Causes of Sudden Vertigo

Have you experienced sudden vertigo and feel concerned about it? Keep reading this article to learn about the causes of sudden vertigo and how to determine the underlying reasons behind it.

Causes of Sudden Vertigo

Sudden vertigo often occurs without warning, lasting a few seconds or longer. Below are its primary causes:

1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

The most common cause of sudden vertigo is BPPV, which occurs due to sudden changes in head position, such as tilting the head up or down, lying down, turning over, or sitting up in bed. This happens when small calcium crystals in the inner ear shift out of place and move to another part of the inner ear, causing vertigo.

This type of vertigo may lead to falls and usually lasts about two minutes, but some people may feel unsteady between episodes.

2. Meniere's Disease

This inner ear disorder causes episodes of sudden vertigo accompanied by hearing loss, a sensation of fullness, and pressure in one ear. Each episode typically lasts from an hour to 24 hours and may occur every few days, weeks, or months.

3. Migraine

Some people experience sudden vertigo just before or during a migraine attack. Vestibular migraines can also cause sudden vertigo without other typical migraine symptoms.

4. Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis

The vestibular nerve in the inner ear transmits signals about head movement to the body to help maintain balance. It may become inflamed due to viral or bacterial infections. 

Similarly, labyrinthitis occurs when both the auditory and vestibular nerves in the inner ear are inflamed due to infections.

5. Certain Medications

Taking medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, cardiovascular drugs, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and diuretics can also lead to sudden vertigo.

6. Other Causes

Other causes of sudden vertigo include alcohol consumption or experiencing one of the following health issues:

• Strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
• Diabetes.
• Irregular heartbeats.
• Head injuries.
• Low blood pressure.
• Acoustic neuroma.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Anxiety and stress.

How is the Cause of Sudden Vertigo Determined?

To identify the cause of sudden vertigo, a doctor will inquire about the following:

1. The nature of the vertigo (e.g., whether the patient feels the surroundings spinning or experiences lightheadedness).
2. Other symptoms such as hearing loss, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, headache, or vision changes.
3. The frequency and duration of symptoms.
4. Triggers or factors that worsen the symptoms.
5. The impact of symptoms on daily life, such as difficulty walking.

Afterward, the doctor will examine the ears, eyes, and balance and may request various tests and analyses. Sudden vertigo could indicate underlying health conditions like anemia, inner ear infections, diabetes, thyroid disorders, electrolyte imbalances, or other medical issues.

At Blazma, we provide a range of diagnostic tests and analyses that doctors may request to determine the cause of sudden vertigo, including Anemia package, Thyroid tests package, Diabetes Checkup Package, and more.