuse can also cause this condition.
Low-Salt Diet
In many cases of vertigo, a low-salt diet is recommended. Salt reduction is particularly beneficial when the vertigo is associated with Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder characterized by spontaneous vertigo episodes, hearing loss and ringing in the ears. Since Meniere’s disease is exacerbated by salt retention in the body, limiting salt intake can help prevent the symptoms. The Cigna website recommends that people with Meniere’s disease restrict sodium intake to just 1,000 mg per day. To maintain this sodium intake level, always check the nutrition label on foods before consuming them. Avoid adding salt to your food at home and ask restaurants for low-salt options. When eating canned beans or vegetables, rinse them thoroughly before eating. Avoid using condiments, such as soy sauce, ketchup or steak sauce, as they typically contain high amounts of salt.
Avoid Caffeine
If you suffer from vertigo episodes, avoid caffeine as often as possible. Caffeine causes the body’s blood vessels to constrict, ultimately restricting the amount of blood that flows through your body. This blood restriction typically makes vertigo worse. Caffeine also causes dehydration and excessive loss of body fluids through urine. The inner ear is filled with fluid that controls your hearing and balancing capabilities. The inner ear’s fluid levels depend heavily on the total body’s fluid balance. When too much body fluid is lost through the urine, the inner ear’s fluid levels also become imbalanced.
Other Considerations
In some cases, migraines might be the cause of vertigo symptoms. In this case, treating the migraine is more effective than treating the vertigo. In fact, a March 2005 article in the journal "American Academy of Family Physicians" explains that migraine treatments are overwhelmingly effective in treating patients with migraine-associated vertigo. In the case of migraines, any substances that trigger the onset of a migraine should be avoided. Typically, these triggers include chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, smoked meats, certain fruits, ripened cheeses and aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians; Treatment of Vertigo; Randy Swartz and Paxton Longwell; March 2005
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics; Vertigo: Frequently Asked Questions; Jay Rubinstein; March 2004
- HearingCentral.com: Vertigo and Dizziness
- Cigna; Ménière's Disease: Eating a Low-Salt Diet; October 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Dizziness: Symptom; September 2010
- Vestibular Disorders Association: Dietary Considerations
