How to Alleviate Vertigo

Medically reviewed by Janice Litza, MD

Last Updated: July 9, 2024 Fact Checked

Experts agree that while vertigo is a very frustrating condition, there are a number of tricks to help you relieve the sensation of dizziness or spinning.^{[1]
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Go to source} Studies have shown that understanding the cause of your vertigo can be crucial for determining your best treatment options, so if you're having persistent or recurring episodes of dizziness, you'll want to work with your health care provider to figure out the best approach for you. If physical maneuvers don't work, you may need to consider medications or surgical procedures.^{[2]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Alleviating Vertigo Immediately

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1
Move slowly. If vertigo hits, the worst thing you can do is to change your position quickly. Reduce your feelings of dizziness by moving extremely slowly. These slow movements will allow you to focus more easily and clear your head. You should also have something stable (such as a wall or railing) to lean on when standing up or moving around.^{[3]
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- If you need to, take short breaks between slow movements.
- Vertigo shouldn't keep you from you moving or getting out of bed in the morning. Don't be afraid to move -- just do so with care and patience!
2
Avoid activities that involve looking up. Looking up for extended periods of time can cause disorientation and feelings of unpleasantness. You'll feel better if you can keep your head level and parallel to the ground as much as possible. Use slow movements whenever you tilt your head in any direction.^{[4]
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- While it shouldn't make your symptoms too much worse if you need to look up for a moment or two, avoid doing things like cleaning a high shelf or watching a screen that's above your eye level.
- You may also experience discomfort when you look down.^{[5]
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Looking at fast-moving objects like a passing car or train may make you feel more dizzy. You might also have trouble focusing on things that are either too close to you or too far way. If you're struggling to focus on anything, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. This may improve your symptoms.^{[6]
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Lying down flat can make your vertigo worse, while keeping your head slightly elevated may help reduce the dizzy feeling. Sit or lie at an angle by propping yourself up with pillows or using a recliner.^{[7]
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5
Sit in a calm room. Placing yourself in a quiet, dark room may help ease the dizziness and other unpleasant symptoms associated with vertigo. Lie propped up on your bed or in a chair. Turn off all lights and electronic devices. Cut off the television and radio. This calm environment can help reduce the vertigo.^{[8]
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- Try to do this for a minimum of twenty minutes. This may be enough time for your symptoms to pass. If you're still feeling dizzy after twenty minutes, rest for an additional twenty.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Trying the Epley Maneuver

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Sit on your bed in a position that will make your head hang slightly off the edge when you lie down. Turn your head to the right while sitting, then lie down quickly. Wait one minute and see if you feel dizzy. Repeat on the left side. If you feel dizzy when you turn right, your right ear is your bad ear. If dizziness happens when you turn left, it's your left ear.^{[9]
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2
Turn your head 45 degrees slowly. Sit on the edge of your bed. Turn your head 45 degrees to whichever side is causing the vertigo. Don't turn your head so far that your chin is over your shoulder.^{[10]
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- For example, if your vertigo comes from your left ear, you will turn your head to the left. If it comes from the right, turn your head 45 degrees to the right.
Next, quickly lean your head back onto the bed with a pillow beneath your shoulders. Your head should still be turned. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. Hold this for one to two minutes.^{[11]
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4
Turn your head 90 degrees. While lying down, slowly turn your head 90 degrees in the opposite direction. Don't raise your head. It should instead be resting against the edge of the bed. Hold your head in this position for one to two minutes.^{[12]
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- If your vertigo comes from the left ear, you will turn your head 90 degrees to the right. If it's from the right, turn to the left.
5
Roll onto your “good side.” Turn your body over so that you're lying on the same side as your good ear. Turn your head (keeping your body on its side) so you're looking at the floor. Hold this position for one to two minutes.^{[13]
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- If your vertigo comes from the left ear, you will move your body onto your right side.
6
Repeat the movements if you need to. For some people, this series of positions will immediately relieve their symptoms. For others, the maneuver may need to be repeated a few times. If you're still experiencing symptoms, continue to do the treatment three times per day. Stop when you experience no symptoms for 24 hours.^{[14]
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- You can do the movements once when you wake up, once at lunch, and once when you go to bed at night.
7
Avoid lying flat or tilting your head up or down for one week. Use a recliner or several pillows in bed to sleep at a 45 degree angle. You should also try to keep your head as level as possible. This should help prevent your vertigo symptoms from coming back.
- It's also a good idea to avoid lying on your “bad side.”
- If you need to shave or put in eye drops, do so without tilting your head back.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using the Foster Maneuver

