Vertigo
Vertigo is a type of dizziness or a sensation of movement when none is actually
occurring.
What is going on in the body?
People with vertigo either feel they are spinning or rotating abnormally. They
may feel that the objects around them are spinning. This condition is not
exactly the same as dizziness. Dizziness is more general term for feeling
off balance.
Vertigo is usually caused by problems in the inner ear, which helps control
balance. It can also be caused by problems with the nerves or parts of the
brain that receive and send signals to the ear.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Vertigo has several causes, including:
alcohol dependence
antibiotics, such as gentamicin
benign positional vertigo. This is brought on by certain positions, usually
lying flat with the head turned in one direction.
disturbances in the function of the inner ear balance structures. This may
occur in a condition called Menir's
disease.
head injury
infections of the inner ear, such as acute
labyrinthitis
migraine headache
motion sickness
multiple sclerosis,
a degenerative nerve disorder
phenytoin, a medication used to treat seizures
psychological conditions, such as severe anxiety
salicylate medications, including aspirin
seizures, or abnormal electrical activity in the brain
stroke, which occurs
when a part of the brain doesn't get enough oxygen
transient ischemic
attack, which is similar to a stroke but lasts only a brief
time
trauma, or injury, to the inner ear structures
brain
tumors that affect the nerve or part of the brain associated with
balance
Other causes are also possible. Sometimes, no cause can be found.
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