What Causes Vertigo In Adults

Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition itself. It’s the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning.

This feeling may be barely noticeable, or it may be so severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do everyday tasks.

Attacks of vertigo can develop suddenly and last for a few seconds, or they may last much longer. If you have severe vertigo, your symptoms may be constant and last for several days, making normal life very difficult.

Other symptoms associated with vertigo may include:

• loss of balance – which can make it difficult to stand or walk
• feeling sick or being sick
• dizziness

Related: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

What Can Cause Vertigo In Adults?

A number of syndromes or conditions can result in vertigo. These include:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): The most common cause of vertigo, BPPV is typically triggered by changed in your head’s position. People with BPPV often experience vertigo when lying down, sitting up or turning over in bed.
• Meniere’s disease: This condition causes fluids to build up inside the ear, leading to vertigo attacks. Meniere’s disease may also be accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears), fluctuating hearing loss or a feeling a fullness in the ears.
• Labyrinthitis: If the inner ear labyrinth becomes inflamed or infected, it’s called labyrinthitis. The ear labyrinth houses the vestibulocochlear nerve, which transmits information to the brain regarding sound, position and head motion. People with labyrinthitis often experience headaches, ear pain, vision changes, tinnitus or hearing loss.
• Vestibular neuritis: This inflammation of the vestibular nerve can cause vertigo. Vestibular neuritis is similar to labyrinthitis, but it doesn’t alter your hearing. People with this condition may experience vertigo and nausea or blurred vision.
• Cholesteatoma: Repeated ear infections can cause a noncancerous skin growth to develop in the middle ear. This condition is referred to as cholesteatoma, and it can lead to dizziness, vertigo and hearing loss.

What else causes vertigo?

There are other factors that can lead to vertigo attacks. Here are some common vertigo causes:

• Migraine headaches.
• Certain medications.
• Stroke.
• Arrhythmia.
• Diabetes.
• Head injuries.
• Prolonged bed rest.
• Shingles in or near the ear.
• Ear surgery.
• Perilymphatic fistula (when inner ear fluid leaks into the middle ear).
• Hyperventilation.
• Low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension) – a condition in which your blood pressure decreases when you stand up.
• Ataxia, or muscle weakness.
• Syphilis.
• Otosclerosis (a bone growth problem affecting the middle ear).
• Brain disease.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Acoustic neuroma.

Treatment

Some types of vertigo resolve on their own, but a person may need treatment for an underlying issue.

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 antiemetics to reduce motion sickness and nausea.

An individual may need surgery if other treatments do not help. If someone has BPPV or acoustic neuroma, doctors may recommend surgery.

Related: Things that Trigger Vertigo