Vertigo is a symptom in which affected patients feel as though they or their surroundings are spinning or moving. There are two major forms of vertigo: peripheral vertigo, which is related to problems within the inner ear; and central vertigo, which is related to problems within the brain, explains MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. Anyone who experiences the effects of vertigo should seek further evaluation and care from a medical professional.
Unsteadiness or Loss of Coordination
A person with vertigo can experience sudden sensations of faintness, dizziness or spinning. When this occurs, vertigo can cause unsteadiness or loss of balance or coordination. An affected patient may experience difficulty walking upright or driving normally, warns Merck Manual. Certain patients can inadvertently fall down or collapse during episodes of vertigo. These effects of vertigo can be dangerous, especially if they arise while a patient is driving or participating in potentially hazardous activities.
Headache
Sensations of spinning due to vertigo can cause headache symptoms in affected patients, explains the Better Health Channel, a health information website sponsored by the Australian government. Headache pain can arise suddenly and may range in severity from mild to severe. Patients who experience headache pain due to vertigo may have difficulty remaining focused or alert while at work or school. Recurrent of persistent headache symptoms can be controlled through the use of an over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen, but may require further evaluation from a medical professional.
Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea or vomiting can occur as vertigo affects certain patients, report medical experts with the Merck Manual. Vertigo can affect a patient's ability to remain physically balanced while sitting or standing. This lack of balance can result in stomach upset or motion sickness in patients with vertigo. Stomach upset symptoms may arise suddenly and are typically temporary. Patients who experience nausea or vomiting can also develop a decreased appetite following vertigo episodes.
Vision Alterations
Patients with vertigo can experience temporary vision alterations as an effect of this condition. During episodes of vertigo, affected patients may display unusual, involuntary eye movements. Certain patients can also develop blurred or double vision, report health experts with the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Vision alterations can contribute to balance or headache effects in certain patients with vertigo.
Confusion
Loss of balance or spinning sensations due to vertigo can cause confusion and disorientation in patients with vertigo, NIDCD health experts report. Following an episode of vertigo, affected patients may appear distracted, inattentive or lost. These effects of vertigo are temporary and will subside shortly after vertigo sensations end.
