Vertigo: A Common Symptom With Many Different Causes

Vertigo can be unsettling. One moment you're fine, and the next, the room feels like it's spinning. While it’s often described as dizziness, vertigo is a more specific sensation—typically a false sense of movement or spinning. Vertigo is not a condition but a symptom that can point to a wide range of issues.

Key Takeaways: Vertigo

• Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition, and it often signals inner ear or brain issues.
• Vertigo differs from general dizziness by creating a false sense of spinning or movement.
• The duration and severity of vertigo depend on its underlying cause, ranging from seconds to days.
• Effective treatments for vertigo include repositioning maneuvers, medications, and lifestyle changes—many guided by a healthcare provider.

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are moving or spinning when there is no actual movement. It’s not a condition but a symptom of various disorders, most commonly those affecting the inner ear or brain. People with vertigo may also experience nausea, vomiting, balance issues, and abnormal eye movements (nystagmus).

According to the American Academy of Audiology, about 69 million Americans have problems with dizziness and balance.

Is Vertigo Different From Dizziness?

Though often used interchangeably, vertigo and dizziness describe different sensations.

Dizziness is a general term for feeling lightheaded, woozy, or off-balance.

Vertigo, on the other hand, is a specific type of dizziness that involves a false sense of spinning or motion. Understanding this distinction helps healthcare providers diagnose and treat the underlying cause more effectively.

What Causes Vertigo?

The first step in treating vertigo is understanding its cause. Vertigo can stem from problems in the inner ear or the brain. Many conditions can trigger vertigo, including:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – Triggered by changes in head position, BPPV occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and disrupt balance signals. A physician can confirm this diagnosis with a Dix-Hallpike test.
• Inner ear infections or inflammation – Conditions like labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis (an inflammation of the nerve of the inner ear) can cause sudden vertigo, often accompanied by hearing changes.
• Ménière’s disease – A chronic inner ear disorder that leads to episodes of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Migraines – Some people experience vertigo as part of a vestibular migraine episode.
• Neurological conditions – Stroke, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors can affect balance centers in the brain, leading to central vertigo.
• Medications – Certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and cardiovascular drugs may cause vertigo as a side effect.
• Head injuries – Trauma can disrupt the vestibular system, leading to vertigo symptoms.

In some cases, vertigo may be linked to systemic issues like low blood pressure, diabetes, or even prolonged bed rest. Because vertigo has many potential causes, a thorough evaluation is key to identifying the source and guiding treatment.

How Long Does Vertigo Last?

The duration of vertigo varies depending on its cause:

• BPPV episodes are typically brief, lasting less than a minute, and often triggered by specific movements like rolling over in bed or tilting the head.
• Ménière’s disease can cause vertigo that lasts from 20 minutes to several hours.
• Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis may result in vertigo that persists for hours or even days, often accompanied by nausea and imbalance.
• Migrainous vertigo may last from minutes to hours and is usually linked to other migraine symptoms.
• Central vertigo caused by neurological conditions may be more persistent and severe, sometimes lasting days or recurring over time.

How To Make Vertigo Go Away?

For many, vertigo resolves with treatment or over time. However, some individuals experience recurrent episodes, especially with conditions like BPPV or Ménière’s disease.

Are There Treatments For Vertigo?

Treatments for vertigo depend on what's causing the symptoms. For example, BPPV can be treated effectively with repositioning maneuvers like the Epley maneuver. Other causes may require medication, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes. However, some people experience recurring episodes of vertigo, especially with chronic conditions like Ménière’s disease.

Work with your doctor or a physical therapist to determine which treatments can help manage your vertigo. Treatments include:

• Epley maneuver is a series of head movements to reposition inner ear crystals and may be effective for BPPV.
• Brandt-Daroff exercises may help reduce vertigo symptoms and improve balance. Some may be done at home with instruction from your healthcare provider.
• Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), a physical therapy program tailored to improve balance and reduce dizziness.
• Taking medications
• Lifestyle changes, such as resolving common migraine triggers, staying hydrated, reducing salt intake (especially for Ménière’s disease), and avoiding sudden head movements

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When To See A Doctor For Vertigo?

While feeling dizzy occasionally may not be cause for concern, a healthcare provider should evaluate vertigo that is persistent, recurrent, or severe. You should seek medical attention if:

• Your vertigo keeps returning, lasts a long time or disrupts your daily life.
• It starts suddenly and has no apparent cause.
• You experience hearing loss, tinnitus, or abnormal eye movements alongside vertigo.
• You have balance issues that increase your risk of falling.

Seek Emergency Care For Dizziness If You Experience:

• Sudden, severe headache or chest pain
• Loss of feeling or movement in the face, arms or legs
• Trouble speaking, confusion or slurred speech
• Double vision or sudden hearing changes
• Fainting, seizures or ongoing vomiting

These symptoms could indicate a stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or other serious neurological or cardiovascular conditions.