Vertigo (patient information)

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What is vertigo?

How do I know if I have vertigo?

Patients with vertigo may experience one or more following symptons.

A sensation of disorientation or motion or the perception that surrounding objects are moving or spinning
Lightheadedness
Imbalance
Nausea and vomiting
Sweat
Abnormal eye movements
Tinnitus or hearing loss

Who is at risk for vertigo?

Upper respiratory tract infection
Ear infection
Labyrinthitis
Head or ear injury
Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy
Neck injuries
Migraine
Ménière's disease
Acoustic neuroma
Brain stem tumors
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)

How to know you have vertigo?

The goal of the tests is to identify the cause of vertigo. It is important to rule out serious conditions such as stroke ortumor.

Medical history and physical examination
Vestibular function testing: Vestibular function testing includes a series of tests, such as earth-vertical axis rotational testing, caloric testing and head-only rotational testing. The purpose of vestibular function testing is to objectively and quantitatively assess the status of the vestibular system. Some techniques may provide information regarding peripheral vestibular function while others focus on central processing.
Hearing testing: Hearing testing is a means of evaluating an individual's overall hearing function and help diagnose the cause of vertigo. The tests are used to determine if there is something wrong with the hearing portion of the inner ear. They are often used as an initial screening. They are sometimes used in conjunction with vestibular testing to diagnose specific disorders, such as Meniere's disease.
Neurological examination: The neurological examination is the physical examination of the nervous system. It attempts to identify or exclude nervous system disease and to produce a likely anatomical or physiological explanation that can be tested through medical imaging, blood tests or a combination.
Blood tests, including complete blood count, blood gas analysis: These tests may help doctors know whether there is any inflammation in your body and may supply clues for the diagnosis.
X-ray tests in chest and neck: These x-ray tests may used to detect whether there is any pathological change in your chest and neck, and whether it is related to your vertigo.
Imaging tests, such as CT scan and MRI scan in head or cervical spine: These images help to exclude serious conditions in your brain, such as stroke ortumor and help find the cause of your vertigo.