Terms used to describe dizziness
Vertigo
Commonly used terms · Spinning dizziness · Vertigo
Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you or your surroundings feel as if they are spinning, and it is distinguished from staggering or feeling as if you might faint. To narrow down the cause, head movement, duration, hearing changes, and neurological symptoms must be checked together.
Meaning and Distinctions
What is vertigo?
It is a symptom that can occur due to various causes, such as issues with the vestibular system and the nervous system. Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you feel as if you or your surroundings are spinning, staggeringand it is distinguished from a feeling of instability or fainting. To narrow down the cause, it is necessary to check head movement, duration, changes in hearing, and neurological symptoms together.
- Easily confused terms
- It is different from staggering imbalance or a feeling of Presyncopeis different from.
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- Causes are categorized by posture, duration, hearing, and neurological symptoms.
- What to note down for your visit
- Please note the starting posture and the duration of the symptoms.
Dizziness, Ear, Head, and Face Glossary
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Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuideDizzinessVertigo manifests as a feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning, or a feeling that your body is tilting or about to fall. It may be accompanied by staggering, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and a loss of sense of direction. Note whether it occurs briefly and repeatedly when changing head posture, whether it continues even while still, or if it is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in one ear, tinnitus, or hearing loss. If sudden slurred speech, weakness in the face, arms, or legs, double vision, severe headache, or inability to walk occurs, do not wait for a vestibular evaluation and seek emergency evaluation immediately.→
- Condition GuideBPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)A typical symptom of BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is the sudden onset of brief vertigo, feeling as if you or the room is spinning, immediately after assuming a specific head position. It often occurs when rolling over in bed, lying down, standing up, looking up, or bending over, and tends to stop when the position is reversed. Nausea and instability may overlap, but new hearing loss or ear fullness is not typical. If dizziness persists even while still, or if one-sided weakness, slurred speech, double vision, or inability to walk occurs, do not wait for a BPPV evaluation and seek evaluation immediately.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhat should I check first when I suddenly feel dizzy?You should start by clarifying what you mean by 'dizzy.' Note whether the world feels like it is spinning, if you feel unsteady while walking, or if your vision goes dark and you feel as if you might collapse. If you experience one-sided paralysis, slurred speech, a new severe headache, difficulty walking, or sudden hearing loss, do not dismiss it as BPPV or fatigue; you must seek an immediate evaluation.→
- Head, Ear, and Face ColumnWhat is the difference between spinning dizziness, a floating sensation, and lightheadedness?→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment descriptions.