Vertigo

type of dizziness

This article is about a medical condition. For an article about the movie with the same name, see Vertigo (movie).

Vertigo
Vertigo is the feeling that a person or the world around them is spinning.
ICD-10H81., R42.
ICD-9438.85, 780.4
DiseasesDB29286
eMedicinearticle/1159385 
MeSHD014717

Vertigo means a person feels as if the world around them is spinning, or that they are spinning, or the spinning is in their head. Vertigo can be caused by different medical conditions; when it happens because of a migraine it is called migraine-associated vertigo. It may happen before a migraine headache starts or during the headache, but vertigo is most common during the period of time between headaches. Many people who have migraines have vertigo or dizziness as the main symptom instead of a headache.[1] You can experience vertigo when you get dizzy.

There are different ways of vertigo associated with migraines, making a person feel; from feeling lightheaded or:

  • Episodic true vertigo:
  • Positional vertigo: which happens when a person holds their head in a certain positions.
  • Constant imbalance:
  • Movement associated dysequilibrium: different types of movement may cause vertigo.

References

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Vertigo can sometimes be triggered by looking down from a high place.
  1. John Brust: Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Neurology; p.46 (McGraw-Hill Professional; 2 edition, 2011) ISBN 0071701184