Vertigo Unravelled: Knowing the Condition
May 03, 2021
Vertigo occurs alongside other common symptoms like:
● Dizziness
● Headaches
● Nausea and vomiting
● Ringing in the ear (Tinnitus)
● Ear pain
● Loss of hearing
● Uncontrollable movement of eyes from side to side
The two common forms of vertigo are peripheral and central vertigo.
Peripheral Vertigo
Peripheral Vertigo is caused because of a problem in the inner part of the ear. Since the inner part of the ear is responsible for making the body feel a sense of balance, any problem in it makes the body feel like it’s losing balance.
Peripheral vertigo is caused because of
1. Injury to the ear which causes small crystals to float in the ear fluid. Vertigo is caused because of this movement.
2. Viral infection that affects the inner ear
3. Swelling in the inner ear and its nerve endings
Central Vertigo
When a part of the brain responsible for balance is injured or infected, it causes central vertigo and the patient feels a spinning sensation.
A person experiencing central vertigo will experience the following signs apart from the common symptoms of vertigo that are listed above.
● Inability to move facial muscles
● Difficulty in pronouncing words and speaking sentences clearly i.e. the patient has slurred speech.
● Cannot swallow food and drinks easily.
● One object appears doubled to the patient. This is commonly called double vision.
● Legs and hands feel weak.