Do you sometimes feel like the whole world is spinning around you? It's like riding a roller coaster at an amusement park. This is what we call Vertigo in medicine. But it's not just a spinning sensation. It's important to find the cause behind it. So, let's talk about Vertigo in simple terms today.
Let's first understand: Vertigo is not a disease!
Yes, that's right. Vertigo is not a disease, it's a symptom . That is, it's caused by something else in our body. Just like having a fever. A fever is not a disease, it's the body's response to something like an infection. That's how vertigo is. So your doctor will try to find out exactly what's causing this dizziness. Once the cause is found, it's much easier to treat it.
There are two main types of vertigo:
Simply put, Vertigo can be divided into two main categories. This classification is based on the source of the dizziness.
1. Peripheral Vertigo: This is the most common type. It is caused by a problem with the parts of our inner ear that control balance.
2. Central Vertigo: This is a bit rare, but can sometimes be serious. It is caused by a problem in our brain , specifically the brain stem or cerebellum.
To understand exactly the difference between the two, let's look at the table below.
| Characteristic | Peripheral Vertigo (Inner Ear Related) | Central Vertigo (brain related) |
|---|---|---|
| Main reason | Problems with the balance-related parts of the inner ear. | Problems with the brain (especially the cerebellum). |
| The nature of dizziness | It starts suddenly and disappears after a short time (seconds/minutes). But it can be felt immediately. | It may start gradually and last for a long time (hours/days). The dizziness may be less severe, but it will continue. |
| Other symptoms | Nausea, vomiting, sweating, ear pain or fullness, hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus). | Severe headaches, difficulty walking, weakness in body parts, difficulty swallowing, stuttering while speaking. Hearing problems are rare. |
| Eye movement | The eyes move uncontrollably, but can stop when looking at one spot. | Uncontrolled eye movements last for a long time, and they do not stop even when looking at one place. |
Peripheral Vertigo: The most common type
This is the most common type of Vertigo we see. There are several main causes for this.
BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
This is the most common cause of Peripheral Vertigo. Simply put, there are tiny calcium crystals in our inner ear that help with balance. When these crystals become dislodged and float in the fluid in the inner ear, this dizziness occurs. If you experience this dizziness especially when you move your head from side to side or roll over in bed, then BPPV may be the cause.
Treatment: The best treatment for this is the Epley maneuver . It's a simple 15-minute exercise that your doctor will do in his office. It involves moving your head and body in a specific pattern, and then putting the floating pieces back in place.
Vestibular Neuronitis
This is when a nerve in the inner ear becomes inflamed due to a viral infection. This can cause severe vertigo that lasts for two to three days, sometimes two to three weeks.
Meniere's Disease
This can be accompanied by dizziness, hearing loss, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Although the exact cause of this is unknown, things like stress, salt, coffee, and alcohol can make this condition worse.
In addition, other inner ear diseases such as labyrinthitis and perilymph fistula can also cause peripheral vertigo. In many of these cases, vertigo can be controlled by treating the underlying disease and making lifestyle changes (such as reducing salt and coffee).
Central Vertigo: A serious brain problem
Central Vertigo is caused by damage or disease to the brain. Although it is not as common as Peripheral Vertigo, we should be very concerned about this.
Things that can cause this are:
- Head injuries
- Brain infections
- Neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Migraines
- Brain tumors
- Stroke and Transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
In Central Vertigo, the dizziness lasts for a long time and can be so severe that the patient is unable to stand or walk. In addition, other symptoms such as headaches, numbness in parts of the body, and difficulty swallowing also occur.
Emergency! Pay special attention to this!
If you experience dizziness, slurred speech, sudden difficulty walking, numbness or weakness on one side of your body, or drooping of one side of your face, these are very likely signs of a stroke. In such cases, take the patient to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) without delay.
Central Vertigo is treated by identifying and treating the underlying cause. For example, if it is caused by a migraine, medication can help.
Take-Home Message
- Vertigo is the feeling that the world is spinning. It is not a disease, but a symptom.
- There are two main types: Peripheral (caused by the inner ear, common) and Central (caused by the brain, can be serious).
- If you have vertigo, be sure to see a doctor to find the exact cause and get treatment.
- Conditions like BPPV that cause peripheral vertigo can often be completely cured with simple techniques like the Epley maneuver and medication.
- If dizziness is accompanied by weakness, difficulty speaking, or numbness, it could be a sign of a stroke and should be reported to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
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