Vertigo

Vertigo, or dizziness, is a symptom which can describe many different sensations depending on the person experiencing it. Lightheadedness, imbalance and a spinning sensation are all commonly referred to as dizziness, but the causes of the dizziness can vary.

Vertigo types

Vertigo can be divided into two major types:

• Central vertigo.Central refers to conditions in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) which can cause vertigo. These primarily include strokes, tumors or trauma.
• Peripheral vertigo. This type of vertigo arises mainly from the ear or more specifically, from the balance nerves and balance organs in the inner ear. Peripheral vertigo is the most common type and can arise from tumors, trauma, infections, migraines, allergies and inner ear fluid abnormalities.

Causes

Dizziness has a wide range of causes and types, including:

Treatment

The treatment for dizziness depends on the underlying cause. It can include:

• Lifestyle changes
• Medicines
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation

When seeking help from a physician about dizziness, it is important to see someone who is able to discern between the different types of dizziness and identify the primary cause before treatment is started.

Our team

Our team at UCI Health includes a neurotologist, which is a physician who is trained in the diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of ear diseases.

The team also includes audiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and physical rehabilitation specialists who work together in the diagnosis and treatment of the different types of dizziness and balance disorders.