Types of Vertigo
In this article
- What Causes Peripheral Vertigo?
- What Other Symptoms May I Have With Peripheral Vertigo?
- How Is Peripheral Vertigo Treated?
- What Causes Central Vertigo?
- What Other Symptoms Could I Have From Central Vertigo?
- How Is Central Vertigo Treated?
What Other Symptoms May I Have With Peripheral Vertigo?
Nausea and vomiting, sweating, and ear problems are all common symptoms that you may have along with vertigo.
If your peripheral vertigo is caused by an inner ear infection or a disease, you may have some pain or a feeling of fullness in your ear.
In labyrinthitis and Meniere's disease, you may have hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears) in one or both ears along with the vertigo.
There are some common features of peripheral vertigo that can help your doctor make a diagnosis. Vertigo that starts without warning, and stops just as quickly, is more likely to be peripheral vertigo.
Your eyes may also move without your control. This movement may go away when you try to focus your vision on a fixed point. It also tends to only happen during the first few days of vertigo symptoms and then disappears.
How Is Peripheral Vertigo Treated?
You can treat peripheral vertigo by managing the condition that's causing it.
BPPV, the most common cause of peripheral vertigo, can be treated with a 15-minute exercise known as the Epley maneuver. This series of movements, done in your doctor's office, helps return the crystals that control balance to the correct place in your inner ear.
Anti-inflammatory drugs can sometimes help ease symptoms if your peripheral vertigo is caused by vestibular neuronitis, Meniere's disease, or labyrinthitis. Meniere's disease can also be controlled by cutting down on salt, caffeine, and alcohol and lowering your stress.
For some conditions, such as perilymph fistula or SSCDS, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct problems in your inner ear.
Some conditions causing peripheral vertigo may be chronic, meaning they are ongoing. In these situations, you'll need a combination of balance exercises, lifestyle changes, and medication to manage the vertigo. Motion sickness medicine may also help ease nausea. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines that help reduce balance problems.
What Causes Central Vertigo?
Central vertigo is caused by a disease or injury to the brain, such as:
- Head injuries
- Illness or infection
- Multiple sclerosis
- Migraines
- Brain tumors
- Strokes
- Transient ischemic attacks ("mini" strokes that last for a short time and don't cause permanent damage)