Vertigo is a sensation of motion or spinning that is often described as dizziness.

Vertigo is not the same as light-headedness. People with vertigo feel as though they are actually spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around them.

Peripheral vertigo; Central vertigo

There are two types of vertigo:

• Peripheral vertigo occurs if there is a problem with the part of the inner ear that controls balance (vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canals) or with the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brainstem.
• Central vertigo occurs if there is a problem in the brain, particularly in the brainstem or the back part of the brain (cerebellum).

Vertigo related to the areas in the inner ear that control balance (vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canals) may be caused by:

• Benign positional vertigo (also called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)
• Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, cisplatin, diuretics, or salicylates
• Injury (such as head injury)
• Labyrinthitis
• Meniere's disease

Vertigo related to the problems with vestibular nerve may be caused by:

• Inflammation (neuronitis)
• Pressure on a nerve (most often due to a noncancerous tumor such as a meningioma or schwannoma)

Vertigo related to the brainstem may be caused by:

• Blood vessel disease
• Drugs (anticonvulsants, aspirin, alcohol)
• Migraine
• Multiple sclerosis
• Seizures (rarely)

Images

Tympanic membrane

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Vertigo Symptoms

Review Date: 11/22/2010
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)