Business & Tech
Vertigo Needn’t Be a Dizzying Mystery
Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Christopher Hampson of Midwest ENT answers the most-asked questions from patients like you.
Q: What exactly is vertigo?
A: Vertigo is a disorder where there is a feeling of motion even when an individual is stationary. Most people who have vertigo complain about dizziness, faintness and lightheadedness. There are different types of vertigo, but the most common type of vertigo is BPPV or positional vertigo.
Q: Is all vertigo the same?
A: The timing and duration of the vertigo are essential in determining the type of vertigo and its underlying cause. Positional vertigo is only experienced with changes in head or body position, often reproducible and repetitive, and usually only lasts for seconds. Episodic vertigo occurs whether the patient is still or moving and often lasts for hours or days.
Q: Can I really have “loose rocks in my head”?
A: Positional vertigo is actually caused by microscopic “rocks” or otoconia (small crystals of calcium carbonate) that abnormally migrate into the inner ear canals. When there are specific changes in head position (most commonly when someone is lying down or looking upward at the ceiling), the “rocks” over stimulate the vestibular system—the system that contributes to our balance and sense of spatial orientation.
Q: What causes positional vertigo?
A: Although no specific cause of positional vertigo has been identified, head injury, viral illness and degeneration with age all can potentially cause the “rocks” to dislodge, causing vertigo. Medical problems including orthostatic hypotension, arrhythmias, infection and hypoglycemia can cause a sense of dizziness that can be mistaken as vertigo.
Q: How is vertigo treated?
A: A complete physical exam (including an ear exam and cranial nerve exam) and a thorough review of a patient’s medical history and current medications are crucial in a vertigo diagnosis. The most common and useful way to treat positional vertigo is for a doctor to perform the Epley maneuver on their patient—a simple set of positional maneuvers to loosen the “rocks” or otoconia in the inner ear canals. This can easily be done in the office in minutes. Most medications are not useful in treating vertigo and only suppress the symptoms.
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S "ENT ANSWERS" DOCTOR: Christopher Hampson, MD
Dr. Christopher Hampson joined Midwest ENT Consultants in 2002. He specializes in ear, nose and throat problems of children and adults. He is available for inpatient and outpatient consults for adults, children and neonates at , Edward, and Central DuPage Hospitals. Dr. Hampson throughout his career has sought out opportunities to gain experience and serve communities with limited access to healthcare. He has volunteered in Lawndale and Maywood. He has worked at St. Jude Hospital in St. Lucia and at the Alaskan Native Medical Center in Anchorage.
