What Is Vertigo?

What Does Vertigo Feel Like?

Vertigo feels as though you are spinning, tilting or moving when you are still, or as though the room is moving around you. Episodes may last seconds, minutes or longer and can bring nausea, motion sensitivity or trouble walking normally.

What Causes Vertigo?

One common cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which produces brief spinning after head-position changes such as rolling over in bed or looking up. Other causes include vestibular migraine, vestibular neuritis, Ménière disease and, less commonly, neurologic disorders. Timing, duration, triggers, hearing changes, headache symptoms, neurologic symptoms and the examination help identify the likely cause.

Is Vertigo the Same as Dizziness?

No. “Dizziness” can also mean feeling lightheaded, faint or generally off-balance. Vertigo specifically describes false motion. Naming the sensation clearly can make a clinical assessment more useful. See the broader guide to dizziness and balance.

Vertigo During Perimenopause and Menopause

Women may report dizziness or vertigo during the menopause transition, but these symptoms should not automatically be attributed to hormonal change. BPPV and vestibular migraine still need consideration, along with other inner-ear and neurologic causes. The menopause neurologic-symptoms guide explains why the pattern matters more than timing alone.

When Should Vertigo Be Evaluated?

New, recurrent, persistent or changing vertigo deserves evaluation, especially with hearing symptoms, headache or difficulty walking. A clinician can use positional and neurologic examination findings to guide any further testing.