Understanding the Causes and Types of Vertigo

Vertigo is a sensation where individuals feel like their surroundings are spinning or moving without actual movement. It often presents with dizziness, nausea, headaches, sweating, and difficulty walking.

If a person perceives themselves as moving, it is called subjective vertigo. When they feel that the environment around them is moving, it is termed objective vertigo.

Vertigo can arise from various conditions, broadly classified into peripheral and central causes. Central vertigo stems from issues in the brain's cerebellum or brainstem, while peripheral vertigo involves problems within the inner ear's balance system.

Peripheral vertigo commonly results from conditions such as BPPV, head injuries, labyrinth inflammation, vestibular neuronitis, and Menière’s disease. These issues affect the inner ear’s functioning, disrupting balance signals to the brain.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most prevalent cause, caused by calcium particles in the ear's canals. Attacks are brief but intense, causing dizziness, balance loss, and eye movements.

Other causes include ear infections, head trauma, inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinthitis), nerve inflammation (vestibular neuronitis), and Menière’s disease, characterized by hearing issues and vertigo episodes.

Medication side effects may also trigger vertigo, though usually mild. Severe cases should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

Central vertigo often results from migraines, acoustic neuroma, multiple sclerosis, or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). These conditions affect the brain's coordination and balance mechanisms.