Top 7 Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo means the sense of spinning experienced while holding still. Patients use the word vertigo to describe many symptoms such as dizziness, balance problems, motion sickness, and walking difficulties while physicians use it to describe balance problems associated with the balance centers in the inner ear and brain. Here are the top 7 symptoms of Vertigo.
7. Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea or vomiting is common in vertigo caused by infections and inflammations, especially labyrinthitis. Labyrinthitis occurs mainly due to viral infections but may also occur due to bacterial infections. It is associated with vertigo, nausea, vomiting tinnitus, hearing loss, and pain in the infected ear. (1, 2, 3, 4)
6. Postural Instability
Patients who suffer from a sudden onset of vertigo tend to show increased postural instability. Physicians should consider the fact that postural instability may present in patients suffering from mild to moderate vertigo symptoms. This is common in vestibular diseases. (5, 6, 7, 8)
5. Falls
Patients who suffer from functional dizziness also called phobic vertigo or somatoform, complain about the increased risk of falls. Falls are common in diseases affecting balance centers. The problem is that falls can increase the damages and worsen the condition. (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
4. Changes to a Person’s Thoughts
Many patients with vestibular disorders complain of thinking problems. Physicians do not usually find any physical symptoms at first, except dizziness. After that, dizziness can lead to anxiety, which appears significantly during driving. Anxiety and dizziness suggest a vestibular disorder. (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
3. Difficulty in Walking
Vertigo is associated with difficulty in walking and losing balance. Even feeling imbalanced can lead to walking difficulties. Vestibular problems are the main cause of imbalance. Inner ear problems lead to a list of problems such as the floating sensation, heavy head, and inability to stay steady in the dark that subsequently lead to walking difficulties. (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
2. Head Spinning
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) makes people think that they are spinning or moving, but it is a false sensation. BPPV occurs when the head moves rapidly, which happens when you run or turn over while sleeping. It is the most common form of vertigo. (24, 25, 26, 27)
1. Tinnitus
Tinnitus means ringing in the ears or the perception of noise. It affects about 20% of people and it is usually associated with dizziness. Meniere’s disease is the first cause of dizziness and tinnitus together. It affects only one ear and people report that their ears are usually full and congested. (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
