If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. How this works. A person with vertigo will have a sense of spinning dizziness. Vertigo is a symptom of a range of conditions. It can happen when there is a problem with the inner ear, brain, or sensory nerve pathway. Dizziness, including vertigo, can happen at any age, but it is common in people aged 65 years or over. Vertigo can be temporary or long-term. It can occur during pregnancy or as a symptom of an ear infection. People with an inner ear disorder, such as Ménière’s disease, sometimes also experience vertigo.

What is vertigo? Share on Pinterest A person with vertigo may experience balance problems and lightheadedness. Vertigo is a sensation of spinning dizziness, as though the room or surrounding environment is spinning in circles around the person. Many people use the term to describe a fear of heights, but this is not correct. Vertigo can happen when a person looks down from a great height, but it usually refers to any temporary or ongoing spells of dizziness that occur due to problems in the inner ear or brain. It is not an illness but a symptom. Many different conditions can cause vertigo.

Symptoms A person with vertigo will feel as though their head or the space around them is moving or spinning. Vertigo is a symptom, but it can lead to or occur alongside other symptoms, too. These may include: balance problems

lightheadedness

a sense of motion sickness

nausea and vomiting

ringing in the ear, called tinnitus

a feeling of fullness in the ear

headaches

nystagmus, in which the eyes move uncontrollably, usually from side to side

Vertigo in pregnancy Nausea and dizziness are common problems during pregnancy. Hormonal changes appear to play a role, as they affect the characteristics of the fluid in the body. Changes in fluid characteristics in the inner ear can lead to symptoms such as: vertigo

instability with loss of balance

tinnitus and hearing difficulties

a feeling of ear fullness A 2010 study surveyed 82 women during pregnancy. More than half of them reported experiencing dizziness during the first two trimesters, while one-third reported dizziness in the third trimester. Nausea is common throughout pregnancy, but it tends to reduce as the pregnancy progresses. Many women in the survey linked nausea with dizziness. Balance problems were also common, but these tended to worsen during the second and third trimesters. The authors suggested that during pregnancy, hormonal changes bring about alterations in the inner ear. They proposed that as time goes on, the woman gets used to the new balance in the ear, and the symptoms of nausea and dizziness improve. The worsening of balance problems could be due to the changes in body weight and posture that occur during pregnancy. In 2017, scientists published research involving four case studies. The authors suggested that hormonal changes may lead to BPPV during pregnancy and that estrogen, specifically, may play a role. Drug treatment may be available for reducing nausea, dizziness, and other vertigo-related symptoms during pregnancy, but a woman should ask her doctor for advice. Some treatments may not be suitable to use at this time.

Is it hereditary? Vertigo itself is not necessarily hereditary, but it is commonly a symptom of various conditions and syndromes. Some of these appear to involve specific genetic factors and may run in families. If a person has recurrent vertigo, it may have a hereditary or genetic component. Scientists have been looking into the genetic profile of various conditions that involve vertigo. Examples of conditions that can trigger vertigo and appear to involve genetic factors include: familial episodic ataxia

migrainous vertigo

bilateral vestibular hypofunction

familial Ménière ‘s disease A doctor may ask a person with vertigo about their family medical history. Vestibular migraine can involve vertigo. Find out more about this condition here.

Treatment Some types of vertigo resolve without treatment, but a person may need treatment for an underlying problem. A doctor may, for example, prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial infection or antiviral drugs for shingles. Medications are available that can relieve some symptoms. These drugs include antihistamines and anti-emetics to reduce motion sickness and nausea. Surgery may be necessary if other treatments are not effective. BPPV and acoustic neuroma are two conditions for which this may be appropriate. Antihistamines are available over the counter or to purchase online. Treating Ménière’s disease A doctor may prescribe drugs for people with Ménière’s disease. These may include meclizine, glycopyrrolate, or lorazepam, which can help relieve dizziness due to this condition. Other options include: limiting sodium intake and using diuretic therapy to reduce fluid levels

trying pressure pulse treatment, which involves fitting a device to the ear

having a doctor inject antibiotics or corticosteroids into the middle ear

avoiding caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol and not smoking tobacco

Home remedies Individuals can take steps at home to help resolve vertigo and limit its effects. Lifestyle changes Steps that can help reduce the effects of vertigo include: lying still in a quiet, dark room when the spinning is severe

sitting down as soon as the feeling of dizziness appears

taking extra time to perform movements that may trigger symptoms, such as getting up, looking upward, or turning the head

squatting instead of bending over to pick something up

using a cane when walking, if necessary

sleeping with the head raised on two or more pillows

making adaptations in the home

turning on lights when getting up at night to help prevent falls Anyone who experiences vertigo or other types of dizziness should not drive or use a ladder. Herbal remedies Some herbal solutions may help improve symptoms. These include: cayenne

turmeric

ginkgo biloba

ginger root

Gongjin-dan There is not enough evidence to confirm that herbal remedies can relieve vertigo. However, a clinical trial is currently underway to investigate the effects of Gongjin-dan. A 2015 study found that 30 minutes of acupuncture helped reduce symptoms in 60 people who visited an emergency department with dizziness and vertigo. However, more research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment method. People should ask their doctor before using any alternative treatments. They should also see a doctor if vertigo starts suddenly or gets worse, as they may need treatment for an underlying condition. Learn more here about home remedies for vertigo.

Exercises Exercises can help relieve symptoms in some cases. The Epley maneuver for BPPV A technique known as the Epley maneuver can help some people with vertigo that stems from BPPV. The maneuver aims to move calcium carbonate particles from the semicircular canals back to the otolith organs of the vestibule, where they are less likely to cause symptoms in the inner ear. For BPPV involving the left inner ear: Sit on a bed and place a pillow behind the body where the shoulders will be on lying down. Rotate the head 45 degrees to the left. Keeping the head in position, lie down on the back with the shoulders on the pillow so that the head tilts back slightly and touches the bed. Hold for 30 seconds. Rotate the head to the right by 90 degrees and hold for 30 seconds. Turn the body and head, in their current positions, 90 degrees to the right. Hold for 30 seconds. Slowly sit up and lower the legs on the right-hand side of the bed. Hold for a couple of minutes while the inner ear makes adjustments.

Types There are different types of vertigo, which vary in their cause. Peripheral vertigo About 80% of cases are of this type. Peripheral vertigo usually results from problems in the inner ear. Tiny organs in the inner ear respond to gravity and the person’s position by sending messages via nerve signals to the brain. This process enables people to keep their balance when they stand up. Changes to this system can produce vertigo. BPPV and inflammation are common causes. Other causes include Ménière’s disease and acoustic neuroma, among others. Central vertigo Central vertigo relates to problems with the CNS. It usually stems from a problem in a part of the brain stem or cerebellum. Approximately 20% of cases are of this type. Possible causes include vestibular migraine, demyelination, and tumors involving the affected CNS region or regions. A problem with the cervical spine can lead to vertigo. Learn more here.