Common Causes Of Vertigo

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By Sam Cohen/Aug. 23, 2021 6:54 pm EDT

According to WebMD, vertigo is “a sensation of feeling off balance” that causes you to feel like either you or the room around you is spinning. These episodes of dizziness are often short-lived, but they can be bothersome as they’re occurring, especially if the vertigo is disruptive to your day. 

Signs of vertigo include spinning, swaying, tilting, nausea, headache, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. These symptoms are common and aren’t generally cause for alarm, per the Mayo Clinic.

The common causes of vertigo vary depending on the type of vertigo you’ve developed, as three main types exist. This includes Meniere’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, per WebMD. Each of these iterations is attributed to an inner ear problem, though the extent of the issue and the cause behind it are unique to the specific affliction. See a doctor for a formal diagnosis to determine what has caused your specific bout of vertigo.

These are the most common causes of vertigo

Meniere’s disease, one form of vertigo, is “an inner ear disorder thought to be caused by a buildup of fluid and changing pressure in the ear,” per WebMD. The exact cause of Meniere’s is unknown, but it’s considered a chronic condition that requires medical diagnosis and treatment (via Mayo Clinic). Symptoms of Meniere’s include recurrent episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears, and occasional moments of hearing loss. Treatments such as anti-nausea medication help address this condition.

For BPPV, the cause is much more simple. BPPV occurs when canaliths, small deposits of calcium, are dislodged and collect in the inner ear. Fortunately, the issue tends to fix itself over time. With vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, the same basic principles apply. This variation of vertigo is typically caused by a viral infection that affects the inner ear. It usually passes without issue, similar to the BPPV variant. 

If you experience any severe vertigo symptoms, speak with a healthcare professional about treatment options.

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