Vertigo
Truth is, when you have vertigo, life stops - Oliver Adunka
image by: Atlas Brain & Spine
HWN Recommends
Getting diagnosed with a chronic disease with no treatment or cure is like entering a Kafka novel
In the American sitcom Arrested Development, Liza Minnelli plays Lucille Austero, a wealthy widow with chronic vertigo. Across four seasons, the condition became a regular source of jokes as she’s hit by the spins and shown taking tumbles for big laughs. It’s played like physical comedy—slow-motion slapstick with a medical origin.
As a teenager, I was obsessed with Minnelli’s character. I used her exaggerated “I’m okay” to garner (no) sympathy from my dad when pulling myself off the couch after too many hours of lounging. Over ten years have passed and I still giggle when I re-watch episodes, though my 54-year-old father, Kevin, now suffers from vertigo.
His world started spinning…
Resources
Vertigo: benign or deadly?
What you all need to be aware of is that while it’s a cute idea to think that we can reliably differentiate peripheral vs central vertigo by H+P, and these distinctions make for great board questions, it is NOT reliable and you should not use the criteria to definitely exclude a central cause for your patient’s vertigo.
ED Mx of vertigo and BPV
All vertigo is made worse by moving the head. If vertigo lasts < 1 minute after moving the head, this suggests BPV.
What Is Vertigo?
Is the world spinning, and you don't know why? Scientific American MIND editor Ingrid Wickelgren explains how your inner ear can make you dizzy.
Clinical diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and vestibular neuritis
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common cause of vertigo. It is characterized by brief (typically 20–30 s and < 2 min) episodes of vertigo started by changes in head position such as getting in or out of bed, turning over in bed, bending forward or tilting the head backward. If the patient remains still, the intense vertigo sensation ceases. Although older adults are most frequently affected, it can occur in all ages including the pediatric population.
COVID associated with hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo – new study confirms link
Another commonly reported symptom of COVID-19 is dizziness. It can be quite difficult to differentiate this from the rotatory vertigo that is characteristic of damage to the balance system in the inner ear. However, the best estimate is that rotatory vertigo occurs in around 7% of COVID-19 cases.
Dizzying New Perspectives of Vertigo Research
In the last three decades vertigo science has been revolutionized by new examination techniques and improving understanding of physiological principles. It used to be the case that a great percentage of patients with vertigo and dizziness did not receive any definite diagnosis; today not only has this ratio improved dramatically but in the majority of cases an effective therapy may be started.
Easy Fixes for Vertigo
New treatments are bringing hope to sufferers of vertigo and chronic dizziness.
Everything you ever wanted to know about vertigo (but were too dizzy to ask
Is it the result of stress? Or an ear infection? And will it actually go away if rest is avoided?
Everything you need to know about vertigo
Look up the word vertigo in the dictionary and you will find confirmation of the widespread understanding that it is the slightly dizzy feeling we get at great heights - perhaps when looking down from the top of a tall building.
Finding balance: Is it dizziness or vertigo?
Some cases of dizziness are caused by vertigo, a medical condition that causes people to feel as if they’re swaying or spinning when they’re not moving. Vertigo can be debilitating to daily life activities and can even be dangerous when dizzy spells lead to falls. There are different types of vertigo, and confirming a diagnosis can lead to effective treatment.
What Causes Vertigo?
Vertigo is the feeling that either you or your surroundings are spinning. It is more than being just lightheaded or dizzy, because you are subjected to the illusion of movement. If you feel your body is moving, you have subjective vertigo. When you sense that your surroundings are moving, you have objective vertigo.
What is Vertigo: the most common type of dizziness
Vertigo isn't always fun -- here's everything you need to know about the most common type of dizziness.
Why do I feel dizzy after spinning?
The feeling you get as soon as you step off a merry-go-round is a hard one to forget. You crash to the ground only to look up and watch the sky continue to spin. You’ve stopped moving, but this dizzying feeling continues. Why?
An approach to vertigo in general practice
The causes of vertigo may be central (involving the brainstem or cerebellum) or peripheral (involving the inner ear). A careful history and physical examination can distinguish between these causes. The most common causes of vertigo seen in primary care are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuronitis (VN) and Ménière’s disease.
Getting diagnosed with a chronic disease with no treatment or cure is like entering a Kafka novel
Finding vertigo’s true cause can be frustrating, sometimes even impossible. It’s a symptom of many things: BPPV, labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, secondary hydrops, perilymph fistula, or none of these; the root of vertigo could also be genetic or environmental. Some in the field describe migraine-related vertigo as “the great mimicker” for its ability to imitate other conditions.
13 Facts About Vertigo
It comes on suddenly. You feel like you're spinning—or maybe the world is spinning around you. Your stomach heaves, and you hold onto something so you don't fall. This is vertigo, a hallucination of motion—a mismatch between reality and the signals your eyes, inner ears, and sense of touch are sending your brain. Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease—an indication that something is wrong in the body—and it's surprisingly common.
Balance MD
Significant advancements have occurred in the field of vestibular medicine (specialty dealing with the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo) over the past 20 years. BalanceMD, led by Dr. Scott K Sanders, has the most up-to-date diagnostic technology and knowledge to help you with your symptoms.
Dizziness & Vertigo Support Group
Dizziness is the sensation of instability. Vertigo refers to dizziness with a sensation of motion. Vertigo is more likely than other types of dizziness to be associated with nausea, vomiting, or double vision, to occur even when lying down, and to feel better with the eyes closed. If you are a frequent sufferer of dizziness or vertigo, join the group and find support.
Whirled Foundation
Whirled Foundation was born in the lounge room of one Menieres disease sufferer who wanted to make a difference. Today it has evolved into a national organisation with international links focusing on helping all with vestibular disorders.
MedicineNet
During an evaluation for vertigo, the health care professional may obtain a full history of the events and symptoms. This includes medications that have been taken (even over-the-counter medications), recent illnesses, and prior medical problems (if any). Even seemingly unrelated problems may provide a clue as to the underlying cause of the vertigo.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
