Everything You Need To Know About Vertigo

Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition in itself. It is the sensation that you or the environment around you is moving or spinning. This feeling may be barely noticeable or it can be so severe that you cannot perform everyday tasks. The dizziness of vertigo can be caused by a problem in the inner ear, brain or sensory nerve pathways. Vertigo occurs suddenly and lasts for less than a minute. Attacks are separated by remissions. However, some patients may complain of constant light-headedness between episodes.

- Dr Roopa Menon

What causes vertigo?

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – Causes brief episodes of vertigo associated with certain sudden head movements. People with BPPV often experience nausea, but rarely vomiting. BPPV has been linked to trauma, migraines, inner ear infections, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Labyrinthitis: An inner ear infection caused by a cold or flu virus. Symptoms include hearing loss, ringing in the ear, fever and ear pain.

Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation of one of the nerves to the inner ear. It causes sudden, intense vertigo. Vestibular neuritis is usually caused by an infection with a virus.

Ménière's disease: A rare inner ear condition, which sometimes involves ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or loss of hearing.