Vertigo

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness characterized by the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when there is no actual movement. This false sense of motion can be disorienting and often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulty maintaining balance. Unlike general dizziness, which can feel like lightheadedness or faintness, vertigo is a distinct rotational sensation. It results from problems in the inner ear or brain that affect the body's balance system. Vertigo can range from a mild nuisance to a severely debilitating condition that significantly impacts daily activities. The symptoms may last from a few seconds to days or longer, depending on the underlying cause. With proper diagnosis and treatment, many people with vertigo can find significant relief and improved quality of life.

Treatable Condition

Expert Care Available

Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Home Care Prevention Surgery

Get Expert Care Today

Connect with our specialists for personalized treatment and diagnosis

What Causes It?

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) - The most common cause, involving calcium crystals in the inner ear becoming dislodged and moving into the semicircular canals.

Meniere's Disease - An inner ear disorder causing episodes of vertigo along with hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and ear fullness.

Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis - Inflammation of the inner ear or the nerves connecting the inner ear to the brain, often due to viral infections.

Acoustic Neuroma - A noncancerous growth on the vestibular nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain.

Migraine-Associated Vertigo - Vertigo symptoms occurring before, during, or after a migraine headache, or sometimes without headache.

Stroke or TIA - Affecting the brainstem or cerebellum areas involved in balance control.

Multiple Sclerosis - Can affect the vestibular nerve pathways in the brain.

Head or Neck Injury - Trauma can disrupt normal balance mechanisms.

Perilymph Fistula - A tear in the membranes between the middle and inner ear allowing fluid to leak into the middle ear.

Medication Side Effects - Certain antibiotics, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, or sedatives.

Otosclerosis - Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear affecting hearing and sometimes balance.

Central Nervous System Disorders - Various conditions affecting brain areas controlling balance.

Ear Surgery Complications - Sometimes affecting the vestibular system.

Aging - Natural deterioration of vestibular system function with age.

Signs & Symptoms

Spinning sensation - A feeling that you or your surroundings are rotating or moving when they are not.

Nausea and vomiting - Common accompaniments to the spinning sensation.

Balance problems - Difficulty standing or walking straight, unsteadiness, or staggering.

Dizziness - May feel lightheaded or a sense of floating.

Nystagmus - Involuntary, rhythmic eye movements, often observed by healthcare providers during examination.

Hearing changes - May include hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness in the ear (especially with Meniere's disease).

Headache - Particularly common with migraine-associated vertigo.

Sweating - Cold sweats often occur during vertigo episodes.

Motion sensitivity - Increased sensitivity to head movements, which may trigger or worsen symptoms.

Visual disturbances - Difficulty focusing or tracking objects with eyes.

Spatial disorientation - Confusion about your position in relation to surroundings.

Fainting or feeling faint - In severe cases due to autonomic nervous system activation.

Symptoms that vary by cause:

BPPV - Brief episodes triggered by specific head positions or movements.

Meniere's disease - Episodes lasting hours with ear fullness, hearing changes, and tinnitus.

Vestibular neuritis - Sudden, severe vertigo lasting days, often following a viral illness.

How We Diagnose

Our specialists use advanced diagnostic methods to accurately identify and assess your condition

Medical History and Physical Examination

Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your symptoms, their onset, duration, triggers, and associated symptoms. A thorough physical and neurological examination will check your balance, coordination, eye movements, and hearing.

Dix-Hallpike Test

A specific maneuver to diagnose BPPV, where the healthcare provider moves your head into different positions while watching for characteristic eye movements (nystagmus) and vertigo symptoms.

Electronystagmography (ENG) or Videonystagmography (VNG)

Tests that record eye movements during various head positions and after stimulation of the inner ear with warm or cool air or water. These help evaluate the function of the vestibular system and identify the affected side.

Rotary Chair Testing

Measures eye movements while you sit in a computer-controlled chair that rotates at varying speeds, providing information about how well the vestibular system responds to movement.

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)

Measures muscle responses to sound stimulation, providing information about otolith organ function in the inner ear.

Posturography

Assesses how well you use visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive information to maintain balance by having you stand on a special platform under different sensory conditions.

Imaging Studies

MRI or CT scans may be ordered to rule out structural problems like tumors, stroke, or multiple sclerosis, particularly if symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by neurological signs.

Audiometry

Hearing tests that may help diagnose conditions like Meniere's disease or acoustic neuroma, which affect both hearing and balance.

Blood Tests

May be performed to check for infections or other medical conditions that might contribute to vertigo.

Treatment Options

Personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and condition

Canalith Repositioning Procedures

For BPPV, specific head maneuvers like the Epley or Semont maneuver can move displaced calcium crystals back to their proper location in the inner ear. These simple procedures are often effective immediately or within a few treatments and can be taught for home use in some cases.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

A specialized form of physical therapy that includes exercises designed to help the brain compensate for inner ear problems, improve balance, reduce dizziness, and prevent falls. VRT is particularly effective for chronic vertigo conditions.

