Vertigo 101: Why the World Feels Like It’s Spinning

Are you spinning when the room is not? It might be vertigo. Not as vibey as the well-known U2 song of 2004 or Hitchcock’s clever 1958 film, vertigo is the uncontrollable sensation of feeling off balance or that the world is spinning around you.

Vertigo is not uncommon, in fact between 20 and 56 percent of the general population has had vertigo at least once in their life. The National Institutes of Health reports that over a 10 year period, nearly 26 million people required an emergency department visit for dizziness. 

According to the American Medical Association, vertigo itself is a symptom rather than a condition. It is most often caused by an ear issue known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) when crystals inside the inner ear are dislodged from their normal positions.    

Another, less common, form of vertigo is Central vertigo. This occurs when there is a condition affecting the brain such as an infection, stroke or traumatic brain injury. 

Other causes of vertigo vary person to person and can include:

• Migraine headaches
• Some medications like antibiotics, anti-inflammatories
• Diabetes
• Prolonged bed rest
• Hyperventilation
• Low blood pressure
• Multiple sclerosis

Vertigo can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of nausea and vomiting, balance issues, headaches, and motion sickness.

There are several ways that a physician can diagnose vertigo. A physical exam may involve a doctor evaluating body functions like balance and coordination, eye movement, hearing loss and weakness.  Testing may involve blood work, Electroencephalogram (EEG), Head CT or MRI among other diagnostics.

There are several methods doctors can utilize to treat vertigo, including:

• Repositioning maneuvers like the Epley maneuver
• Vertigo medication 
• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy
• Surgery

Although it is not always possible to get rid of vertigo without the help of a healthcare provider, there are some things that can be done at home to ease symptoms:

• Move slowly when standing up, turning head, or performing other movements.
• Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows.
• Lie in a dark, quiet room.
• Squat down rather than bending at the waist when picking something up.
• Use a cane or walking stick to help with balance.

Some people may experience vertigo only once in their lifetime, while others may suffer from it on a recurring basis. There is no permanent cure for vertigo. The best option for those who have recurring vertigo is to talk to your healthcare provider about ways to manage symptoms. Trinity Health Of New England’s network of neurologists can help diagnose and manage vertigo and other neurologic disorders.