What is vertigo?
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness in which there is a false sensation of movement, most commonly spinning.
It is usually caused by a disorder of the inner ear balance system or its connections to the brain.
Dizziness, by contrast, is a broader term and may include:
Light-headedness
Unsteadiness
A floating or off-balance sensation
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) — The most common cause of vertigo.
What causes BPPV?
The inner ear contains tiny calcium crystals that help detect head position. In BPPV, these crystals become displaced into one of the balance canals, sending incorrect signals to the brain and triggering vertigo.
Typical symptoms
Sudden spinning sensation triggered by:
- Turning in bed
- Looking up or down
- Episodes last seconds
- Getting out of bed
- Excessive screen time
- No hearing loss or neurological symptoms
