Sudden dizzy spells, also known as vertigo, are incredibly jarring. And that’s only exacerbated by the fact that, if you didn’t just hit the booze, the episodes can be extremely difficult to understand. Keep reading to learn what experts have to say about vertigo, including common causes, symptoms, treatments, and when the spinny sensation could signal something more serious.

Meet the Experts: Jared Braunstein, D.O., board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder.com and Daniel Flaherty P.T., D.P.T., a physical therapist with Inspira Health certified by the American Balance Institute for Concussion, Dizziness, Vertigo, Imbalance, and Falls.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo happens when you experience “the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not,” explains Jared Braunstein, D.O., board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder.com. “Patients often feel as if the room is spinning.” Despite experts’ somewhat vague understanding of it, data says it’s common—about 40% of U.S. adults experience vertigo at least once in their lifetimes.

Vertigo symptoms

Rather than a condition, vertigo is usually a symptom of a wider diagnosis, Neil Bhattacharyya, M.D., a professor of otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School previously told Prevention. That said, there are other symptoms people report experiencing alongside vertigo, which include nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, ringing in ears, and trouble walking, Braunstein says. Others include blurry vision, balance impairments, ear fullness, headaches, and light headedness, adds Daniel Flaherty P.T., D.P.T., a physical therapist with Inspira Health certified by the American Balance Institute for Concussion, Dizziness, Vertigo, Imbalance, and Falls.

Vertigo causes

Vertigo can usually be traced to a malfunction of the vestibular system, which helps control your balance and is located in the inner ear, explains Flaherty. “It helps the brain perceive acceleration and head movement,” he adds. That said, the most common causes, according to Flaherty and Braunstein, are:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

“The most benign cause of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV),” says Braunstein. “This occurs when calcium carbonite crystals in the inner ear [which help maintain balance] are displaced by certain head movements.” BPPV most often occurs in people ages 50 and older and is most common in women, Flaherty adds.

    Vestibulopathy

    Vestibulopathy is essentially a malfunction of the vestibular system in one ear, causing the brain to perceive head motion when it’s not moving. Vertigo most often strikes during standing or movement, rather than when sitting or laying down, research shows.

    Migraines

    Vestibular migraines are marked by dizzy spells or vertigo, along with light-headedness and pain, per Stanford Medicine.

    Inner ear infection

    An inner ear infection, or the inflammation of parts of the inner ear, can very easily affect balance and therefore cause vertigo, per Cleveland Clinic.

      Vertigo treatments

      Treatment for vertigo is dependent on its cause. A common solution for BPPV is known as the Epley maneuver, Flaherty explains, or the professional and strategic repositioning of the head to return inner-ear crystals to their rightful place for restored balance. “In some cases, people can learn to safely do these movements at home,” Flaherty adds.

      A vestibulopathy, on the other hand, is treated with vestibular rehab that helps the brain to recognize that it is receiving a faulty signal, Flaherty says. In general, medications like antihistamines are used to help with dizziness and nausea, and antibiotics can be prescribed for bacterial inner ear infections, Braunstein says.

        When to see a doctor about vertigo

        “Vertigo can be a sign of something more serious like tumors or acoustic neuroma, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, or Meniere’s disease (fluid build-up in the inner ear),” says Braunstein. These should be evaluated by a neurologist or ear, nose, and throat specialist, he advises.

        Flaherty recommends seeing a doctor if you experience any of the below symptoms along with vertigo:

        • Hearing loss
        • Vision loss
        • Facial drooping
        • Speech dysfunction
        • A loss of consciousness
        • Shortness of breath
        • Chest pains
        • Head injury
        • Seizures

        “Vertigo can lead to falls, accidents, and a decreased quality of life,” Flaherty warns. “You should talk with your health care provider if you experience symptoms consistent with vertigo.”

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        Kayla Blanton

        Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer-editor who covers health, nutrition, and lifestyle topics for various publications including Prevention, Everyday Health, SELF, People, and more. She’s always open to conversations about fueling up with flavorful dishes, busting beauty standards, and finding new, gentle ways to care for our bodies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University with specializations in women, gender, and sexuality studies and public health, and is a born-and-raised midwesterner living in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and two spoiled kitties.