What should you know about constant vertigo?

Vertigo is a false sensation that you or the room is moving, often spinning. Persistent symptoms may come with nausea, unsteadiness, hearing changes, ringing in the ear, headache, or sensitivity to light. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo often causes brief attacks triggered by head movement, while Meniere's Disease may combine vertigo with fluctuating hearing symptoms. Middle Ear Infection can disturb balance, and Migraine can cause vertigo even when head pain is mild or absent.

The pattern matters: note whether symptoms began suddenly, follow a position change, remain present at rest, or occur with new weakness, speech trouble, or vision changes.

Sit or lie down when the spinning starts, move your head slowly, and use support when walking. Avoid driving, heights, swimming alone, and machinery while balance is unreliable. Sip fluids if nausea allows, and keep a record of triggers, hearing symptoms, headache, medicines, and recent infections. A clinician may check eye movements, hearing, balance, blood pressure, and neurological signs. Treatment depends on the cause; an Epley Manoeuvre may help selected positional vertigo, but it should not be attempted when neck or back movement is unsafe.

Seek emergency help for vertigo with facial drooping, one-sided weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, fainting, severe new headache, chest pain, inability to walk, or sudden hearing loss. Arrange prompt medical review when vertigo is constant, repeatedly returns, causes vomiting or falls, follows a head injury, or comes with fever, ear pain, or new hearing change.

Ask what pattern best fits your symptoms, whether your ears and nervous system need testing, which medicines could contribute, and which movements or activities you should avoid until balance improves.