Frequent Diagnoses

Sudden vertigo attacks are not without danger, for example, if they occur while driving or lead to a fall. The fear associated therewith, like acrophobia, can become independent and lead to long-lasting symptoms: Phobic postural vertigo is particularly common as the sole cause, or as secondary cause of dizziness – but not vertigo sensu strictiori. In the second most frequent form of vertigo, the benign positional vertigo [BPV], that may follow attrition or light head concussions, is caused by broken small crystals of calcium carbonate (lime) in the inner ear that now float within the semicircular canals of the vestibular system: At each change of position they sink to the deepest point and the liquid is then accelerated in the semicircular canal: The patient experiences short, violent attacks of rotational vertigo. With a simple positioning maneuver, these lime particles are flooding out of the semicircular canals and so the symptoms are relieved in up to 90 %.

Also, unilateral or bilateral loss of the vestibular organs, inflammatory changes of the vestibular nerve as well as Meniere’s disease always lead to vertigo. Less frequently but not less importantly, vertigo-migraine, neuro-degenerative diseases, and especially circulatory disorders of the brain stem or cerebellum must be seen by the neurologist: If dizziness/vertigo is accompanied by visual, speech, or movement disorders of the arms and legs, this is an emergency. A too high or too low blood pressure often leads to dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or syncope.