Vertigo is characterized by a spinning sensation. You may feel as if you are spinning, or it may feel like the things around you are moving about. Vertigo is a false sense of movement.
Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo can often be triggered by changes in the position of your head. People will often describe it in the following ways:
- Spinning
- Tilting
- Being off balance
- Being pulled in one direction
- Swaying
Accompanying symptoms can include a variety of things:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Nystagmus — abnormal eye jerking
- Headaches or migraines
- Tinnitus — ringing in the ears
- Hearing loss
- Visual disturbances
- Problems talking
- Weakness
- Difficulty walking
- Decreased consciousness
Symptoms last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and may be intermittent.
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo is often due to an inner ear problem. Here are some of the most common conditions that have vertigo as a symptom:
- BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo): BPPV happens when tiny calcium particles, called canaliths, form clumps in the canals of the inner ear. The inner ear is responsible for sending information to the brain about the movements of the head and body in relation to gravity so as to help keep your balance. These clumps of canalith interfere with the proper signals being sent to the brain and cause you to have vertigo when you move your head and disturb the canalith.
- Vestibular Neuronitis or labyrinthitis: This is an inner ear problem probably related to a viral infection causing the inflammation of the inner ear, particularly around the nerves responsible for sensing balance.
- Meniere’s disease: This is an inner ear disorder possibly caused by the buildup of fluid and changes in the pressures within the ear. It can cause vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
- Acoustic neuroma: An uncommon reason for vertigo is related to a tumor of the nerve tissue in the inner ear. You may also experience ringing in one ear and hearing loss.
- Multiple sclerosis: Vertigo comes on abruptly and the eyes will often not be able to move past the midline toward the nose.
- Head and neck trauma: If the bones of the upper cervical spine have been misaligned due to an accident of some sort, vertigo can ensue.
- A migraine: This is a neurological condition that may cause vertigo followed by head pain. The head pain does not always occur, however.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our complimentary e-book.
An Increase in Vertigo Linked to Some Electronics
A recent study noted that high exposure to airborne ultrasound coming from loudspeakers, door sensors, public address systems, and similar things can create health problems. These things are often found in public libraries, sports stadiums, schools, railway stations, and museums. There are several health problems associated with these things:
- Migraines
- Vertigo and other forms of dizziness
- Tinnitus
- Nausea
- Fatigue
A study from the University of Southampton uncovered the fact that we are being exposed, often unaware, to many ultrasounds. These are sounds at high frequencies (above 20 kHz), and we are unable to hear them. The author of the study, Professor Tim Leighton, used his smartphone to monitor these high-frequency sounds in a variety of public areas where people had previously reported feeling sick, dizzy, and tired. His findings proved we are being exposed to even higher frequencies than 20 kHz. He goes on to relate that the current work-safe-level guidelines are not enough to deal with the present rate of ultrasound exposure. Being aware of the situation is vital so you can take safety measures, but if you are not aware, you could be feeling the effects and not even know why.
What the Doctor Might Ask
If you visit your primary care doctor for help with your vertigo symptoms, he may want to know some of the following information:
- Are you experiencing a sensation of movement when you are actually being still?
- Do you experience nausea, vomiting, sweating, or abnormal eye movements?
- How long have you had symptoms and are they intermittent or consistent?
- Do the symptoms happen when you change positions?
- Are you taking any new medications?
- Have you had a recent head trauma or whiplash injury?
- Are there any other symptoms associated with hearing?
- Do you have ringing in your ears?
- Do you have any hearing loss?
- Do you have any other neurological symptoms, such as weakness, visual disturbances, altered levels of consciousness, problems walking, nystagmus, or problems with speech?
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