14 Common Causes of Vertigo

If you feel that the room is spinning, or that you are spinning and the room is staying still, you may be suffering from vertigo. Those who have seen the famous Alfred HItchcock film, Vertigo may recall the police detective whose fate was sealed because he suffered from vertigo.

However, the character seemed to suffer from anxiety and fear of heights rather than a spinning sensation that can occur unexpectedly, which is what vertigo is. In addition, vertigo is not a condition, but is a symptom of an underlying problem, such as an inner ear infection, dehydration or interference with brain functioning.

There are two types of vertigo–central and peripheral. The latter deals with mainly issues in the inner ear, whereas central vertigo can stem from a variety of problems. It is important to see a physician to determine the underlying cause of the spinning sensation if you are suffering from vertigo. 

1. Sleep Deprivation

Many of us have had the experience of pulling an all-nighter to complete a project or to study for an exam. It is unusual for many people to go more than a night without sleeping, but in cases of extreme sleep deprivation, a person may undergo an altered state. This may include strange thoughts, a dreamlike state and vertigo.

In more extreme cases, someone who is severely sleep deprived may start to hallucinate. It isn’t only after going days without sleep that a person could develop vertigo, but also if one is consistently lacking in sleep and getting less than four hours of sleep a night. This may cause someone to feel irritable and unable to concentrate. In addition, they could feel that the room is spinning. This may come and go or it may last for hours or days until he or she finally gets some sleep.