Another audience member at my UCSD Stein Public Lecture asked me about the definition of vertigo and the difference between dizziness and vertigo.
That is a great question!
So, what is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?
In medical care, healthcare providers typically make a distinction between dizziness and vertigo for purposes of medical documentation.
However, most patients generally lump dizziness and vertigo into the same category and call it “dizziness.” The patients I have met who are able to accurately describe their symptoms as either “dizziness” or “vertigo” have either done some personal research on the difference between dizziness and vertigo, or they have been educated by a healthcare provider.
Definition: Dizziness
“Dizziness” is typically defined as a feeling of light-headedness, as if you were going to pass out. This feeling may come and go, or may be constant.
Dizziness is often caused by medical conditions such as dehydration, low blood sugar, irregular heart rate or low blood pressure, to name a few possible causes.
An example of “dizziness” is what you may experience when you are hungry or thirsty, due to low blood sugar or dehydration, respectively.
Another example of “dizziness” is getting light-headed when you stand up quickly on a hot, sunny day. That feeling of dizziness is caused by low blood pressure and may cause fainting in severe cases. This is the major difference between dizziness and vertigo.
Definition: Vertigo
The definition of “vertigo” is an illusion of spinning, tilting or translating when you are actually still, OR an impaired perception of otherwise normal motion.
For example, someone who rolls over in bed onto their left side, and then feels like they are spinning for about thirty seconds has experienced “vertigo.” They felt a false sense of spinning when they were actually lying still on their left side.
Another example of vertigo could occur while walking in a straight line on your tile floor, if you feel like you are walking down “into the ground.”
If you feel like you are standing up perfectly straight, but someone tells you that you are in fact leaning off to the side, then you may have vertigo causing spacial disorientation.
These are some examples of the difference between dizziness and vertigo.
If you report either of these feelings to your healthcare provider, be sure to explain the onset of the symptoms, the length of time the feeling lasted and what seemed to be the trigger. That way, even if you are not sure if you are experiencing dizziness or vertigo, your healthcare provider will have enough information to help you figure it out and receive proper care.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
Your description of vertigo and dizziness are very useful. In 2001 I during night sleep felt my head moving and had high BP. After medication, I became already. It again occurred in Feb 2016 and after taking some vitamins tablets I became okay. It surfaced again March 2018. Tests showed no abnormality and with medication intake I became already. It always occurs during sleep, raising BP and when I get up from bed and sometimes while lying down on bed. I don’t know if I suffer from vertigo or dizziness?
Hi Surjit,
I am sorry to hear what you are going through. I am glad to hear that you are able to get relief with the vitamin tablets and the medications.
I recommend for you to track your symptoms as I describe in this blog.
The “Bell Method” approach that I take when I work with my patients is to account for every occurrence of dizziness or vertigo.
For example, dizziness when lying down or rolling over in bed is often caused by BPPV, which is the most common vestibular disorder.
In contrast, dizziness standing up is often caused by blood pressure problems, endocrine issues, or medication side effects.
The strategies for managing dizziness and vertigo are specific to the root cause.
The best way you can help your healthcare providers to determine the root cause(s) of your uncomfortable symptoms is to keep track of the symptom onset, trigger, and duration. Your providers will also want to know what makes your symptoms better and what makes them worse.
I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
Vertigo symptoms continually, history of TMJ with surgery bilat from MVA over 15 yrs ago. Now I’m always having vertigo & new symptoms recently is vertigo with eating & worst when digesting food feels heightened during or after a meal. I don’t know why. I also have ear fullness, ear pressure more on the right & ear fullness on both sides.
Hi Sharon,
I am sorry to hear about your difficulty with vertigo.
You may be interested in my most popular blog on my other website: “The Gut and Vertigo.”
You may also want to find an orthopedic manual therapist to evaluate your TMJ, skull and neck area for any root cause(s).
Of course, finding a Vestibular Provider is always an important step to root cause analysis.
Best wishes,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
Can a medrol dose pack 4mg x7days help with BPV
Medrol has the generic named methylprednisolone. It is a corticosteroid.
This is often prescribed for inflammation, but it has many different uses in traditional health care depending on your medical condition.
You can ask any further questions about this medication, or its purpose in your case, to your pharmacist and your prescribing doctor.