Vertigo

Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or movement, even when you’re standing still. It’s not a disease itself but a symptom of a problem in the inner ear or brain — areas that control balance.

What Vertigo Feels Like

People with vertigo may describe:

  • Feeling like you or the room is spinning
  • A sense of being off balance or pulled to one side
  • Difficulty standing or walking
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)
What you need to know

Types Of Vertigo

Peripheral Vertigo (most common)

Caused by problems in the inner ear or vestibular nerve (which helps control balance).

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Triggered by head movement. Tiny crystals in the ear become dislodged.
  • Meniere’s disease: Caused by excess fluid in the inner ear. Also includes tinnitus and hearing loss.
  • Vestibular neuritis/labyrinthitis: Inner ear inflammation due to a virus.

Central Vertigo

Caused by issues in the brainstem or cerebellum (the brain’s balance centers).

  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Migraines (vestibular migraine)
  • Brain tumors

🧪 Diagnosis

A doctor may use:

  • Balance tests (like the Dix-Hallpike test for BPPV)
  • Hearing tests
  • MRI or CT scan (to rule out brain causes)
  • Eye movement exams (to detect nystagmus)

💊 Treatment Depends on the Cause

For BPPV:

  • Canalith repositioning maneuvers (like the Epley maneuver) — quick, effective physical techniques to move crystals back to where they belong.

For Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis:

  • Steroids, antiviral medications, or vestibular rehab exercises

For Meniere’s disease:

  • Low-sodium diet
  • Diuretics
  • In severe cases, injections or surgery

For vestibular migraine:

  • Migraine medications
  • Diet and lifestyle changes

🧘‍♀️ General Management

  • Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT): Exercises to retrain the brain and balance system
  • Medications for symptoms:
    • Meclizine, dimenhydrinate (motion sickness drugs)
    • Antiemetics for nausea
    • Anti-anxiety meds (in some cases)

⚠️ Medications are usually short-term; long-term use can delay recovery from some types of vertigo.

🚨 When to See a Doctor

Seek immediate care if vertigo is:

  • Sudden and severe
  • With weakness, slurred speech, double vision, or loss of coordination
    → These could be signs of a stroke or neurological emergency.