Vertigo

Vertigo is the sensation of dizziness and spinning when you’re not moving. It’s a disorienting symptom, but fortunately, there are treatments that can help.

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Understanding Vertigo

When you’re experiencing an episode of vertigo, you’ll feel like you’re spinning when you’re not. It most often occurs due to an issue with your inner ear, although it can also develop following an injury or due to brain conditions. Treating vertigo usually involves repositioning maneuvers and medication. It’s important to seek prompt treatment for any vertigo symptoms, as they can increase your risk of falls, interfere with your ability to drive, and impact your quality of life.

Symptoms of Vertigo

In addition to feeling dizzy and unbalanced, you may also experience:

Headaches
Motion sickness
Nausea and vomiting
Hearing loss or tinnitus
Nystagmus (rapid, involuntary eye movement from side to side)

What Causes Vertigo?

Migraines
Medications
Certain health conditions
Head or neck injuries
Ear condition
And more

Types of Vertigo

The two main types of vertigo are peripheral and central. The most common form is peripheral vertigo. It occurs due to an issue with your inner ear or vestibular nerve, both of which play a crucial role in your sense of balance. Subtypes include:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) occurs when calcium particles move from their normal location and travel to the inner ear. Because the inner ear plays a key role in balance, these particles disrupt its function and cause vertigo symptoms.
Vestibular neuritis occurs when nerves in the inner ear become inflamed after an infection. These nerves are responsible for helping your body sense balance, so the inflammation can result in vertigo.
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that can cause both vertigo and tinnitus.
Central vertigo is less common and associated with an issue affecting your brain, such as a stroke, migraine, or brain injury. In addition to being rarer, central vertigo is also associated with more severe symptoms.

Diagnosing Vertigo

At FENTA, our specialists diagnose vertigo following a thorough consultation, during which we’ll talk to you about your symptoms and perform a full physical examination. Depending on the results of your initial exam, we may order additional tests including hearing tests, an MRI, and more.

Once this comprehensive evaluation is complete, we will carefully review the results with you and provide our treatment recommendations. By the end of this process, you will know why you have vertigo, and you’ll have an individualized plan in place to achieve symptom relief.

Treating Vertigo

Your recommended treatment approach will depend on what’s causing your vertigo. The most common treatment options include:

Repositioning Maneuvers. If you’re diagnosed with BPPV, your vertigo symptoms are due to calcium particles traveling to your inner ear and disrupting your sense of balance. In these cases, your provider will guide you through a series of head movements during an in-office visit. These maneuvers shift the particles out of your inner ear, relieving your symptoms.
Medication. If you’re experiencing sudden, short-term vertigo, we can prescribe motion sickness medication to minimize your symptoms and provide rapid relief.
Vertigo Exercises. Your provider can teach you stretching and strengthening exercises that improve dizziness, vision issues, and unsteadiness. You can use them at home whenever you experience an episode of vertigo.
Surgery. If your vertigo is due to a tumor or serious injury, you may require surgery. This is rare and only indicated if other treatments have failed.

FAQ

How long does vertigo last?

A vertigo episode can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few days. In most cases, vertigo lasts for only a few minutes.

Can stress cause vertigo?

Stress does not directly cause vertigo, but it may worsen your symptoms. Stress management is an important part of treating your vertigo.