Typically, an ear infection will be followed over days or weeks by a serious deterioration of hearing and extreme vertigo. The symptoms of bacterial labyrinthitis are unmistakable. Symptoms can last from a few minutes to hours. Most people find the struggle against vertigo physically exhausting. Some people complain of other symptoms during attacks of vertigo, like memory problems or difficulty reading. The muscles may ache, particularly in the neck and back. Severe vertigo can cause vomiting and stop you from walking.īecause the vestibular system is linked to the brain's movement centre and to the eyes, some people with vestibular disorders find their vision is affected, or their muscles are poorly coordinated or don't go where they're supposed to.

If you close your eyes during an episode of vertigo, you'll feel as if you're spinning or falling. Vertigo is the primary symptom of any balance disorder.

Acetylsalicylic acid* (ASA), caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, sedatives, tranquilizers, and several illegal drugs can cause temporary dizziness but do no permanent damage to the balance organs once they are stopped. Some antibiotics can damage the vestibular system in high doses or with prolonged use. Nobody knows what causes Ménière's disease. Ménière's disease: This was once called watchmaker's disease because it tends to strike people who do precise, intricate work that requires concentration and careful control of the hands for long periods.However, neuritis can also be caused by a blood clot lodged in the tiny blood vessels that feed the inner ear. It affects the nerves of the vestibular system and not the cochlea (the organ for hearing). vestibular neuritis: This is also known as vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis, and is believed to be caused by a viral infection.head trauma: People who have received a violent blow on the head can suffer temporary or permanent damage to the inner ear, causing balance problems.It is caused by calcium deposits in the inner ear balance organ that periodically become dislodged and cause symptoms. benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: This is a common form of vertigo, usually brought on by specific head positions or movements.Major causes of vertigo include the following: Vertigo can also be caused by changes in the parts of the brain (cerebellum and brain stem) that are also involved in controlling balance. Balance problems may be associated with a ringing in the ears or loss of hearing. The information is sent to the brain, which uses it to calculate which way is down and what should be the horizontal level.Īny problems with balance originate in the vestibular system, so people who suffer from frequent vertigo are said to have a vestibular disorder. As you move, the liquid in the tubes also moves about, and its levels are read by nerve cells. There are two identical vestibular systems, located in the labyrinth of each inner ear. The organ of balance is the vestibular system in the ear, a tiny grid of fluid-filled tubes and sacs.

Vertigo attack