Doctor’s book tries to demystify vertigo

If you’ve ever suffered vertigo, city-based neurologist A.V. Srinivasan and writer Lakshmi Mohan’s book may be useful to read. Titled ‘Thalaisutral Thavirppom’, the book launched on Tuesday is all about vertigo’s causes, symptoms and management.

“Vertigo is caused by an imbalance in the vestibular system,” said Dr. Srinivasan, speaking at the sidelines of the book launch.

Often, he explained sufferers were sent for expensive, exhaustive investigations that did not achieve much.

Exercise is the way to go

Drugs could be used during the acute phase of the condition, but it was mainly exercises that helped.

“Vertigo can be very disabling: sufferers sometimes get palpitations, chest pain and sweating and can even mistake it for a heart attack,” he said.

The book, he said, is to create awareness about vertigo among the general public. “There are many books written about it in English, but nobody had written about it in Tamil. That is why I decided to do so,” he said.

Vertigo can be caused due to a number of reasons, he said, including age, blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels and infections. However, with proper exercises, the condition need not be lifelong.

“My main message in the book is: do not over treat vertigo,” he said.

The book was released by former Madras High Court Judge Jegadeesan and the first copy received by another former judge K. Sampath. Orator and writer Irai Anbu released another book by Dr. Srinivasan, ‘Chindhanai Muthukkal’, the first copy of which was received by V.V. Subramanian, former Principal, Vivekananda College.

‘Thalaisutral Thavirppom’ is the first book written in Tamil on vertigo and how to combat it