Vertigo Care
Use when asked for general educational information about vertigo care — common symptoms, general self-care measures, and when to seek medical attention — for education only, not medical advice; always direct the reader to consult a doctor or health care professional.
> ⚠️ Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.
Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or movement when there is none, usually caused by an issue in the inner ear (peripheral vertigo) but occasionally caused by a neurological condition (central vertigo), which is important to distinguish.
Common symptoms
A spinning or whirling sensation, loss of balance, nausea, and sometimes hearing changes or ringing in the ears, depending on the cause.
General self-care measures
- Sit or lie down when vertigo occurs to reduce fall risk.
- Move slowly, especially when changing position (sitting up, standing).
- Avoid driving or operating machinery during a vertigo episode.
- Follow any prescribed exercises (such as specific repositioning maneuvers for BPPV) as directed by a professional.
- Stay hydrated and manage any known triggers.
When to seek medical attention
- New or recurrent vertigo, for proper diagnosis of the cause.
- Vertigo accompanied by symptoms suggesting a central (neurological) cause — double vision, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or severe headache — seek emergency care immediately; see Urgent Emergency Care.
- Sudden hearing loss alongside vertigo.
- Vertigo significantly affecting safety (falls, inability to function normally).
Common pitfalls
- Assuming all vertigo is the same, benign inner-ear cause — some vertigo has a neurological cause needing urgent evaluation; symptoms alongside the spinning sensation (weakness, slurred speech, double vision) are important warning signs that shouldn't be dismissed.
- Continuing to drive or use machinery during vertigo episodes — this creates real safety risk, both to the person and others.
- Not following through on prescribed repositioning exercises for BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) — these can be highly effective for the specific cause they target but need correct, consistent technique.
Learn more
- Audio Vestibular Assessment for how vertigo/balance issues are clinically assessed (including the Dix-Hallpike test).
- Neurology Assessment for ruling out a central neurological cause.
- Health Care for general navigation of health systems.