Vertigo (Dizziness – BPPV)

Vertigo (Dizziness – BPPV)

Vertigo is a condition that causes a spinning sensation and loss of balance, often originating from the inner ear or nervous system.

Vertigo is a sensation in which a person feels that they or their surroundings are spinning or moving. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of balance.

Although vertigo is commonly referred to as dizziness, not all dizziness is vertigo. Vertigo episodes can range from mild to severe and may significantly interfere with daily activities.

Diagnosis of Vertigo

The first step in diagnosing vertigo is a detailed description of the patient’s symptoms. Based on this, further tests are conducted to determine the underlying cause, focusing on the central nervous system and the inner ear.

If a problem with blood flow to the brain is suspected, additional imaging tests may include:

1. Doppler ultrasound
2. CT angiography
3. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRI)
4. Catheter angiography

Treatment is planned according to the underlying diagnosis.

Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo is mainly caused by disorders of the inner ear or the central nervous system.

The most common type is:

1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV):
2. This type is characterized by sudden, short episodes of severe dizziness lasting 15 seconds to a few minutes, usually triggered by head movements such as turning in bed or looking up and down. It is more common in older adults and is considered a benign (non-life-threatening) condition.

Other causes include:

1. Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the inner ear, usually caused by viral infections
2. Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve
3. Reduced blood flow to the brain
4. Upper respiratory infections

Viruses commonly associated with vertigo include:

1. Influenza
2. Measles
3. Rubella
4. Herpes viruses
5. Mumps
6. Hepatitis viruses
7. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

In some cases, vertigo may also be accompanied by hearing loss.

Symptoms

1. Spinning sensation (self or surroundings)
2. Loss of balance
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Difficulty walking
5. Hearing loss (in some cases)

Treatment Methods

Treatment depends on the underlying cause:

1. Positional maneuvers (especially for BPPV)
2. Medications to control symptoms
3. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy
4. Treatment of underlying infections

In many cases, especially BPPV, symptoms can improve spontaneously or with simple maneuvers performed by a specialist.

Sıkça Sorulan Sorular

Vertigo (Dizziness – BPPV) hizmeti hakkında en çok merak edilen sorular ve cevapları.