Vertigo: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Feeling like the room is moving when you are still can shake your confidence? That spinning or swaying feeling is called vertigo. It happens when the balance system in your inner ear and brain sends mixed messages. Tasks that usually feel easy, like walking to the kitchen or turning in bed, may feel harder during an episode. Read on to know more about vertigo and its symptoms. 

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a false sense of motion. You may feel that you are rotating or that the world is tilting even though nothing is moving. This is different from general dizziness, which feels more like lightheadedness or a faint feeling. Some people have one brief spell. Others notice a pattern that can be temporary or, at times, chronic.

What are the Causes of Vertigo?

Knowing the causes of vertigo helps you pick the next step. Common vertigo causes include:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo BPPV – tiny crystals in the inner ear shift and trigger short bursts of spinning with head movements
• Labyrinthitis – inner ear inflammation or infection that may also change hearing
• Vestibular neuritis – irritation of the balance nerve, often after a viral illness, with sudden spinning and imbalance
• Ménière’s disease – a fluid problem in the inner ear that can bring ringing, a full feeling, and fluctuating hearing
• Migraine-related vertigo – balance symptoms linked to migraine activity, sometimes without a headache
• Head or neck injury – trauma can disturb balance signals
• Medication effects – some drugs affect the inner ear or brain pathways that control balance
• Age-related changes, ear conditions, or circulation issues – these can interfere with signal flow
• Neurological conditions, less common – problems that start in the brain or brainstem

Seek medical help if the spinning is severe, keeps going, or is new for you. Get urgent care if it comes with sudden hearing loss, double vision, trouble speaking, weakness or numbness, severe headache, chest pain, or fainting.

Vertigo Symptoms

People describe vertigo symptoms in many ways. You might notice:

• A spinning or rocking sensation
• Unsteady walking or poor balance
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting or motion sickness
• Headaches or pressure in the head or ears
• Sensitivity to quick movements, bright light, or busy patterns

Symptoms can be mild or intense. The severity often depends on what is causing the episode.

Types of Vertigo

There are two main types of vertigo.

1. Peripheral vertigo – starts in the inner ear or the vestibular nerve
   
   • BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) – causes short episodes of dizziness or spinning, especially when you roll in bed, bend down, or look up.
   • Labyrinthitis – inner ear inflammation that can bring hearing changes
   • Vestibular neuritis – inflammation of the balance nerve with strong spinning and imbalance
   • Ménière’s disease – repeated attacks with ear fullness, ringing, and fluctuating hearing
2. Central vertigo – starts in the brain or nervous system
   
   • Symptoms can be steadier and may include coordination or vision problems. A clinician checks for the neurological source.

Vertigo Diagnosis and Tests

Diagnosis begins with a careful history and a physical and neurological exam. Your clinician will ask when episodes start, what sets them off, and what calms them. Testing may include:

• Positional checks and balance assessments to look for BPPV and other inner ear issues
• Hearing tests to identify ear-related causes
• Imaging such as MRI, if a central cause is possible
• Blood tests in selected cases

If you are unsure where to begin, a focused vertigo test and balance evaluation can help. Hearzap offers hearing and balance assessments that support identifying likely vertigo causes and planning next steps.

Vertigo Treatment Options

There is no single plan for everyone. Vertigo treatment depends on the diagnosis, your health, and how often episodes occur.

• Medicines for symptom relief. Short-term antihistamines or anti-nausea medicines can ease spinning and sickness during acute spells. Ask a clinician which medicine for vertigo fits your situation and how long to use it. There is no universal best medicine for vertigo because the choice depends on the cause and your medical history.
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises. Guided movements retrain the balance system, improve stability, and reduce motion sensitivity.
• Canalith repositioning for BPPV. A short sequence of head and body positions moves misplaced crystals back to where they belong.
• Lifestyle adjustments and hydration. Steady sleep, enough fluids, limiting alcohol, and managing migraine triggers can help.
• Condition-specific care. For Ménière’s disease, clinicians may suggest salt reduction or other strategies. For inflammation or infection, targeted treatment may be considered.
• Surgery. Used only in select, severe cases when a clear anatomical problem is identified and other options have not helped.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Tips

Think of these as practical vertigo remedies that support medical advice:

• The Epley manoeuvre is a simple head-turning technique that helps reposition inner-ear crystals to relieve BPPV-related dizziness. It can be safely done at home by following clear step-by-step guidance.
• Hydration and nutrition. Drink enough water. Some people with ear fluid problems are advised to reduce salt intake.
• Adequate rest. Fatigue can increase motion sensitivity.
• Move with care. Rise slowly, avoid sudden head turns, and use support if a spell starts.
• Track patterns. Note foods, stress, screens, or travel that seem to trigger episodes.

When to See a Doctor

Book a visit if spinning keeps returning, lasts longer than expected, or affects daily tasks. Get prompt care if you notice hearing loss, ringing in one ear, vision changes, trouble speaking, weakness, numbness, severe headache, ongoing nausea or vomiting, or if you have had a recent head or neck injury.

Conclusion

Vertigo can be managed once the cause is clear. A good history, targeted testing, and a tailored plan make everyday life easier. If you are dealing with a spinning sensation or imbalance, consider a hearing and balance check at Hearzap. Results from a vertigo test can guide the right vertigo treatment, from exercises to the appropriate medicine for vertigo, along with practical habits that help you get back to normal.

FAQs

How can vertigo be treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. Options include medicines for vertigo to relieve nausea, vestibular rehabilitation exercises, canalith repositioning for BPPV, lifestyle changes like hydration and sleep, condition specific care for Ménière’s disease or migraines, and surgery only for severe cases.

Can vertigo be cured permanently?
Sometimes. BPPV often improves after canalith repositioning. Infections may resolve with time and care. Ménière’s disease and migraine related vertigo are usually managed rather than cured. Central causes vary. The goal is fewer episodes, milder vertigo symptoms, and better balance.

How to avoid vertigo?
You cannot prevent every episode, yet you can lower risk. Stay hydrated, keep sleep regular, limit alcohol, manage migraines, and rise slowly. Avoid sudden head turns, use handrails, and practice guided vestibular exercises. Ask clinicians to review medicines affecting balance.

What is the main cause of vertigo?
There is no single main cause. The most common peripheral cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo BPPV. Other causes include labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, migraine-related vertigo, and Ménière’s disease. Less often, problems in the brain produce vertigo symptoms and imbalance.

What is a natural remedy for vertigo?
Natural support includes the Epley manoeuvre for BPPV, learned with a professional before practice. Other vertigo remedies include hydration, meals, rest, movement, reduced salt for Ménière’s disease, and ginger for nausea. Use these with clinician's advice rather than replacing treatment.

How to test for vertigo?
Testing starts with a neurological exam and history. Clinicians may perform positional tests such as Dix-Hallpike, head impulse checks, balance checks, and hearing tests. Imaging is used if central causes are suspected. A vertigo test helps guide diagnosis and treatment.