What Is Vertigo? Causes of Sudden Dizziness, Symptoms and Treatment
"You turn over in bed and suddenly the room won't stop spinning. Or you stand up too quickly and feel like the floor is tilting beneath you. If this sounds familiar, you're not imagining it — and you're not alone. Vertigo affects millions of people, yet it's one of the most misunderstood conditions in everyday health. Here's everything you actually need to know." Vertigo ≠ dizziness. Dizziness is a vague lightheadedness. Vertigo is a false sense of movement — the room spinning, tilting, or swaying — even when you're completely still. The distinction matters because the causes and treatments are completely different. The most common cause is shockingly simple. BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) — tiny calcium crystals that shift inside your inner ear — accounts for the majority of vertigo cases. It sounds alarming but is highly treatable, often in a single clinic visit with the Epley maneuver. Other causes range from inner ear to neurological. Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, migraines, low blood pressure, and in rarer cases, stroke or tumours can all trigger vertigo-like episodes. Knowing which one you have determines your treatment path. Some symptoms demand immediate attention. Sudden vertigo with slurred speech, facial drooping, vision changes, or a severe headache unlike any you've had before — go to emergency care. These can signal a stroke, not an inner ear issue. Most cases are manageable — often without surgery. Treatment options include repositioning exercises (Epley maneuver), vestibular rehabilitation, medication for acute episodes, and simple lifestyle changes. RBH's neurology and ENT specialists can diagnose the root cause and get you back to balance faster.
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