, sometimes called a '''headrush''', is a major symptom of a
Balance Disorder . It is the sensation of spinning while the body is stationary. With the eyes shut, there will be a sensation that the body is in movement, called subjective vertigo; if the eyes are open, the surroundings will appear to move past the field of vision, called objective vertigo.
The effects may be slight. It may cause
Nausea or, if severe, may give rise to difficulty with standing and walking. Vertigo is usually associated with a problem in the inner ear balance mechanisms (
Vestibular System ), in the
Brain , or with the nerve connections between these two organs. The most common cause is
Benign Positional Vertigo , or BPPV. Vertigo can be a symptom of an underlying harmless cause, such as in BPPV or it can suggest more serious problems. These include drug toxicities,
Strokes or
Tumors (though these are much less common than BPPV).
Vertigo is typically classified into one of two categories depending on the location of the damaged vestibular pathway. These are peripheral or central vertigo. Each category has a distinct set of characteristics and associated findings.
- : The lesions, or the damaged areas, affect the inner ear or the vestibular division of the acoustic (CN VIII) nerve. Vertigo that is peripheral in orgin tends to be felt as more severe than central vertigo, intermittent in timing, always associated with Nystagmus in the horizontal plane and occasionally hearing loss or Tinnitus (ringing of the ears).
-Peripheral vertigo can be caused by BPPV,
Ménière's Disease or acute vestibular
neuronitis. Peipheral vertigo, compared to the central type, though subjectively felt as
more severe, is usually from a less serious cause.
- : The lesions in central vertigo involve the brainstem vestibular nerve nuclei. Central vertigo is typically described as constant in timing, less severe in nature and occasionally with nystagmus that can be multi-directional. Associated symptoms include motor or sensory deficits, Dysarthria (slurred speech) or ataxia.
-Causes include things such as
Migraines ,
Multiple Sclerosis or tumors.
Less commonly, strokes,
Seizures , trauma or infections can cause also central vertigo.
- Vertigo should not be confused with dizziness. Dizziness is an unpleasant feeling of light-headedness, giddiness or fuzziness often accompanied by nausea.
- Vertigo is often used, incorrectly, to describe a Fear Of Heights .
- Vertigo is often experienced when breathing Helium , as a result of helium flow instead of Oxygen to the Brain .
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