Vertigo

Vertigo is a sensation of falling, spinning or tilting. These feelings make it difficult to stand or walk. It’s different than dizziness, which is a feeling of lightheadedness.

Vertigo and dizziness are sometimes experienced together and lead to a trip to the emergency room. Most causes of vertigo aren’t serious, but vertigo can also be a sign of a serious condition, such as stroke. Goshen Hospital Emergency Department can quickly diagnose and treat what’s causing your vertigo.

Symptoms experienced with vertigo

Vertigo is often experienced along with other symptoms, including:

• Dizziness
• Difficulty balancing
• Feeling of unsteadiness
• Headache
• Sensitivity to light
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fullness, pain or a sensation of ringing in the ears
• Hearing loss that comes and goes

What causes vertigo?

To diagnose the cause of vertigo, your emergency physician or nurse needs to know:

• Any related symptoms
• What movements trigger vertigo, such as certain head movements or changing positions
• Medications you take and any changes in these medications
• When your vertigo started and how long it lasted

The most common causes of vertigo are problems related to the inner ear. Other causes include:

• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Migraine
• Panic disorder
• Brain tumor

Diagnosing what’s causing your vertigo may only take a simple examination, such as head maneuvers, hearing tests, observing eye movements or a neurological exam. If your condition is life-threatening, our experienced physicians and nurses are highly trained and can quickly provide vertigo treatment.