Vertigo Treatment in Mumbai: Causes, Symptoms, and Care

Feeling as though the room is spinning, losing your balance while walking, or experiencing dizziness when turning your head can be unsettling. These symptoms may indicate vertigo, a condition commonly associated with problems in the inner ear or the body’s balance system. Vertigo can affect everyday activities such as walking, working, driving, and even getting out of bed. Vertigo treatment in Mumbai begins with identifying the underlying cause of dizziness and balance disturbances. Dr. Shama Kovale, an experienced ENT specialist associated with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, evaluates ear-related and balance concerns and helps patients understand appropriate diagnostic and treatment options.

Although some episodes of vertigo are brief and improve with treatment, recurring or persistent symptoms deserve medical attention. Understanding the warning signs, causes, available treatments, and recovery measures can help patients make informed decisions about their health.

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or movement when you or your surroundings are actually stationary. It is different from general light-headedness, weakness, or feeling faint, although these symptoms can sometimes occur together.

The inner ear contains structures that help detect head movement and maintain balance. Signals from these structures work with information from the eyes, muscles, and brain to keep the body stable. When this balance system is disrupted, a person may experience vertigo, unsteadiness, or difficulty coordinating movement.

Common symptoms include:

• A spinning or tilting sensation.
• Loss of balance or unsteadiness while walking.
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting.
• Dizziness triggered by turning the head or changing position.
• Difficulty concentrating during an episode.
• Ringing in the ears or changes in hearing in certain conditions.

Symptoms vary depending on the cause. Some people experience short episodes lasting seconds, while others have prolonged dizziness that can interfere with routine activities.

Common Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo can arise from several conditions affecting the inner ear, vestibular nerve, or central nervous system. Identifying the cause is essential because treatment differs according to the diagnosis.

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): Small calcium particles move into an incorrect position within the inner ear. This can trigger brief spinning sensations when turning in bed, looking upward, bending down, or changing head position.

2. Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation affecting the vestibular nerve can cause sudden, intense vertigo and difficulty maintaining balance. Hearing loss is not a typical feature of isolated vestibular neuritis.

3. Labyrinthitis: Inflammation involving the inner ear’s balance structures may cause vertigo and can be accompanied by hearing symptoms.

4. Ménière’s disease: This condition can cause episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.

5. Migraine-associated vertigo: Some people with migraine experience dizziness or balance disturbances, sometimes even without a typical headache.

6. Other medical causes: Medication side effects, low blood pressure, neurological disorders, and other health problems may produce dizziness that resembles vertigo.

Because different conditions can cause similar symptoms, a clinical assessment is important before starting treatment.

Vertigo treatment in Mumbai: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Effective care depends on identifying the cause of vertigo rather than treating every episode in the same way. At Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, patients can access specialised vertigo assessment and balance-related investigations through the ENT department.

How is vertigo diagnosed?

The assessment may include:

• Medical history: The doctor asks about the duration, frequency, triggers, associated hearing symptoms, headaches, and medication use.
• Ear and neurological examination: This helps identify signs that may point to an inner-ear or other cause.
• Positional testing: Specific head and body movements can help identify benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
• Video nystagmography (VNG): Specialised cameras record eye movements to assess aspects of the balance system.
• Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP): These tests assess particular reflex pathways associated with the inner ear.
• Hearing and balance tests: BERA, electrocochleography, or computerised dynamic posturography may be recommended when clinically appropriate.

Not every patient needs every test. The choice depends on symptoms and initial examination findings.

Treatment options for vertigo

Canalith repositioning manoeuvres: For BPPV, techniques such as the Epley manoeuvre help guide displaced particles back to their appropriate location within the inner ear. The manoeuvre should be selected and performed with professional guidance.

Vestibular rehabilitation: Specific exercises help the brain adapt to balance-system changes and may improve stability, walking, and tolerance of head movement.

Medication: Certain medicines may be used for short-term relief of severe nausea or dizziness, depending on the cause. They are not appropriate for every type of vertigo, and prolonged use of some vestibular-suppressant medicines can delay balance compensation.

