Vertigo

Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition in itself. It's the feeling that you, or the world around you, is moving or spinning.

For some people this feeling is barely noticeable. For others it's so severe that keeping their balance and doing everyday tasks becomes difficult.

Vertigo can come on suddenly, and it may last a few seconds or much longer. With severe vertigo, the symptoms can be constant and go on for several days, which makes daily life very difficult.

Symptoms of vertigo may include:

• loss of balance, which can make it difficult to stand or walk
• feeling sick or being sick
• dizziness

• you have vertigo that comes on suddenly
• you have vertigo that will not go away
• you have vertigo that keeps coming back
• your vertigo is affecting your daily life

Go to a hospital emergency department if you have vertigo and also have:

• double vision
• hearing loss
• difficulty speaking or slurred speech
• weakness, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and may examine you, which can help work out some types of vertigo. You may also be sent for further tests.

Most cases of vertigo come from a problem in the inner ear, which controls your balance. Less often, the cause is a problem in certain parts of the brain.

Common causes of vertigo may include:

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where certain head movements trigger vertigo
• migraine
• labyrinthitis or vestibular neuronitis, which is an inner ear infection
• persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD)
• Ménière's disease

Vertigo can sometimes be caused by conditions that affect certain parts of the brain, though this is less common. These include:

• a stroke
• multiple sclerosis
• brain tumours

Depending on what is causing the vertigo, you may have other symptoms too, such as:

• a high temperature
• ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
• hearing loss

How you treat vertigo depends on what is causing it. Once you feel able, try to move around gently. This helps the balance systems in your body reset.

Medicines such as prochlorperazine and some antihistamines may help in most cases of vertigo. Use them only for a short time (3 to 5 days), because taking them for longer may slow your recovery.

Many people with vertigo get better without any treatment. But if you still have vertigo or balance problems after 6 weeks, your doctor may refer you to a vestibular (balance) physiotherapist or an ENT (ear, nose and throat) consultant.

There are some things you can do yourself to ease your symptoms, and they may also cut down how often you get vertigo.

• lie still in a quiet, dark room to help ease the spinning feeling
• move your head as much as you are able
• sit down straight away when you feel dizzy
• turn on the lights if you get up at night
• use a walking stick if you're at risk of falling
• use an extra pillow for the first couple of nights if you can't sleep lying flat
• get up slowly when you leave your bed, and sit on the edge of the bed for a minute or so before you stand
• try to relax and avoid stress, because anxiety can make vertigo worse
• listen to your body, and if you're able, carry on with some of your normal activities
• try to go back to moving naturally, as this will help you recover

• Don't avoid moving, as movement helps your system recover

Where possible, try not to avoid certain positions. It may feel easier in the short term, but it won't help your vertigo. It can cause more harm if you avoid all movement and never get the correct diagnosis.

If you have vertigo, there are a few safety issues to think about. For example:

• you should tell your employer if your job involves operating machinery or climbing ladders
• you may have a higher chance of falling, so read about preventing falls for advice on reducing your risk

If you drive, you must tell the DVLA about your vertigo. You can find further information on driving with vertigo on GOV.UK.

People often use the word vertigo when they mean a fear of heights, but that isn't correct. The medical term for a fear of heights, and for the dizzy feeling you get when you look down from a high place, is "acrophobia".