What causes vertigo?

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... 3. Labyrinthitis. Labyrinthitis can be defined as the infection and inflammation of the inner ear, which is usually caused by viral infections, but it can also be caused by bacteria (influenza, measles, herpes viruses, polio, rubella, mumps, hepatitis and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)). When the inner ear is inflamed and pressing the nerves around the injured tissue, balance can be affected. In labyrinthitis, you may experience other symptoms and signs caused by the infection besides vertigo, such as fever and earache, which usually lasts a few days until the inflammation disappears. 4. Vestibular neuritis. If you experience vertigo and hearing loss at the same time, it usually means that a nerve is inflamed or injured, which is a medical condition called vestibular neuritis or vestibular neuronitis. It is commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections that progress to affect the nerve and can cause, besides vertigo, earache, nausea, vomiting and unsteadiness. 5. Ménière disease. Ménière disease is a very common cause of vertigo. However, it is considered a syndrome because the patient always has a triad of symptoms that include vertigo, tinnitus (constant sensation of ringing in the ears) and hearing loss. Likewise, the patient can experience nausea, vomiting and sensation of fullness in their ears. A person with Ménière disease will have severe vertigo that can last for up to 24 hours and periods of hearing loss that alternate with periods without symptoms. Unfortunately the specific cause of Ménière syndrome hasn't been defined. 6. Medication. Certain medication can alter the liquid (endolymph) and canaliths inside the ear and cause vertigo. Medicines that are known to cause vertigo are meclizine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride, scopolamine transdermal patch, odansetron, metoclopramie, prednisone, diazepam, clonazepam and lorazepan. Common causes of 'central vertigo' Central vertigo is caused by damage to different areas of the brain, like the cerebellum or the brainstem. 7. Multiple Sclerosis. Dizziness and vertigo are considered one of the earliest symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, vertigo is caused by brain damage that affect balance. The patient experiences severe vertigo and may even have a high risk of injuries due to falls. 8. Migraines. Migraines can be defined as severe headaches that can cause some neurologic symptoms like vertigo. In this case, vertigo disappears with the headache and usually only lasts a few hours, but there are no long-lasting problems. 9. Brain tumors. Not all brain tumors cause vertigo, as it depends on the location, type and size of the tumor. However, when the tumor is in the cerebellum or the brainstem, the patient may experience severe vertigo episodes. This is usually the reason why the patient consults a doctor. 10. Stroke. Vertigo can be a common symptom after a stroke if the damaged area of the brain is the cerebellum or the brainstem, as this is where receiving, interpreting and sending balance signals occurs. Sometimes strokes can affect the eighth nerve which is closely related with balance. 11. Pregnancy. The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can affect the amount of liquid (endolymph) and canaliths inside the ear, causing severe onsets of vertigo that may worsen the nausea and vomiting symptoms of pregnancy. Other conditions like Diabetes Mellitus, anxiety or panic attacks can also cause vertigo, but the mechanism why they produce this symptom is not clear. It is always important to visit a doctor in order to determine the specific cause of vertigo and the best treatment to avoid severe complications.

What causes vertigo?

Common causes of ‘central vertigo’

7. Multiple Sclerosis

8. Migraines

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