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Sit on your bed so that your head hangs a little off the edge when you lie down. While sitting down, turn your head to the right, then lie down. Wait a minute and check for dizziness. Do it again on the left side. If you feel dizzy when you turn right, your right ear is your bad ear. If dizziness happens when you turn left, it's your left ear.^{[15]
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2
Kneel on the floor. Begin this method by kneeling on the floor. Don't rest your upper legs and buttocks on your calves. Your bent legs should instead form a right angle. Place your hands on the floor directly below your shoulders. Raise your chin and look up at the ceiling for about five to ten seconds.^{[16]
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- Put a towel or pad under your knees if you do not have carpeted flooring.
While on your hands and knees, tuck your chin towards your chest as you lean your head towards the floor. Bend forward until you touch the floor with your forehead while keeping your hips elevated. Hold this position for around 30 seconds.^{[17]
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4
Turn your head. While in this position, turn your head towards the side of the ear with the vertigo. You should be facing your shoulder. Hold this position for 30 seconds.^{[18]
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- For example, if your left ear is the affected ear, turn your head to the left.
Quickly, lift your head and push yourself up until your back is flat. Your head should be at the same level as your back, so that your ear is parallel to the floor. Your head should be held in a 45 degree angle as you rest on all fours. Hold this position for 30 seconds.^{[19]
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Lift your head so that the top of your head is pointing to the ceiling and your chin is pointing to the floor. Your head should still be angled towards the shoulder of your affected ear. Stand up very slowly.
If you don't feel relief, do these steps again. It may take multiple tries for your vertigo to go away. However, rest for 15 minutes after the first attempt before you try again. While there isn't a limit to how many times you can try this maneuver, you may want to consult a doctor if it's not working for you after you try it three or more times.^{[20]
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Lie down so your affected ear is facing up. Use two pillows to prop your body up. You can use an additional pillow under your side to keep from rolling over during the night.^{[21]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Seeking Medical Attention

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Though vertigo is often caused by something minor, you may have an underlying condition that's causing your symptoms. Vertigo may point to an infection or may be a sign of something more serious. Go see your doctor if vertigo is a recurring problem.^{[22]
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2
Take antibiotics. Vertigo often occurs when you have an inner ear infection or fluid in your middle ear. This may not indicate that you have an infection. This may simply be the result of allergies or problems with the Eustachian tubes. Viral infections will go away on their own and can't be treated with medicine, but if the vertigo is related to a bacterial infection, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to clear it up.^{[23]
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- If the fluid in your inner or middle ear is infected, then an appropriate treatment for an infection might include antibiotics, a nasal steroid, or saline spray.
3
Take vertigo medication. In some cases of vertigo, the doctor will prescribe specific vertigo medication to help alleviate the symptoms. This is usually only prescribed if you have certain conditions, like vestibular neuronitis, central vertigo, or Meniere's disease. The medications that your doctor may give you are prochlorperazine or antihistamines.^{[24]
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- These medications are taken for anywhere between three to fourteen days. If they work, your doctor may decide to give you pills to keep at home to be used on an as-needed basis.
4
Get a referral to a specialist. If your condition does not improve, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor. The ENT specialist will have more training and experience dealing with these specific problems, so they may be able to provide you with a more effective treatment plan.^{[25]
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- A specialist will usually be consulted if the head exercises don't work, the symptoms last for more than a month, or the symptoms are unusual or severe. An ENT specialist will also be called if you're experiencing hearing loss.
- The ENT will likely use an electronystagmogram (ENG) to see if there are problems in the connections between your inner ear, brain, and nerves. They may also order an MRI.
- A physical therapist can also help you to do the exercises properly, so you can also ask your doctor for a referral to this type of specialist.
5
Undergo surgery. In rare and extreme cases, your doctor may suggest that you undergo surgery. During surgery, they will insert a bone plug into your ear to block parts of the inner ear that cause vertigo.^{[26]
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- This is used when no other treatment helps and the vertigo affects your quality of life.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Will these head maneuvers shorten vertigo timespan?

Janice Litza, MD
Board Certified Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Litza is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician based in Racine, Wisconsin. With over 25 years of educational and professional experience, she has extensive experience providing full-spectrum Family Medicine, including obstetrics, newborn care, and hospital medicine. She is currently the Residency Program Director for Family Medicine at Ascension. Dr. Litza received her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and has completed additional fellowship training in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona.

Janice Litza, MD

Board Certified Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

The maneuvers should completely resolve the vertigo if there isn't another problem causing the symptoms. Often people will repeat them whenever they begin to experience vertigo again and doing the maneuvers may resolve the problem more quickly.

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Question

With blowing my nose with a head cold cause vertigo?

Janice Litza, MD
Board Certified Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Litza is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician based in Racine, Wisconsin. With over 25 years of educational and professional experience, she has extensive experience providing full-spectrum Family Medicine, including obstetrics, newborn care, and hospital medicine. She is currently the Residency Program Director for Family Medicine at Ascension. Dr. Litza received her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and has completed additional fellowship training in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona.

Janice Litza, MD

Board Certified Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Not directly, but you might have some symptoms if you also have some fluid in your middle ear from the cold. You may also experience more ear popping pressure when blowing your nose.

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Tips

It is important to follow your doctor's recommendations, and if prescribed medications, it is important to take them regularly.

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Always check with your doctor before beginning any vertigo treatment.

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Most cases of vertigo are not the result of a serious medical problem, and symptoms of vertigo are often easily alleviated by simple treatments.

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Warnings

Be careful when driving or operating machinery while experiencing the symptoms of vertigo.

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If your vertigo worsens, or new symptoms occur, seek medical treatment immediately.

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