Know the Basics
Vertigo is a condition that is scary to many people, and that’s because it’s such a foreign concept. With vertigo your perception of the world is affected, and this could adversely affect your life. In this article, we’ll be discussing vertigo treatment and causes as well as everything you need to know about this condition.
Definition of Vertigo
Vertigo is the sensation of losing balance or having dizzy spells. When someone has vertigo, it is likely that they could be in situations wherein they feel as though they are spinning. Other times, it may seem like the world surrounding them is spinning.
These episodes are often spontaneous. Neither are they prompted by any prior motion or caused by underlying disorders that could devolve into more serious conditions later on.
What Are the Types of Vertigo?
There are two types of vertigo: peripheral vertigo and central vertigo. These types are delineated by the location of the irregularity that is causing this sensation of being off-balance.
Peripheral vertigo is indicative of problems in certain parts of the inner ear like the semicircular canals or the vestibular labyrinth. It could also involve the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain stem, which is called the vestibular nerve.
Central vertigo, on the other hand, is indicative of problems in the brain. More often than not, this involves irregularities in the brain stem or the cerebellum, found on the back part of the brain, or even both of these parts.
What Causes Vertigo?
Most cases of vertigo have no identifiable causes. In a large survey, no causes were identified in 48% of the cases. However, the most common cause was closed head injury followed by vestibular neuritis. Other cited predisposing events include infections and surgery. Meanwhile, prolonged bed rest and Meniere disease were predisposing factors.
For peripheral vertigo, one of the most common forms being benign positional vertigo (BPPV), the causes could include the following:
- Head injuries are one of the most common causes. This is because injuries cause damage to the inner ear.
- Meniere’s disease could also cause fluid buildup that would affect the inner ear and cause vertigo.
- Labyrinthitis, or the swelling of this inner ear, could cause vertigo in the same way.
- Medication that is toxic to structures in the inner ear could also cause vertigo. These include aminoglycoside antibiotics, cisplatin, diuretics, and salicylates.
- The inflammation of the vestibular nerve, known as neuronitis, could also be a reason for vertigo along with anything that could cause pressure on it like a benign tumor such as meningioma or schwannoma.
Other Causes
Substances that affect the viscosity of the blood are common causes of central vertigo. These include:
- Medicine like anticonvulsants, aspirin, and alcohol.
- Diseases that affect blood vessels could cause central vertigo in the same way.
- Diseases that affect the brain stem or are also caused by a damaged brain stem or cerebellum could be linked to central vertigo. These include multiple sclerosis, seizures, strokes, tumors, and vestibular migraines.
Symptoms
The symptoms of vertigo are straightforward since the sensation is hard to miss. A bout of vertigo can cause nausea and vomiting. These can also come with other commons symptoms like difficulty focusing the eyes, hearing, or keeping balance. Hearing loss, hearing impairment, and tinnitus could also come with vertigo.
For symptoms particular to central vertigo, one could experience double vision or difficulty swallowing and moving eyes or the face as well as slurred speech and weakened limbs.
