Vertigo is a condition characterized by a sense of “the spins.” A person with vertigo will feel that their head, or their surrounding environment, is moving or revolving. Whereas dizziness describes feelings of lightheadedness, vertigo makes the room feel like it is spinning. The feeling may be subtle, or it may be so severe that it is impossible to balance or do everyday tasks.
Primarily, vertigo is a symptom of a range of conditions. It can occur when there is a problem with the inner ear, brain or sensory nerve pathways. Depending on where the issue originated, the manifestations of vertigo can change.
Peripheral vertigo, the most common form, usually occurs when there is a disturbance in the organs of the inner ear used to impart balance. When in good health, the structures function to orient us in space. First, sound waves travel through the outer ear canal until they reach the eardrum. From there, sound is turned into vibrations, which are transmitted through the inner ear and finally to the vestibular nerve, which carries the signal to our brain. At the same time, sensitive cells in our inner ears’ semicircular canals help to stabilize the body by providing instantaneous feedback about our position in space.
Conditions that can cause peripheral vertigo include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – a condition in which certain head movements trigger vertigo
- Head injury
- 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
- Ménière’s disease – fluid and pressure buildup in the inner ear and can cause dizziness along with ringing in the ears and hearing loss
- Taking certain types of medication
Less common, central vertigo is caused by problems in parts of the brain and the sensory nerve pathways that lead up to it. These complications may stem from the following:
- Migraines – a severe headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or on one side of the head
- Multiple sclerosis – a condition that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord)
- Acoustic neuroma – a benign brain tumor that grows on the acoustic nerve (the fiber that controls hearing and balance)
- Brain tumors in the cerebellum (the bottom of the brain)
- Transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) or strokes – part of the blood supply to the brain is cut off
- Taking certain types of medication
Although vertigo is most often a symptom of another disorder, it can also have its own set of related symptoms, such as balance problems, lightheadedness and a sense of motion sickness. Vertigo can also induce nausea and vomiting, sweating and headaches. More specifically, when related to problems of the inner ear, vertigo can involve tinnitus—a ringing sensation—and a feeling of congestion in the ear.
Vertigo can be either a temporary or a long-term condition. When vertigo occurs spontaneously or as a result of an injury, it tends to last for many hours or even days before settling.
See a medical professional if you have persistent or returning signs of vertigo.
Sources
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/dizziness-and-vertigo-beyond-the-basics?view=print
https://www.everydayhealth.com/vertigo/causes-risk-factors/
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/vertigo/article_em.htm#vertigo_prognosis
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/knowledge/160900/vertigo-causes-symptoms-treatments
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/vertigo