Medications

Various medications may help manage vertigo and associated symptoms, including vestibular suppressants (meclizine, diazepam), anti-nausea medications (promethazine, ondansetron), diuretics for Meniere's disease, migraine preventives for vestibular migraine, or steroids for inflammatory conditions.

Lifestyle Modifications

For conditions like Meniere's disease, dietary changes (reducing salt, caffeine, alcohol), stress management, and avoiding triggers can help reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.

Psychological Support

Cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, or counseling may help manage anxiety or panic that often accompanies or worsens vertigo, particularly in chronic cases.

Surgical Interventions

For severe, persistent vertigo that doesn't respond to other treatments, surgical options might be considered. These include procedures like labyrinthectomy, vestibular nerve section, endolymphatic sac procedures for Meniere's disease, or removal of tumors if present.

Alternative Therapies

Some patients report benefit from acupuncture, tai chi (which improves balance), or certain supplements, though scientific evidence varies. These should complement, not replace, conventional treatments.

Home Remedies

Modified Epley Maneuver

For BPPV, your doctor may teach you a simplified version of the Epley maneuver to perform at home. This involves a specific sequence of head and body positions that help relocate displaced crystals in the inner ear. Always learn this technique from a healthcare professional before attempting it yourself.

Brandt-Daroff Exercises

Another set of movements that can help with BPPV. These involve sitting on the edge of a bed, quickly lying down on one side with the head angled slightly upward, staying for 30 seconds, sitting up, then repeating on the other side. Typically done in sets several times daily.

Gaze Stabilization Exercises

Hold a card with a letter or small object at arm's length. Keep your head still while focusing on the object for a minute. Then, keep your head moving side to side while maintaining focus on the object. Start slowly and gradually increase speed as tolerated.

Balance Training

Simple exercises like standing with feet together, then progressing to one foot (using support as needed), help improve balance. Practicing yoga or tai chi can also enhance balance and spatial awareness. Always ensure safety by having support nearby.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can worsen vertigo symptoms, particularly in Meniere's disease. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, but maintain consistent fluid intake rather than large amounts at once, which can affect inner ear fluid balance.

Sleep Position

Elevate your head slightly when sleeping and avoid sleeping on the affected ear if you have BPPV. Some find that using two or three pillows or a wedge pillow helps reduce morning vertigo.

Movement Strategies

Move slowly when changing positions, especially when getting up from lying down or sitting. Take a moment to stabilize before walking. When vertigo is active, make deliberate head movements rather than quick turns.

Stress Management

Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation. Stress can trigger or worsen vertigo episodes in many individuals, particularly those with vestibular migraine or Meniere's disease.

Prevention Tips

Identify and avoid personal triggers that provoke vertigo episodes.

For BPPV, avoid sleeping on the affected side or with the head in positions that trigger symptoms.

Maintain good hydration while keeping sodium intake moderate (particularly important for Meniere's disease).

Practice regular vestibular exercises as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Move slowly when changing positions, especially when getting out of bed.

Create a safe home environment by removing tripping hazards and installing handrails where needed.

Use adequate lighting, particularly at night, to prevent falls during vertigo episodes.

Consider using a cane or walker during periods of instability for additional support.

Manage stress through relaxation techniques, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.

Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, which can affect the inner ear and trigger symptoms.

For vestibular migraine, identify and avoid migraine triggers such as certain foods, irregular meals, or sleep disruption.

Maintain regular follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider to adjust treatment as needed.

Consider wearing a medical alert device if you experience severe, unpredictable vertigo episodes.

Take motion sickness precautions during travel if you're prone to vertigo.

Surgical Solutions

Advanced surgical procedures performed by our expert specialists

Endolymphatic Sac Procedures

For Meniere's disease that doesn't respond to medical treatment, surgeries that decompress or shunt the endolymphatic sac may help reduce fluid pressure in the inner ear. These procedures aim to reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo attacks while preserving hearing when possible.

Labyrinthectomy

A surgical procedure that removes the entire labyrinth (balance portion of the inner ear), effectively eliminating vertigo caused by that ear. This is considered for severe, debilitating vertigo when hearing in the affected ear is already significantly impaired, as the procedure causes complete hearing loss in that ear.

Vestibular Nerve Section

A procedure that severs the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve, which transmits balance information from the inner ear to the brain. This stops the abnormal signals causing vertigo while potentially preserving hearing. It's a more complex surgery requiring craniotomy (opening the skull).

Acoustic Neuroma Removal

When vertigo is caused by an acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma), surgical removal of the tumor may be necessary. The approach depends on tumor size, hearing status, and other factors. Modern techniques aim to preserve facial nerve function and, when possible, hearing.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Our specialists are here to provide expert care for vertigo. Schedule your consultation today.

Book Appointment Online Call: (040) 4402 0000

📞 Available Hours

Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM