Experts define vertigo as a symptom and not a diagnosis or condition. However, it can be related to some symptoms like dizziness, nausea and even vomiting in the most severe cases.
Vertigo is the term used to describe the subjective sensation where a person feels their environment is rotating, rocking or spinning.
In some cases, vertigo is barely perceptible, but in others, it can be so severe that it can be difficult to maintain the balance and the patient may fall while standing. When vertigo is spontaneous or caused by any injury, it can last many hours or days before disappearing.
Vertigo can be classified as central or peripheral according to the cause. Peripheral vertigo is more common than central, and it is caused by abnormalities in the inner ear function. Central vertigo is caused by damage to different areas of the brain, like the cerebellum or the brainstem.
Here’s 11 causes of vertigo…
Common causes of ‘peripheral vertigo’
1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is considered the most common type of peripheral vertigo. It occurs because the canaliths don’t function properly inside the ear canals. Canaliths are tiny calcium particles in the ear canals that send specific signals regarding body movements to the brain to maintain the balance while moving and walking.
People with BPPV experience short and frequent bouts of vertigo, which are triggered by sudden movements, head traumas, or injuries to the inner ear.
2. Head or neck traumas
Vertigo is a very common symptom in people who have experienced a head or neck trauma, most commonly from a vehicle accident, practicing contact sports, falls or assaults.
BPPV is closely related to the head traumas, in fact, approximately 28% of people who experience post-trauma vertigo is diagnosed and treated for BPPV.
More symptoms on next page…
