A sudden feeling of being off-balance, vertigo commonly occurs due to an issue with your inner ear. Unlike dizziness—which can cause light-headedness or physical weakness—vertigo causes you to feel like you are tilting or swaying. Vertigo typically develops as a symptom of an underlying condition. Speak with a neurologist about vertigo treatment.
Types of Vertigo
The main forms of vertigo include the following.
- Peripheral: The most common type of vertigo, peripheral vertigo occurs due to a problem with your inner ear or the vestibular nerve of your brain, both of which are essential to balance control. A common form of peripheral vertigo is an inner ear disorder called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
- Central: A less common type of vertigo, central vertigo develops due to a problem in the brain such as a stroke, infection or traumatic injury. Individuals with central vertigo typically experience severe physical symptoms, including difficulty walking.
Signs and Symptoms
A vertigo attack can come on at any time and go away on its own. Some attacks last a few seconds; others last hours. Exact symptoms vary from patient to patient but may include feelings of spinning, tilting, swaying or being pulled in one direction.
Additional symptoms may include the following.
Risk Factors and Prevention
Exact causes of vertigo vary, but the following factors may increase your risk.
- Medications: Some drugs used in the treatment of unrelated conditions may contribute to vertigo symptoms. Those medications include certain antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Inner Ear Issues: Conditions in or around your ear may contribute to vertigo symptoms. Those conditions include acoustic neuroma, BPPV, labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease, shingles, perilymphatic fistula, otosclerosis and vestibular ataxia.
- Brain Health: Brain-related conditions such as strokes, migraines, traumatic brain injuries and a range of diseases and infections can cause vertigo.
- Underlying Conditions: Conditions such as arrhythmia, diabetes, low blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and syphilis can contribute to vertigo.
How We Diagnose Vertigo
Among the procedures our experts use to diagnose vertigo are the following.
- Computerized Tomography (CT): Certified experts use computer-processed X-rays to generate a scan of your head in “slices” to create highly accurate images.
- Fukuda-Unterberger Test: During this test you are asked to march in place with your eyes closed for a brief interval. If you begin to turn, sway or lean to one side during the test, it could indicate a balance issue related to your inner ear.
- Head Impulse Test: Our neurologist gently moves your head from side to side while you focus on a stationary target, such as a painting on the wall. The movement of your eyes during this test can indicate issues with the balance system of your inner ear.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body to determine if disease or physical abnormalities are present.
- Romberg’s Test: During this examination, you close your eyes while standing with your feet together and your arms at your sides. If you feel unbalanced or unsteady in this posture, it could indicate an issue with your central nervous system.
Treatment Options
Treating vertigo often depends on treating the condition causing it. Once our experts determine the source of your vertigo, they outline a plan to address the underlying condition while also managing your symptoms. Treatment methods may include the following.
- Medication: Motion sickness drugs and antihistamines have been known to ease the symptoms of vertigo in certain cases.
- Repositioning Maneuvers: Inner ear issues like BPPV can be resolved using repositioning procedures such as the Epley maneuver. Such procedures use very precise head movements to shift crystals around inside your ear. If repositioning maneuvers help, our experts can demonstrate how to do them at home.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: A range of exercises can be used to improve vertigo symptoms such as balance issues and unstable vision. Exercises include stretching, strengthening, marching in place and eye movement control.
In some cases, vertigo goes away on its own as the brain adapts to the inner ear issue.
Learn more about conditions treated by neurology experts at Bayhealth.
