Vertigo
Vertigo often gets better without treatment. See a GP if it keeps coming back or is affecting your daily life.
Vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning – enough to affect your balance. It's more than just feeling dizzy.
A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours. If you have severe vertigo, it can last for many days or months.
There are things you can do to ease vertigo symptoms when they're happening, and to reduce how often it happens.
Do
lie still in a quiet, dark room to reduce the spinning feeling
move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities
sit down straight away when you feel dizzy
turn on the lights if you get up at night
use a walking stick if you're at risk of falling
sleep with your head slightly raised on 2 or more pillows
get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a while before standing up
try to relax – anxiety can make vertigo worse
Don't
do not bend over to pick things up – squat to lower yourself instead
do not stretch your neck – for example, while reaching up to a high shelf
See a GP if:
- you have vertigo that will not go away or keeps coming back
If you have vertigo, a GP will ask about your symptoms to try to find out what could be causing them.
A simple test that involves you moving quickly from a sitting to a lying position might be done to check your balance. This could bring on symptoms.
You might also be referred to a specialist for further tests.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
You have vertigo and:
- have a severe headache
- are being sick or feel very sick
- have a very high temperature or feel hot and shivery
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
You have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision
- hearing loss
- trouble speaking
- leg or arm weakness, numbness or tingling
Always take someone who cannot be woken up to A&E or call 999.
Most people with vertigo get better without treatment.
Treatment will depend on the cause. A GP might prescribe antibiotics if it's caused by an infection.
You could also be given exercises to do to try to correct your balance.
Antihistamines can sometimes help with vertigo symptoms.
Driving and vertigo
If you drive, you must tell the DVLA about your vertigo.
Inner ear problems, which affect balance, are the most common causes of vertigo.
These include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where specific head movements cause vertigo
- labyrinthitis – an inner ear infection caused by a cold or flu virus
- vestibular neuritis – inflammation of the vestibular nerve
- Ménière's disease – a rare inner ear condition, which sometimes involves ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or loss of hearing
Other things that can cause vertigo include:
- migraine
- some types of medicine – check the leaflet to see if it's listed as a side effect
Sometimes the cause is unknown.
