What is Vertigo ?

There are many diseases which can cause vertigo and many types of dizziness which are not vertigo. Different terms can be applied to these other symptoms. The term dizziness is a very general term for a collection of sensations such as being off balance (disequilibrium), spinning (vertigo) or being light headed (pre-syncope). Each of these sensations can, in turn, have a number of causes. Common culprits include heart disease, certain type of drugs and medications, and brain disorders.

In general terms the causes of vertigo can be thought of as either central, related to the brain, or peripheral, related to the organ of hearing.

Peripheral

There are a number of other relatively common peripheral causes of vertigo which include; Meniere's Disease, Recurrent Vestibulopathy and Vestibular Neuronitis and BPPV. In each of these peripheral causes of vertigo something has gone wrong with the balance organ in the ear called the vestibular apparatus.

Central

Central causes can be related to a problem with the brain itself such a tumor or stroke or are related to outside conditions which affect the brain indirectly like drugs such as alcohol. Other disorders which affect the brain indirectly include heart disease and rhythm abnormalities which interrupt the supply of oxygen to the brain and can cause dizziness. This is similar to the common experience of feeling lightheaded when standing too quickly.