VertigoSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Vertigo
Vertigo is a sensation of motion or spinning that is often described as dizziness.
Vertigo is not the same as being lightheaded. People with vertigo feel as though they are actually spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around them.
Peripheral vertigo; Central vertigo; Dizziness; Benign positional vertigo; Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
There are two types of vertigo, peripheral and central vertigo.
Peripheral vertigo is due to a problem in the part of the inner ear that controls balance. These areas are called the vestibular labyrinth, or semicircular canals. The problem may also involve the vestibular nerve. This is the nerve between the inner ear and the brain stem.
Peripheral vertigo may be caused by:
- Benign positional vertigo (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, also known as BPPV)
- Certain medicines, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, cisplatin, diuretics, or salicylates, which are toxic to the inner ear structures
- Injury (such as head injury)
- Inflammation of the vestibular nerve (neuronitis)
- Irritation and swelling of the inner ear (labyrinthitis)
- Meniere disease
- Pressure on the vestibular nerve, usually from a noncancerous tumor such as a meningioma or schwannoma
Central vertigo is due to a problem in the brain, usually in the brain stem or the back part of the brain (cerebellum).
Central vertigo may be caused by:
- Blood vessel disease
- Certain medicines, such as anticonvulsants, aspirin, and alcohol
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizures (rarely)
- Stroke
- Tumors (cancerous or noncancerous)
- Vestibular migraine, a type of migraine headache
The main symptom is a sensation that you or the room is moving or spinning. The spinning sensation may cause nausea and vomiting.
Depending on the cause, other symptoms can include:
- Problem focusing the eyes
- Dizziness
- Hearing loss in one or both ears
- Loss of balance (may cause falls)
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Nausea and vomiting, leading to loss of body fluids
If you have vertigo due to problems in the brain (central vertigo), you may have other symptoms, including:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Double vision
- Eye movement problems
- Facial paralysis
- Slurred speech
- Weakness of the limbs
The cause of any brain disorder causing vertigo should be identified and treated when possible.
To help resolve symptoms of benign positional vertigo, your provider may perform the Epley maneuver on you. This involves placing your head in different positions to help reset the balance organ.
You may be prescribed medicines to treat symptoms of peripheral vertigo, such as nausea and vomiting.
Physical therapy may help improve balance problems. You'll be taught exercises to restore your sense of balance. Exercises can also strengthen your muscles to help prevent falls.
To prevent worsening of symptoms during an episode of vertigo, try the following:
- Keep still. Sit or lie down when symptoms occur.
- Gradually resume activity.
- Avoid sudden position changes.
- Do not try to read when symptoms occur.
- Avoid bright lights.
You may need help walking when symptoms occur. Avoid hazardous activities such as driving, operating heavy machinery, and climbing until 1 week after symptoms have disappeared.
Other treatment depends on the cause of the vertigo. Surgery may be suggested in some cases.
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
David Newman-Toker, M.D., Ph.D., is an internationally recognized leader in neuro-otology, acute stroke diagnosis, and diagnostic errors research. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University, his medical degree at University of Pennsylvania, his residency training and neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at Harvard University, his neuro-otology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and his doctoral degree in clinical research methods at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has served as a full-time faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine since 2002. He is the David Robinson Professor of Vestibular Neurology and also holds appointments in Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Emergency Medicine, Acute Care Nursing, Health Sciences Informatics, Epidemiology, and Health Policy & Management at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Newman-Toker is a bedside-to-populations translational researcher, with a focus on eliminating diagnostic errors and achieving diagnostic excellence. He is a leader in the national and international movements to eliminate patient harms from diagnostic error. Dr. Newman-Toker’s clinical focus is on diagnosis of acute disorders affecting the brainstem and cranial nerves, particularly stroke. He is recognized for his research in novel eye-movement-based bedside methods for diagnosing stroke in patients with acute dizziness and vertigo in the emergency department and, in 2024, won the international Bárány Society’s Hallpike-Nylén Prize for clinical research achievement. Dr. Newman-Toker serves as director of the Division of Neuro-Visual & Vestibular Disorders in the Department of Neurology. He also directs the Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence, whose mission is to catalyze efforts to improve diagnostic performance, develop the science of diagnostic safety, and enhance diagnostic research. He has been the principal investigator on numerous National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and foundation grants. He has published over 165 journal articles and given more than 300 invited lectures. He has served as an expert consultant on diagnostic safety and quality to AHRQ, the National Quality Forum, and the National Academy of Medicine. He has testified before Congress on the use of artificial intelligence for medical diagnosis. He was president of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine from 2018-2020. Dr. Newman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vertigo. His top areas of expertise are Vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Stroke, and Brown Syndrome.
Rayus/Foundation Radiology Group
. Dr. Blodgett is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vertigo. His top areas of expertise are Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Visceromegaly, Diverticular Disease, and Emphysema.
Tele-Radiology Solutions
. Dr. Safvi is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vertigo. His top areas of expertise are Pleurisy, Pleural Effusion, Gallbladder Disease, and Nasal Flaring.
Vertigo can interfere with driving, work, and lifestyle. It can also cause falls, which can lead to many injuries, including hip fractures and head trauma, among others.
Contact your provider if you have vertigo that does not go away or interferes with your daily activities. If you have never had vertigo or if you have vertigo with other symptoms (such as double vision, slurred speech, or loss of coordination), call 911 or the local emergency number.
Summary: Ménière's disease was first described by Prosper Ménière in 1861 as a balance disorder originating in the inner ear. It is diagnosed based on a characteristic clinical triad of low-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo attacks. The underlying cause is thought to be a pressure imbalance in the inner ear between the endolymphatic and perilymphatic sectors. The prevalence of Ménière's disease...
Summary: Consultations for vertigo in general practice are difficult, primarily due to practitioners' lack of experience. Patient referrals can be inaccurate, leading to missed opportunities or misuse of resources. The creation of a diagnostic aid flowchart that provides referrals will improve patient care and reassure general practitioners during consultations for vertigo.
Published Date: October 27, 2025
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Baloh RW, Jen JC. Hearing and equilibrium. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 396.
Chang AK. Dizziness and vertigo. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 15.
Crowson MG, Crane BT. Peripheral vestibular disorders. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillell AT, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 164.
Kerber KA, Baloh RW. Neuro-otology: diagnosis and management of neuro-otoligical disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley's and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 22.