Cause-specific treatment: Conditions such as Ménière’s disease, vestibular migraine, or vestibular neuritis may require different management strategies. Treatment can include lifestyle changes, migraine management, selected medicines, or rehabilitation, depending on the diagnosis.

Specialist coordination: If symptoms suggest a neurological condition or another problem beyond the inner ear, further investigations or referral to another specialist may be necessary.

Treatment aims to reduce symptoms, improve balance, and address the underlying cause. Outcomes vary, and some conditions can recur even after successful treatment.

When Is Vertigo a Medical Emergency?

Although many cases of vertigo are related to inner-ear conditions, sudden dizziness can occasionally signal a serious neurological problem, including a stroke.

Seek emergency medical care if vertigo begins suddenly with any of the following:

• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or understanding speech.
• Double vision or sudden loss of vision.
• Inability to stand or walk without support.
• A sudden, severe headache or new loss of coordination.

New hearing loss that develops suddenly also requires urgent assessment. Do not assume that severe or unusual dizziness is simply an inner-ear problem.

Why Choose Dr. Shama Kovale for Vertigo Care?

Dr. Shama Kovale is a Senior Consultant ENT surgeon at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri West, Mumbai. She holds an MBBS, Diploma in Otorhinolaryngology (DLO), and MS in ENT from B.Y.L. Nair Hospital and Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai. Her advanced training includes specialised work in voice and swallowing disorders at the University of California, Davis, and training in cochlear implant surgery at P.D. Hinduja Hospital.

With over 23 years of clinical and surgical experience, Dr. Shama Kovale has worked at established hospitals including Hinduja Hospital, Bhagwati Hospital, and A.J.B. ENT Hospital. Her expertise includes ear, nose, and throat disorders, laryngology, swallowing and airway conditions, cochlear implants, and endoscopic ENT procedures. She also leads a dedicated Voice and Swallowing Centre at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

For patients seeking an ENT Specialist in Mumbai, her broad ENT experience can support the assessment of dizziness alongside related ear and hearing symptoms.

The hospital’s ENT and vertigo services include specialised diagnostic equipment such as VNG, VEMP, BERA, electrocochleography, and computerised dynamic posturography, as well as vestibular rehabilitation. These resources can help clinicians investigate different causes of balance disturbance and plan appropriate care.

Patients looking for an ENT Doctor in Mumbai can arrange an assessment to discuss their symptoms, understand the recommended investigations, and receive a treatment plan tailored to their condition.

Book a Vertigo Consultation with Dr. Shama Kovale

If dizziness, spinning sensations, or balance problems are affecting your daily life, a specialist assessment can help identify the cause. Vertigo treatment in Mumbai at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital involves evaluating the symptoms, selecting appropriate diagnostic tests, and developing a treatment plan based on the underlying condition.

Contact Dr. Shama Kovale to arrange a consultation and discuss your symptoms.

+91 91528 50769
drshamakovaleent@gmail.com

Get Directions to the Clinic – Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Book an appointment to receive a comprehensive assessment and learn about suitable treatment options. Early evaluation can help address the cause of vertigo and support safer movement and daily functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which doctor should I consult for vertigo?

An ENT specialist can assess vertigo that may be related to the inner ear or balance system. Depending on the symptoms, a neurologist or another specialist may also be required.

2. How long does vertigo take to improve?

Recovery depends on the underlying cause. Some positional vertigo episodes improve after appropriate repositioning manoeuvres, while other balance conditions may require medication, rehabilitation, and longer follow-up.

3. Can vertigo be treated without surgery?

Yes. Many cases are managed without surgery using repositioning manoeuvres, vestibular rehabilitation, lifestyle adjustments, or condition-specific medication. Surgery is considered only in selected cases.

4. Can vertigo return after treatment?

Yes. Some conditions, particularly BPPV, can recur. Follow-up assessment and appropriate exercises or repeat treatment may help manage recurring symptoms.