Vertigo in medical terms

Dizziness is a broad word that can mean light-headedness, weakness, unsteadiness, or feeling faint. Vertigo specifically describes movement that is not actually happening: the room may seem to turn, the body may feel pulled, or the ground may appear to tilt. Balance signals come from the inner ear, eyes, muscles, and brain. A mismatch between those signals can create vertigo. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is one possible pattern, but the word itself is a symptom, not a diagnosis.

Tell the clinician whether the sensation is spinning, rocking, or faintness; whether head movement triggers it; how long episodes last; and whether nausea, headache, hearing change, ringing, weakness, or visual symptoms occur. Sit down during an episode and avoid driving or climbing until the sensation has passed. The assessment may include eye movements, walking, ear examination, blood pressure, and a review of medicines.

Seek emergency care for vertigo with new trouble speaking, facial drooping, one-sided weakness or numbness, severe headache, fainting, new double vision, chest pain, sudden hearing loss, or inability to walk. Arrange a clinical review when vertigo is new, recurrent, persistent, associated with an ear infection, or causing falls.

Do my symptoms describe vertigo or another form of dizziness? Which balance system may be involved? Do I need hearing or neurological assessment? Would an Epley Manoeuvre or another treatment be appropriate?