Ever feel like your world is spinning? You’re not alone. Around 40 percent of U.S. adults experience vertigo at some point, and 15 million live with chronic vertigo.
Despite how common it is, vertigo is a bit of a mystery. It can strike suddenly, happen once or keep recurring, last a few seconds or stretch on for days or weeks. In severe cases, it can be debilitating and significantly hinder your quality of life.
Unfortunately, there’s no permanent cure for vertigo. But there are ways to tackle its underlying causes and get relief.
What is vertigo?
Simply put, vertigo is the sensation that you or the things around you are moving when they’re not. It’s often thought of as a condition, but vertigo is really a common symptom of several health issues.
There are two kinds of vertigo: peripheral and central.
- Peripheral vertigo accounts for 80 to 90 percent of cases. It’s caused by a problem with the inner ear or the vestibular nerve located in the brain – the structures that help with balance and body motion.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of vertigo and happens when the tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear come loose from their normal place. When those crystals migrate into the ear canal, the brain gets confused and senses that your head is moving more than it is. BPPV is almost always triggered by head movement or position change. Around 20 percent of people with dizziness are diagnosed with BPPV.
Other causes of peripheral vertigo include:
- Meniere’s disease: A buildup of fluid and pressure in the ear that can lead to vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss and a feeling of congestion or fullness in the ear.
- Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the labyrinth, the innermost part of the ear responsible for hearing and balance. If left untreated, labyrinthitis can lead to chronic balance issues and permanent hearing loss.
- Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibulocochlear nerve of the inner ear that causes prolonged vertigo.
Along with spinning sensation or feeling of being pulled to one side, vertigo can cause other symptoms, such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Sweating
- Headache
- Loss of balance
- Hearing changes or ringing in the years (tinnitus)
- Blurred vision
- Rapid, involuntary eye movements
Central vertigo is less common and typically caused by an issue in the brain, such as:
- Stroke
- Brain tumors
- Certain medications and substances, including anticonvulsants, aspirin and alcohol
- Head or neck trauma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Severe migraines
Symptoms of central vertigo tend to be sudden and more severe and may cause you to lose the ability to stand up or walk.
Is all dizziness considered vertigo?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, vertigo and dizziness aren’t the same thing.
Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady, woozy, or foggy. Vertigo is an overall sensation of feeling like you or your surroundings are spinning.
Learn more about the common symptoms of dizziness and when you should seek treatment.
What causes vertigo?
It’s not always easy to pinpoint what causes vertigo, and the reasons it happens can vary widely from person to person. Some common causes include:
- Migraine headaches: Around 1 out of 3 people who get migraines experience vertigo.
- Certain prescription and nonprescription medications.
- Aging. Vertigo can happen at any age but is more common among people 50 years and older. Age-related changes to the inner ear increase the risk of vertigo and falls.
- Head injuries.
- Stress and anxiety. When we feel stressed or anxious, the body produces hormones that can affect the inner ear. Stress and anxiety can also worsen vertigo symptoms.
Depending on the cause, vertigo can last anywhere from seconds to hours. In severe cases, it can go on for days or even months. Most cases, however, last around 1-2 minutes.
How is vertigo diagnosed?
To diagnose vertigo, a health care clinician will review your symptoms and medical history, then perform a complete physical exam. They may perform additional tests to confirm your diagnosis. The most common include:
- Dix-Hallpike maneuver: This test is used to diagnose BPPV. The clinician moves your head into different positions to trigger vertigo symptoms.
- Fukuda-Unterberger test: You march in place for 30 seconds with your eyes closed. If you rotate or lean to one side, it may indicate an issue with your inner ear labyrinth.
- Romberg test: In this test, you stand with your feet together, arms to your sides and eyes closed. If sway or lose balance, it could signal a problem with your central nervous system.
- Head impulse test: The clinician gently moves your head to each side while you focus your eyes on a stationary target. Your eye movements help identify any issues with the balance system in your inner ear.
In some cases, brain imaging may be necessary to rule out serious conditions like a tumor or stroke.
How is vertigo treated?
Treatment depends on the cause of your vertigo, and there are several options available, including:
- Repositioning maneuvers (like the Epley maneuver) to move wayward calcium crystals back where they belong.
- Medications to ease symptoms or treat underlying conditions.
- Rehabilitation therapy to manage dizziness and long-term balance issues.
- Diet and lifestyle changes if certain triggers are suspected to be causing or worsening your vertigo.
- In rare cases, surgery may be needed.
Can I treat my vertigo symptoms at home?
Before trying any DIY fixes for your vertigo (YouTube videos not recommended), consult a health care clinician to ensure you get the right diagnosis. Once you’re cleared to manage your symptoms at home, here are a few self-care techniques that may help:
- Move slowly when you stand, walk or turn your head.
- Lie down in a quiet, darkened room.
- Bend from the knees instead of bending over when you pick up something.
- Limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol, salt or tobacco, which can worsen dizziness.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can make your vertigo worse.
- Use a cane or a walking pole if you think you’re at risk for falling.
- Never drive, operate heavy machinery, use the stairs or take part in any activities that could lead to falls or accidents.
Indigo is here when life is out of balance
If you’re experiencing vertigo that isn’t severe, Indigo Urgent Care can help you get to the bottom of what’s making your world spin. And you don’t have to wait to get relief.
Indigo provides care for vertigo and most other minor illnesses and injuries—when and where you need it. Simply walk in to one of our neighborhood locations or book a same-day or next-day appointment online. If a clinic isn’t possible, a face-to-face Indigo Virtual Care appointment with one of our trusted clinicians is a great option.
In person and virtually, we’re here 8 am to 8 pm every day, including weekends and holidays.
While vertigo is common and often temporary, it can sometimes signal a more serious condition that requires immediate care. If you experience vertigo along with any of the following symptoms, call 911 or have someone drive you to your nearest ER immediately:
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Sudden, severe headache
- Difficulty walking
- Sudden vision changes
- A fever over 100.4 degrees F
- Numbness or weakness in one arm or leg
You should also seek immediate care if vertigo develops after a head, neck or back injury.
