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 provide information regarding peripheral vestibular function while others focus on central processing.
- Hearing exam
- Neurological examination
- Blood tests, including complete blood count, blood gas analysis: These tests may help doctors know whether there is any inflammation in your body.
- 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 head CT scan and MRI scan: These images help to exclude serious conditions in your brain, such as stroke ortumor.
When to seek urgent medical care?
See your doctor immediately if you experience vertigo with any of the following:
- A new, different or severe headache
- Fever
- Diplopia or loss of vision
- Hearing loss
- Trouble in speaking
- Leg or arm weakness or paralysis, especially in one side
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty walking
- Numbness
Treatment options
Similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for dwarfism?
Directions to Hospitals Treating vertigo
Prevention of vertigo
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The prognosis of vertigo depends on the causes. Outcomes of vertigo caused by tumors are poorer than any other causes.
Copyleft Sources
http://www.neurologychannel.com/vertigo/index.shtml
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/vertigo/article_em.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vertigo/DS00534
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/462/main.html
http://www.neurologychannel.com/vertigo/symptoms.shtml