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What is Vertigo? How is Vertigo Recognized?

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Vertigo, commonly described as dizziness and a feeling of disorientation, is a condition where an individual feels like they or their surroundings are spinning. Before answering the frequently asked question "How is Vertigo Recognized?" it is crucial to understand what vertigo is.

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Although vertigo is commonly referred to as dizziness, not every instance of dizziness is vertigo. Vertigo occurs in the form of attacks. These attacks can cause mild dizziness, allowing the person to continue their daily life, or they can be severe enough to hinder daily activities. Vertigo is characterized by problems in the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular labyrinth, which is responsible for balance and consists of canal structures. The vestibular nerves or, in other words, motion detectors in these canals, relay all movements and the state of stillness to the brain. Vertigo, characterized by dizziness due to problems in the cerebellum or inner ear, can arise from issues in another balance organ, the brainstem. Vertigo has two different types: central and peripheral.

 

Central Vertigo: This type of vertigo arises from problems in the brain. It can result from conditions such as tumors, brain vascular diseases (blockages, bleeding, aneurysms, etc.).

 

Peripheral Vertigo: This type of vertigo arises from issues affecting the balance center in the inner and middle ear.

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What are the Symptoms of Vertigo?

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While vertigo symptoms may vary from person to person, common symptoms include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. In peripheral vertigo, dizziness often subsides with the head held still, but simple movements like a slight head movement or getting up from a sitting position can cause dizziness to recur. Meniere's vertigo, on the other hand, involves prolonged bouts of dizziness with more severe symptoms. It is characterized by ringing in the ears and hearing loss.

 

How is Vertigo Recognized?

 

Although commonly referred to as dizziness, vertigo's cause can only be identified through a thorough examination by a specialist. After taking the patient's medical history, the doctor can quickly diagnose vertigo through a physical examination. In some cases, hearing tests, nystagmography, ultrasound, CT, MRI, CT angiography, MR angiography, or catheter angiography may be required.

What is the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver Test? How is it Done?

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The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is a test used in the diagnosis of vertigo, where the doctor performs an examination by instructing the patient to make head and body movements. While the patient looks straight ahead, the doctor turns the patient's head 45 degrees to the side and then lays them down. If the patient experiences dizziness and nystagmus accompanies the symptoms, the test is considered positive.

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What is the Epley Maneuver? How is it Done?

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The Epley maneuver is one of the maneuvers performed by a specialist to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by repositioning crystals in the inner ear. After the procedure, the patient's complaints cease.

What Causes Vertigo? Which Organ is Involved?

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Vertigo can result from disorders in the central nervous system or the inner or middle ear. It can occur due to various reasons, such as infections like flu, measles, mumps, diabetes, low blood sugar, as well as conditions like Meniere's disease, acoustic neuroma, multiple sclerosis, brain bleeding, or vascular occlusion.

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How Does Vertigo Go Away? What are the Treatments?

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Vertigo disappears when the underlying cause of the condition causing dizziness is treated. For example, commonly occurring BPPV is treated with the Epley maneuver, while centrally caused vertigos are treated by a neurology or neurosurgery doctor based on the specific cause.

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