Vertigo: Symptoms, Causes, Types, and Treatment Guide
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 3 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn about vertigo and balance disorders, including BPPV, Meniere's disease, symptoms, causes, and treatment options like repositioning maneuvers.
At a Glance
- 1 - Balance disorders are the number one health complaint of patients over age 70.
- 2 - About three-fourths of vestibular disorders are peripheral, involving the inner ear and vestibular nerve.
- 3 - Surgery to insert a plug in the inner ear has a high success rate, with only 5 percent of people needing to repeat the treatment.
- 4 - One large U.S. study (NHANES 2001 to 2004) estimated that as many as 35 percent of adults aged 40 or older had experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction.
Topic Definition
- Vertigo
Vertigo is a subtype of dizziness in which a person wrongly perceives motion, most often a spinning sensation, because of a problem in the vestibular system that helps control balance. It is frequently accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and unsteadiness that makes standing or walking difficult. The condition can stem from peripheral sources in the inner ear, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Meniere's disease, or from central causes involving the brain, including stroke, migraine, and multiple sclerosis. Because vertigo can signal a more serious underlying disorder and raise the risk of falls, it should be evaluated and treated rather than ignored, with options ranging from repositioning maneuvers and vestibular rehabilitation exercises to medication and, in serious cases, surgery.
Overview
Vertigo is a subtype of dizziness in which a patient inappropriately experiences the perception of motion (usually a spinning motion) due to dysfunction of the vestibular system. It is often associated with nausea and vomiting as well as a balance disorder, causing difficulties with standing or walking.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo - the sudden sensation that you're spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning. Causes of dizziness related to the ear are often characterized by vertigo (spinning) and nausea.
Vertigo is a symptom rather than a disease, and it can sometimes be a sign of a serious disorder such as a stroke or a tumor. Treatment of vertigo matters because it may lead to severe imbalance problems and falls.
The 3 Different Symptoms of Vertigo:
- The first is known as objective and describes when the patient has the sensation that objects in the environment are moving.
- The second type of vertigo is known as subjective and refers to when the patient feels as if they are moving.
- The third type is known as pseudovertigo, an intensive sensation of rotation inside the patient's head.
Different Types of Vertigo:
- Peripheral vertigo
- Objective vertigo
- Central vertigo
The human balance system works with our visual and skeletal systems to maintain orientation or balance. Visual signals are sent to the human brain about the body's position relating to its surroundings. These signals are processed by the brain, and compared to information from the vestibular, visual and the skeletal systems.
Balance Problems related to the ear or the brain include:
- Bilateral Vestibulopathy - a condition caused by loss of inner ear balance function.
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) - The most common cause of vertigo described as a brief, intense sensation of spinning that occurs because of a specific change in the position of head, such as getting out of bed in the morning, or getting up from a chair too quickly. (See below for Brandt-Daroff exercises and other exercises to assist BPPV)
- Labyrinthitis - Inner ear infection or inflammation causing both dizziness (vertigo) and hearing loss.
- Meniere's Disease - Inner ear fluid balance disorder that causes lasting episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (a ringing or roaring in the ears), or the sensation of fullness in the ear.
- Perilymph Fistula - a leakage of inner ear fluid from the inner ear.
- Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome - Loss of balance and hearing disorder caused by a gap in the temporal bone, leading to the dysfunction of the superior canal.
Brain Related Balance Conditions Include:
- CNS or Posterior Neoplasms: Benign or Malignant.
- Degenerative: Age related decline in balance function.
- Infectious: Meningitis, encephalitis, epidural abscess, Syphilis
- Circulatory: Cerebral or Cerebellar ischemia or hypoperfusion, Stroke, Lateral medullary syndrome (Wallenberg's syndrome)
- Autoimmune: Cogan syndrome
- Structural: Arnold-Chiari malformation, Hydrocephalus
- Systemic: Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease
- There are other causes of dizziness not related to the human ear:
- Mal de Debarquement - (land legs or sea legs) a disorder of imbalance caused by being on a ship. Patients feel sea sick even when they get off the ship.
- Motion Sickness - a conflict between the input from the various systems involved in balance causes an unpleasant sensation.
How to Treat Vertigo
There are various options for treating balance disorders. One option includes treatment for a disease or disorder that may be contributing to the balance problem, such as ear infection, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Individual treatment will vary and will be based upon symptoms, medical history, general health, examination by a physician, and the results of medical tests. Most types of balance disorders will require balance training, prescribed by a physiotherapist.
The disease is usually treated symptomatically since it will help to reduce the severity of manifestations. When the issue is in the inner ear, such as the dislocated calcium crystals of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), or an infection, it can often be treated with certain exercises such as physical maneuvers. However, brain damage or cardiac concerns are more serious and hence have to be treated cautiously.
