Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room around you are spinning, even when you are still. It is different from feeling light-headed. Most cases come from the inner ear, which helps control balance.
Every morning when she rolls over in bed, the room spins for a few seconds. A nurse recognises the pattern, and a simple series of head movements stops it in a single visit.
Common causes
| Cause | Typical pattern |
|---|---|
| BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) | Brief spinning lasting seconds, triggered by rolling over in bed, looking up or bending down |
| Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis | Sudden, severe vertigo lasting days, often after a viral infection |
| Ménière’s disease | Attacks of vertigo with hearing loss, ringing in the ear and a full feeling |
| Vestibular migraine | Vertigo episodes in people with migraine |
| Stroke (rare) | Sudden vertigo with other neurological signs |
Call emergency services if vertigo comes with weakness or numbness, slurred speech, double vision, trouble walking, facial drooping or a sudden severe headache. See stroke signs (BE FAST).
BPPV: the most common cause
BPPV happens when tiny crystals in the inner ear move into the wrong place. A health professional can confirm it with a positional test, and treat it with a simple series of head movements called the Epley manoeuvre, which often works in one session.
Living with vertigo
- Sit or lie down when you feel dizzy
- Get up slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed first
- Use a night light and remove trip hazards to prevent falls
- Ask about vestibular rehabilitation exercises if dizziness lasts
- Medicines for nausea can help short-term, but long-term use can slow recovery
“But vertigo means something is seriously wrong with my brain.”
Most vertigo comes from the inner ear and is not dangerous. Sudden dizziness with weakness, slurred speech, double vision or a severe headache is different and needs emergency care.
Your next step: Keep a note of when your dizziness happens, what triggers it and how long it lasts, and share it with your health professional.
Sources: NHS vertigo and BPPV guidance; American Academy of Otolaryngology clinical practice guideline on BPPV.
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