Vertigo causes instability and a feeling of movement when you are actually still. It can occur for various reasons, but most often it is due to a problem in the inner ear.
- Peripheral vertigo or central vertigo?
- How to tell if vertigo is from the ear: symptoms
- How is vertigo of the ear cured?
Suddenly feeling like the whole is moving or spinning around you (when it’s actually still), having unsteadiness, nausea, and a feeling like you’re drunk may be due to vertigo.
It is an alteration of the vestibular system (responsible for controlling balance and posture, coordinating movements and fixing the gaze) that 80% of Spaniards have suffered at least once in their lives, according to the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC). In this article we explain the differences between peripheral vertigo and central vertigo and how to know if vertigo is of the ear by analyzing the symptoms.
PERIPHERAL VERTIGO OR CENTRAL VERTIGO?
Vertigo and dizziness are considered balance disorders but, although they may seem very similar, their symptoms and causes are different and should not be confused. While vertigo has to do with the vestibular system and causes an unreal sensation of movement of things or oneself (such as a hallucination of movement), dizziness consists of a general feeling of imbalance.
- The vestibular system is located in the inner part of the ear and its neurological center is in the brain stem.
There are two different types of vertigo, one related to the structure of the inner ear and the other to the brain.
PERIPHERAL VERTIGO
Peripheral vertigo is the most common and has to do with injury to the inner ear itself and the vestibular nerve (which carries information from the inner ear to the brain).
Although its causes are mostly benign, it can greatly alter the quality of life of people who suffer from them. The most common pathologies associated with peripheral vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis and Ménière’s disease. According to the Clínicas Universidad de Navarra, these three pathologies represent 54% of consultations due to dizziness and vertigo.
Peripheral vertigo can also appear from other causes such as a tumor pressing on the area, lesions or infections.
CENTRAL VERTIGO
Central vertigo affects the neurological mechanisms of the vestibular system and is due to injury to the brainstem or back of the brain (cerebellum).
The most common causes of central vertigo are vascular diseases (such as stroke) and multiple sclerosis. It may also be due to tumors in some areas of the brain, vestibular migraine, epilepsy …
HOW TO TELL IF VERTIGO IS FROM THE EAR: SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of vertigo are unpredictable and can appear at any time of the day or night, either while at rest or doing some activity. The symptoms can give you clues as to whether your vertigo is due to a problem in the inner ear (peripheral vertigo) or in the brain (central vertigo).
- In the case of vertigo of the ear, the peripheral, the main symptoms are the sudden appearance of an intense sensation of movement, as if you were spinning or your environment was circling around you. There may also be nausea, vomiting, pallor, nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eyes) in a direction that disappears when you fix your eyes, hearing loss, ringing, or pain in the ear.
- In central vertigo, on the other hand, there may not be a sensation of turning, but rather of instability, dizziness, weakness or trouble walking. The nystagmus that occurs in this type of vertigo is in multiple directions and does not disappear when you look up. There may also be severe headaches and neurological signs such as double vision, disorders of consciousness or swallowing, etc.
Typically, attacks of vertigo do not last more than a few minutes. However, in severe cases, vertigo can last for hours, days, weeks, or even months.
HOW IS VERTIGO OF THE EAR CURED?
The treatment of vertigo, whether of cerebral origin or in the inner ear itself, always depends on its cause and it is important to go to the doctor to be able to have a diagnosis as soon as possible. Treatment may include the use of medications (for example, if the cause is an infection) or, in some rare cases, surgery.
If vertigo is due to a problem in the inner ear, vestibular rehabilitation can help reduce symptoms. It is a type of physiotherapy that helps strengthen the other senses so that they can compensate for episodes of vertigo.
In addition, turmeric, ginkgo biloba or ginger root are folk remedies that can help relieve the symptoms of vertigo.
Also keep in mind these tips to avoid injury when the episode of vertigo occurs.
- When you notice the first symptoms of vertigo, sit or stretch.
- Seek help to hold on or walk.
- Once you feel that the episode has passed, do not get up suddenly, do it slowly and with gentle movements.
