Vertigo Specialist

Lower Merion Neurology PC Our Services Vertigo

Lower Merion Neurology PC

Neurologist located in Paoli, PA & Narberth, PA

Vertigo, the sudden feeling that the room is spinning, may last for seconds or days, depending on what’s causing the problem. Since vertigo can signal a serious problem like a stroke or tumor, it’s important to see Sudhir Aggarwal, MD, PhD, at Lower Merion Neurology PC, if your vertigo recurs, is severe, or lasts beyond several minutes. Dr. Aggarwal has extensive experience developing customized treatments to relieve vertigo symptoms. To schedule an appointment, use the online booking feature or call the office located in Paoli, Pennsylvania, and serving the larger Main Line area.

Vertigo Q & A

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a type of dizziness that makes you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning even though you’re perfectly still. Along with a spinning sensation, you may also experience symptoms such as:

  • Headache
  • Ringing in your ears
  • Involuntary eye movements
  • Loss of balance
  • Feeling disoriented

Your vertigo may last less than a minute or persist for days, and the accompanying symptoms may be minimal or severe, depending on the type of vertigo and its underlying cause.

What are the different types of vertigo?

Treatment for the two types of vertigo - peripheral and central - is available at Lower Merion Neurology PC.

Peripheral vertigo

A problem in your inner ear or the vestibular nerve, such as an infection, an inflamed nerve, or a condition called Meniere’s disease, causes peripheral vertigo. However, the most common type of vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), develops for a different reason.

BPPV occurs when calcium crystals normally found inside your ear break away and float in the fluid-filled tubes responsible for balance. The crystals affect the fluid’s movement, which in turn causes vertigo.

Central vertigo

This type of vertigo begins in the central nervous system, often due to an illness or injury that affects the area of your brain regulating balance. Several underlying causes of central vertigo include:

  • Migraine
  • Stroke
  • Tumors
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Certain medications

If you have central vertigo, you may also develop symptoms that don’t appear with peripheral vertigo. For example, you may have difficulty swallowing, facial drooping, and double vision.

Can vertigo be the sign of a stroke?

Vertigo and dizziness can both be signs of a stroke when neurological symptoms accompany them such as:

  • Confusion
  • Slurred speech
  • Double vision
  • Severe vomiting
  • Clumsiness or tremor in your arm, face, or leg
  • Difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes
  • Inability to move one or both eyes
  • Sudden headache or neck pain

If you experience vertigo plus one or more of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

How is vertigo treated?

At Lower Merion Neurology PC, Dr. Aggarwal performs a thorough physical and neurological exam, and diagnostic tests if needed, to determine your diagnosis. Then he develops an individualized treatment that may include one or more of the following.

  • Epley maneuver for BPPV
  • Medication to reduce symptoms
  • Medication to suppress inner ear activity
  • Balance therapy or vestibular rehabilitation
  • Lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of stroke

Dr. Aggarwal may also recommend modifications you can make to prevent falls.

Don’t wait to get help for vertigo, call Lower Merion Neurology PC or schedule an appointment online.

What we offer

Services