Dizziness is an umbrella term that encompasses many sensations, including lightheadedness, faintness, unsteadiness, and perceived motion. Vertigo, on the other hand, specifically refers to the sense of internal spinning dizziness that some people describe as “room spinning.”
Both issues are common complaints. They’re also complex conditions that typically require a number of tests and input from a variety of specialists.
Because the brain relies on input from several organ systems in order to maintain balance, dizziness can occur when one of them isn’t working correctly. Prior to diagnosing your condition, we must first understand which system is most affected. Luckily, most causes of vertigo are benign.
Common causes of vertigo include but are not limited to:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - one of the most common causes of vertigo — the sudden sensation that you're spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning. It causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness.
- Migraine Associated Vertigo: dizziness that occurs in people who have a history of migraines. Unlike traditional migraines, patients may not always have a headache with it.
- Meniere’s Disease: disorder of the inner ear that can lead to dizzy spells and hearing loss. In most cases, Meniere's disease affects only one ear. It can occur at any age, but it usually starts between young and middle-aged adulthood.
- Vestibular Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the inner ear or the nerves that connect the inner ear to the brain that is usually triggered by an infection.
- Vestibular Neuronitis: a sudden severe attack of vertigo caused by inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which helps to control balance.
Please keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive. You will meet with multiple specialists and undergo a variety of tests to help our team better understand your condition.