Particle repositioning maneuver is a specific treatment for vertigo caused by mis-positioning of calcium carbonate crystals. In the treatment, the head has to be moved in such a manner to reposition the crystals and to give relief from the symptoms of imbalance.
Drugs for the treatment of vertigo can be administrated orally, through intravenous injections or patches in the skin. In case of any bacterial infections, antibiotics are preferred to stop the further complications. Meclizine hydrochloride, Diphenhydramine, Promethazine Hydrochloride, Diazepam, and Scopolamine transdermal patch are some commonly used for the treatment of vertigo.
Exercises for BPPV
Exercises for vestibular rehabilitation are also used as remedy for vertigo in which the patient repeatedly undergoes the position change from lying state to sitting and vice versa. This is repeated until the patient has recovered completely, although BPPV comes back in many people, often within a few years.
In serious cases, surgery in the inner ear to insert a plug is recommended to overcome the disorder. It has high success rate and only 5% of people have to repeat the treatment.
Rest is the immediate solution to vertigo, as soon as the symptoms are felt. Use of a cane is also sometime necessary to retain steadiness and balance. A patient with a tendency for vertigo must be prudent to adjust their movements at a slow pace.
Exercises are a method of treating BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). Exercises include the Epley - Brandt-Daroff exercises - Semont Maneuvers. These maneuvers are effective treatment in that they help speed up compensation by the brain. When these maneuvers work, they can relieve the symptoms of vertigo quickly.
Balance Disorder Statistics
One large epidemiological study (NHANES 2001 to 2004) estimates that as many as 35% of adults aged 40 years or older in the United States, approximately 69 million Americans, have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction.
- Balance disorders are the number one health complaint of patients over age 70.
- Falls account for 50% of accidental deaths in the elderly, and 10% of falls result in hospitalization.
- Mild to severe head trauma is a leading risk factor for dizziness, with 2 million new cases of traumatic brain injury every year.
- Nearly 20% of Americans 65-75 years of age currently have a balance disorder, with that number increasing to 25% by age 75.
- Less than 10% of patients with balance and vestibular disorders are ever evaluated by a specialist (audiologist, otologist, otolaryngologist or neurologist).
- Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among people over 65. The costs to the Medicare and Medicaid programs and society as a whole from falls by elderly persons continue to climb much faster than inflation and population growth.
- Although adults are typically plagued with dizziness and vertigo disorders, children also experience dizziness and vertigo. Children may be affected more than adults, and this prevents normal childhood activities that range from athletics to playground activities. The most common cause of childhood vertigo is benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood.
- Vertigo can be caused by both peripheral and central vestibular deficits. About three-fourths of vestibular disorders are peripheral (inner ear and vestibular nerve). The most common peripheral vestibular disorder is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, followed by uncompensated Meniere disease, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, perilymphatic fistula, and acoustic neuroma. Central vestibular deficits cause about one-fourth of dizziness. The most common central causes of dizziness and vertigo are cerebrovascular disorders, cerebellar disease, migraine, multiple sclerosis, tumors of the posterior fossa, neurodegenerative disorders, medications, and psychiatric disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a typical vertigo episode last?
The length varies by cause, and BPPV episodes are often brief and last seconds to minutes, while conditions like Meniere's disease can cause episodes that last from minutes to several hours.
Can dehydration or diet trigger vertigo?
Yes, dehydration, skipping meals, and high salt intake can worsen or trigger symptoms in some people, particularly those with inner ear fluid disorders like Meniere's disease.
Is vertigo the same as being afraid of heights?
No, the fear of heights is called acrophobia, while vertigo is a false sensation of spinning or movement caused by problems in the vestibular balance system.
Can stress and anxiety make vertigo worse?
Stress and anxiety do not directly cause inner ear damage, but they can heighten the perception of dizziness and make existing vertigo symptoms feel more intense.
Should I avoid driving if I have vertigo?
It is safer to avoid driving during active episodes, since sudden spinning sensations and imbalance can impair your ability to control a vehicle safely.
Can vertigo go away on its own?
Some cases, especially BPPV, may resolve on their own over time as the brain compensates, though maneuvers and exercises can speed recovery and reduce recurrence.
What kind of doctor treats vertigo?
Vertigo may be evaluated by an audiologist, otologist, otolaryngologist, or neurologist, and physical therapists often provide balance training and repositioning maneuvers.
Can vertigo be a sign of a stroke?
Sometimes. Vertigo that comes with sudden trouble speaking, double vision, weakness, numbness, or severe unsteadiness can signal a stroke and needs emergency care right away.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: