Vertigo is a symptom whereby one experiences a sensation of the room or the person himself/herself spinning. It is not a diagnosis.
Quite often, patients with vertigo do experience nausea or even vomiting. The causes of vertigo can be divided into peripheral causes (due to a problem with the inner ear balance system) or central (due to a problem with the balance centre in the brain). Fortunately, majority of vertigo are peripheral. Amongst the common causes of peripheral vertigo include:
1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) - This is one of the most common causes of vertigo and is due to calcium deposits or crystals in the inner ear balance system (semicircular canals) The sufferer typically experiences vertigo that is triggered by head movements (e.g. turning the head to the left or right, getting up from bed or when tilting the head up). The vertigo can last between seconds to minutes. It can be diagnosed by a trained GP or an ENT Specialist who will perform a Dix Hallpike manouevre in the clinic. If the test is positive, the GP or ENT Specialist can perform an Epley's manouevre to dislodge the calcium deposits from the inner ear semicricular canal. From the clinical history that you have provided, this may be the cause of your vertigo.
2. Vestibular neuronitis - This is due to a viral infection of the balance nerve of the inner ear. Typically the sufferer experiences a sudden onset of vertigo which last for hours. It may also be associated with nausea, vomiting and tinntius (ringing sound in the ear). After an attack, the sufferer will likely feel groggy for a few days to weeks. The treatment usually involves medications or injections to suppress the signals from the balance system during an acute attack.
3. Labrynthitis - This refers to inflammation or viral infection of the whole balance system of the inner ear. The sufferer will experience vertigo lasting for hours to days, hearing loss and tinnitus. Treatment usually involves a course of oral steroids and medications to suppress the balance system.
There are many other potential cause for your vertigo including Meniere's disease (high pressure in the balance system of the inner ear) and vestibulopathy (weakness of the balance system of the inner ear) but these are less common and sufferers of these conditions tend to have a more prolonged history of repeated attacks of vertigo.
If your vertigo is a recurring symptom, you should visit a GP or an ENT Specialist for an assessment. Quite often, a hearing test will also be required.
Hope this helps and all the best!
