When Is Vertigo a Neurological Problem?

The world is spinning around you even though you’re standing perfectly still. Or maybe the world is tilting even though you’re firmly seated in a chair. Called vertigo, these sensations can be disconcerting.

Most cases of vertigo stem from inner ear problems, but some are the result  of neurological issues, which means the dizziness is coming from your central nervous system, namely your brain.

As experts in neurology, Dr. Paul Gill and our team at Gill Neuroscience in Houston, Texas, specialize in several neurological issues that count central vertigo among the symptoms. We review some of those here.

Vertigo basics

Your sense of balance comes from what we refer to as your vestibular system. The two areas of the vestibular system include:

• Peripheral vestibular system, which includes five organs in your inner ear
• Central vestibular system in your brain that processes the information from your inner ears

In most cases of vertigo, the issue lies with the inner ear — an infection develops and you experience dizziness.

In less common cases, there’s an issue in your brain or brain stem causing the uncomfortable sensations that the world is moving even though you're still.

Causes of central vertigo

If your vertigo doesn’t stem from an inner ear problem, meaning it’s central vertigo, it can often be traced back to several neurological issues, including:

Stroke

Every 40 seconds in the United States, someone has a stroke — an event in which the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen. When this occurs, brain cells can quickly die off, and depending on which areas are affected, you can be left with central vertigo.

Brain tumors

About 1 million Americans are living with a brain tumor, and one of the potential side effects is central vertigo. Again, this depends on the location of the tumor.

Multiple sclerosis

One of the earlier signs of multiple sclerosis — an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks myelin in the central nervous system — is central vertigo. This side effect comes on when lesions develop on your brainstem or cerebellum, the part of your brain that controls balance.

Traumatic brain injury

It’s not uncommon for people to develop central vertigo after a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

Vestibular migraines

If you have bouts of vertigo that last from a few minutes to several days, it might be a sign of a vestibular migraine, a type of headache that affects 1 in 37 Americans.

There are other issues that can lead to central vertigo, such as infections in the brain and certain medications, but the above represent the primary culprits.

The reason we cover this many issues is to emphasize that if you’re experiencing ongoing vertigo, you should see us for an evaluation.

For expert diagnosis and treatment of vertigo and balance issues, please call our office in Houston, Texas, at 832-912-7777, or use our online request form to schedule an appointment.