Vertigo

Emergency Department factsheets

What is vertigo? and vomiting.

Pain, ringing in your ears (tinnitus) or sudden
Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you feel that hearing loss is uncommon. If you have these
you are spinning or unbalanced. It can be symptoms see your local doctor or health-care
continuous or brought on when you change professional.
positions. Movement of the head will often make
your dizziness feel worse. You may also have
associated nausea and vomiting. Vertigo is a
symptom, not a diagnosis. Treatment
The treatment your doctor recommends will
depend on the cause of your symptoms. Vertigo
While there are some serious causes of vertigo,
may improve by itself. However certain
most of the time it is not caused by a serious
treatments can speed up your recovery.
medical problem.

If you have ongoing vertigo symptoms, your

What causes vertigo? doctor may prescribe medication to help with
motion sickness and nausea. It will not prevent
There are many causes of vertigo. Vertigo can or cure your vertigo. Take the medication as
be a result of inner ear disorders (vestibular instructed on the packet. These medications are
system), viral illnesses or infections, head for short term use only.
traumas, migraines, stroke, or other neurological
conditions.
Your doctor may also refer you to a vestibular
physiotherapist for ongoing management or
One of the most common causes is benign provide you with Brandt-Daroff exercises to do.
paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV
happens when tiny particles in the balance
centre of the inner ear are disturbed, usually by
sudden movement. This causes the spinning Home care
sensation. It is a common problem that can Your doctor or health-care professional will
affect people of all ages. advise you on what to do at home. Here are
some things you can do at home.
Activities that bring on a dizzy spell can vary, but  Avoid head positions that provoke an attack.
often involves moving your head in a certain  Do the Brandt-Daroff exercises, if advised.
position such as:
 Avoid sleeping on the affected or ‘bad’ side.
 looking up
 Raise your head on two pillows when resting.
 lying on one ear
 Get up slowly in the morning and sit on the
 rolling over in bed edge of the bed for a minute.
 getting out of bed  Take prescribed medications as directed.
 bending over.  Do not drive when you have symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms include spinning, swaying,
feeling lightheaded, unbalanced, falling, nausea

This factsheet was last reviewed in March 2023

What to expect When to re-present to
The vertigo attacks usually come in bursts. Emergency?
Symptoms usually settle within a week to
Present to the emergency department
ten days, although it can take longer. About one
immediately if you develop:
in three people will have recurrent attacks and
some people may have ongoing problems with  persistent or worsening dizziness
balance if not managed properly. It is important  speech or swallowing difficulties
to recognise that if you are not improving, to
seek further help from your doctor or health-care  double vision
professional.  difficulty walking or falling
 facial, arm or leg weakness or numbness
 severe headaches or neck pain
Brandt-Daroff exercises
 ringing in your ears or sudden hearing loss.
If you have been diagnosed with BPPV, these
exercises are thought to disperse any tiny
particles away from the balance centre in your
ear, therefore getting rid of the cause of your
Seeking help
dizziness. It is normal to feel anxious that the In a medical emergency, go to the nearest
exercises will bring back your symptoms. hospital emergency department or call an
However, the dizziness will improve with time. ambulance (dial 000). For other medical
1. Sit on the edge of the bed. Turn your head problems see your local doctor or health-care
45 degrees to the left. Lie down quickly on professional.
the right side. Ensure the back of the head
rests on the bed. Wait 20–30 seconds or
until the dizziness stops. 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) provides health
information, referral and teletriage services to
2. Slowly sit upright. Wait 20–30 seconds for the public in all parts of Queensland and is
any dizziness to settle. available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365
3. Repeat on the other side. Turn the head days a year for the cost of a local call*.
45 degrees to the right before lying down *Calls from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate.
quickly on the left side. Please check with your telephone service provider

4. Do five times on each side.

5. Repeat three times a day. Disclaimer: This health information is for general
education purposes only. Please consult with
your doctor or other health professional to make
Vestibular physiotherapy sure this information is right for you.

Vertigo can often be treated by a vestibular

physiotherapist. A vestibular physiotherapist is a Further reading
physiotherapist who is trained to assess and
manage different causes of vertigo. The goals of
therapy include reducing your symptoms and
improving your overall balance and function.

Treatment may involve specific exercises to

retrain eye and head movements, positional w
manoeuvres, and balance exercises. On your
The design and general content of this factsheet are reproduced
discharge from the emergency department, your with the permission of the Victorian Minister for Health, from
doctor may refer or recommend that you follow factsheets that are Copyright © the State of Victoria. Unauthorised
up with a vestibular physiotherapist through the reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are
prohibited without permission.
hospital or privately.

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