3 Common Causes of Vertigo and When to Seek Care

Vertigo is the false sensation that you or your surroundings are moving or spinning. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Most causes involve the inner ear, but vertigo can occasionally signal a neurological emergency. The pattern, timing, triggers, hearing symptoms, and neurological examination help determine the next step.

1. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV causes brief spinning episodes triggered by head-position changes, such as rolling in bed, looking up, or bending down. It occurs when tiny calcium particles move into an inner-ear canal. A trained clinician can perform positional testing and, when appropriate, a canalith-repositioning maneuver such as the Epley maneuver.

2. Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis

Inflammation involving the balance nerve or inner ear can produce a sudden, prolonged episode of vertigo, imbalance, nausea, and vomiting. Hearing loss may suggest labyrinthitis rather than vestibular neuritis. Because stroke can sometimes resemble these conditions, sudden continuous vertigo—especially with neurological symptoms—needs urgent evaluation.

3. Ménière’s disease and other inner-ear conditions

Ménière’s disease can cause repeated vertigo episodes with fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear, or ear pressure. Migraine, medication effects, blood-pressure changes, and other neurological or medical conditions can also cause dizziness or vertigo. Treatment depends on the diagnosis rather than the symptom alone.

Stroke warning signs: BE FAST

Call 911 immediately for vertigo with any sudden Balance loss, Eye or vision changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, or a severe unusual headache—Time is critical. New inability to walk, double vision, fainting, chest pain, or one-sided numbness also needs emergency care.

Do not delay emergency evaluation for a chiropractic visit when these symptoms occur. Neck manipulation is not appropriate until vascular and neurological emergencies have been excluded.

How is vertigo treated?

Treatment is cause-specific. BPPV often responds to repositioning maneuvers. Other conditions may require medication, vestibular rehabilitation, hearing evaluation, migraine management, or specialist care. General spinal adjustment is not a substitute for diagnosing the source of vertigo.

Dr. Jared Thomas screens for symptom patterns and warning signs and refers patients for medical or vestibular evaluation when indicated. When dizziness accompanies a clearly mechanical neck complaint and serious causes have been excluded, conservative musculoskeletal care may address the neck symptoms—but it should not be presented as a cure for inner-ear or neurological disease.

Roseville patients can learn about our chiropractic services, but sudden or severe vertigo belongs in urgent medical care first.

Is vertigo the same as dizziness?

Vertigo is a specific spinning or movement sensation. “Dizziness” can also mean lightheadedness, imbalance, or feeling faint, which may have different causes.

Can BPPV go away on its own?

It sometimes resolves, but a trained clinician can confirm the pattern and use a repositioning maneuver when appropriate. Recurrent or atypical symptoms deserve evaluation.

Can a chiropractor treat vertigo?

Some appropriately trained clinicians perform repositioning maneuvers for confirmed BPPV, but vertigo has many causes. Spinal manipulation should not replace medical or vestibular assessment, especially with sudden or neurological symptoms.

When should I go to the emergency room for vertigo?

Call 911 for sudden vertigo with weakness, numbness, facial droop, speech or vision changes, severe headache, inability to walk, fainting, or chest pain.

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic: Vertigo
• Cleveland Clinic: Vestibular disorders
• Cleveland Clinic: BE FAST stroke signs