Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition itself. It’s the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning.
This feeling may be barely noticeable, or it may be so severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do everyday tasks.
Attacks of vertigo can develop suddenly and last for a few seconds, or they may last much longer. If you have severe vertigo, your symptoms may be constant and last for several days, making normal life very difficult.
What symptoms are related to vertigo?
Vertigo can be sudden and may last for a few seconds, or much longer. If you have severe vertigo, your symptoms may be constant and last for several days, making normal life very difficult.Most common vertigo symptoms can include:
- Spinning sensation
- Feeling dizzy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Ringing sound in the ears
- Abnormal eye movements
- Loss of hearing
- Difficulty balancing
- Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
- Inability to concentrate.
What causes vertigo?
Vertigo is commonly caused by a problem with the way balance works in the inner ear, although it can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain.
Causes of vertigo may include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – were certain head movements trigger vertigo
- migraines– severe headaches
- labyrinthitis– an inner ear infection
- vestibular neuronitis – inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which runs into the inner ear and sends messages to the brain that help to control balance.
Depending on the condition causing vertigo, you may experience additional symptoms, such as a high temperature, ringing in your ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss.
How is vertigo diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. It’s helpful if you can tell your doctor about any specific movements or activities that bring on your vertigo.
They will also ask about any other medical problems you have, and any medicines you take.
Your doctor will do a physical examination. They might check your hearing and balance.
Your doctor may recommend blood tests or imaging scans to rule out a serious cause of your symptoms.
