Dizziness and vertigo can be mistaken for one another, yet they represent different sensations and underlying processes. Vertigo is a specific form of dizziness marked by a false perception of spinning or movement when neither you nor your environment is moving. Many people encounter brief episodes of these experiences. When symptoms are severe or persistent, they may point to a medical issue that requires treatment.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo refers to the distinct feeling that you or the space around you is spinning or tilting without actual movement. This sensation typically arises from a disruption of the vestibular system, which comprises the inner ear structures and parts of the brain. When signals from this system are altered or disrupted, a sensory mismatch occurs, leading to vertigo.
This condition can be grouped into two categories:
- Peripheral Vertigo: Arises from problems in the inner ear. Conditions such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s disease, and vestibular neuritis are frequent sources.
- Central Vertigo: Originates from issues within the brain. This form may be connected to events or conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, or migraines.
What Are the Symptoms?
Vertigo’s hallmark symptom is the sensation of spinning or motion without movement. People experiencing vertigo may also report difficulty with balance or unsteadiness while walking or standing. Other symptoms often reported with this condition include nausea, vomiting, abnormal eye movements, headache, ringing in the ears, or hearing loss.
Dizziness without vertigo is usually described as feeling faint, woozy, or as though you might lose consciousness. This experience does not include a spinning sensation. Its causes are broad and may include low blood pressure, dehydration, anxiety, or low blood sugar. Distinguishing between vertigo and other types of dizziness is a fundamental step for further evaluation, as they often arise from different physiological mechanisms.
How Is It Treated?
Diagnosis of vertigo and dizziness starts with a detailed medical history and physical examination. A healthcare professional may ask for a description of the symptoms’ quality and duration, their triggers, and any associated features. Physical assessment may include maneuvers designed to elicit vertigo. Other diagnostic approaches include:
- Hearing tests: Used to identify if hearing loss may be contributing to vestibular symptoms.
- Videonystagmography: Objective measurements of involuntary eye movements can help assess how the vestibular system and the brain process balance information.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI scans look for causes such as tumors or signs of stroke.
Once a diagnosis is made, treatment focuses on the underlying cause. Common interventions for BPPV include canalith repositioning procedures. These are guided movements performed by a trained provider to return displaced crystals in the inner ear to their correct positions.
For vestibular neuritis or Meniere’s disease, options may include medication to manage nausea or inflammation. Vestibular rehabilitation, a targeted physical therapy, is sometimes introduced to help the brain compensate for inner ear disruption. Management of central causes depends on addressing any neurological or vascular conditions identified during evaluation.
Seek Professional Neurology Treatment
Experiencing ongoing or severe vertigo should prompt you to consult a medical professional familiar with balance disorders. Neurologists possess the expertise to assess symptoms, perform targeted tests, and differentiate between peripheral and central causes of vertigo or dizziness. By identifying the specific source of symptoms, they can develop a tailored plan to help you regain stability and reduce recurrences.
