Vertigo : Causes

There are two types of vertigo: Peripheral vertigo occurs if there is a problem with the part of the inner ear that controls balance (vestibular labyrinth or semicircular canals) or with the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the br...

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system.

Detailed information on multiple sclerosis, including causes, symptoms, evaluation procedures, treatment, and rehabilitation

Detailed information on multiple sclerosis, including causes, symptoms, evaluation procedures, treatment, and rehabilitation

A description of multiple sclerosis, its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Includes information about treatments on the horizon.

Detailed information on multiple sclerosis in pregnancy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. It is caused by destruction of the myelin insulation covering nerve fibers (neurons) in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. A fatty tissue called myelin coats and protects the nerve fibers in the CNS. When myelin is damaged or destroyed in the CNS, either by inflammation, stroke, immune disorders, metabolic disorders, or nutritional deficiencies, scar tissue, or sclerosis, may form in multiple areas of the nerve fibers. As a result, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses from the brain to the rest of the body is impaired, and a wide variety of symptoms may appear.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord. In the CNS, the nerves are covered by a protective layer called the myelin sheath. Myelin helps keep the nerve healthy. It also improves nerve conduction. In multiple sclerosis, inflammation causes the nerves to gradually lose this myelin cover. This repeated inflammation and erosion leads to scarring (sclerosis), which impairs the nerve's ability to conduct impulses. Eventually, even the nerves themselves are affected. Because the nervous system controls and coordinates a number of body functions, patients with MS gradually lose a variety of functions, including memory and the ability to see, speak or walk.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder that affects primarily the myelinated white matter of the central nervous system (CNS), the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. There is no known cause. Myelin is the fatty sheath that insulates nerve fibers (axons). Partial or complete loss of myelin due to MS impairs nerve conduction through affected axons, producing symptoms and functional impairment referable to them. Thus, MS may produce mild to severe weakness, lack of coordination, disordered sensations, partial loss of vision, impaired control of bladder and bowel function, impaired cognition, or any combination of these effects. Early in the course of the disorder, symptoms are often brief and transient—impaired function caused by a particular episode, or relapse, tends to improve, in what is called a "remission." Remissions may be partial or total. However, over the course of years, incomplete recovery from relapses may occur, leading to the accumulation of impaired function and producing some degree of disability in about 70 percent of affected individuals. Among those who become disabled, some do not experience improvement from the beginning. However, it is important to realize that, although it is a common cause of disability among young to middle-aged individuals, MS is very unpredictable in a particular person; it does not necessarily disable and it does not necessarily shorten life span appreciably. The average age of occurrence of the first symptom(s) is thirty-three, but MS may show itself as early as childhood or as late as age sixty or beyond. It affects almost twice as many women as men, and primarily in men and women of predominantly or mixed Caucasian parentage. Approximately 350,000 people in the United States have MS, and it is estimated to affect about 3 million people worldwide. However, MS is rare among South and East Asians, and among blacks in Africa. These differences suggest that susceptibility to develop MS may be genetically determined. However, among identical twins where one has MS, no more than 50 percent of the unaffected twins will go on to develop MS. This lends support to the concept that an environmental trigger, perhaps a viral infection, acts in concert with the genetic setting to produce MS. Siblings and children of those with MS have a somewhat greater chance of developing MS, but no specific genetic pattern has been identified. It is likely that multiple genes are involved in conferring susceptibility. The frequency of MS has been studied closely since the 1930s. However, despite improved diagnostic methods (and improved treatment), the incidence (number of new cases per year in the population) does not appear to have increased. Even after many years of intensive research, the cause of MS remains elusive, and it is a challenging subject for research. The most widely accepted hypothesis at this time is that an infection triggers an autoimmune response in genetically susceptible individuals. Autoimmunity implies that the body's immune-defense system erroneously and inappropriately attacks normal tissues, in this case the myelin and/or the cell that synthesizes and supports myelin, the oligodendrocyte. Diagnosing MS is often very challenging. To do so involves documenting the occurrence of two or more episodes of impaired function, occurring at different times, that are referable to CNS white matter, while excluding all other possible causes of the problems. The fact that MS affects primarily the CNS white matter makes it possible to visualize very accurately areas of inflammation and demyelination via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is an invaluable aid to diagnosis, although the MRI picture alone is not sufficient to be certain of the diagnosis. MRI is also used to identify new relapses, and to quantify the number and size of past episodes. Similarly, the cerebrospinal fluid typically shows alterations that may support a diagnosis, but a diagnosis cannot be made without appropriat

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. It is caused by destruction of the myelin sheath (insulation) covering nerve fibers ( neurons ) in the central nervous system ( brain and spinal cord ).

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system . The disease results in injury to the myelin sheath (the fatty matter that covers the axons of the nerve cells), the oligodendrocytes (the cells that produce myelin) and, to a lesser extent, the axons and nerve cells themselves. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary, depending in part on the location of plaques (areas of thick scar tissue) within the central nervous system. Common symptoms include weakness and fatigue , sensory disturbances in the limbs, bladder or bowel dysfunction, problems with sexual function, and ataxia (loss of coordination). Although the disease may not be cured or prevented at this time, treatments are available to reduce severity and delay progression.

The effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be unpredictable. MS can cause symptoms that range from minor problems in mild cases to paralysis in the most severe cases.

I have MS and recently was diagnosed with breast cancer. Are there any concerns about breast reconstruction in people with autoimmune diseases?

Motion sickness is a condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations of dizziness, nausea , and vomiting that people experience when their sense of balance and equilibrium is disturbed by constant motion. Riding in a car, aboard a ship or boat, or riding on a swing all cause stimulation of the vestibular system and visual stimulation that often lead to discomfort. While motion sickness can be bothersome, it is not a serious illness, and can be prevented.

Motion sickness occurs when your senses offer your brain conflicting reports about what you're doing.

Motion sickness is uncomfortable dizziness , nausea , and vomiting that people experience when their sense of balance and equilibrium is disturbed because their brain cannot make sense of conflicting information about their body's location in space and motion in their environment.

Carsickness isn't really about the car. It's about the brain's ability to interpret a message based on what it senses.

Motion sickness is the uncomfortable dizziness , nausea, and vomiting that people experience when their sense of balance and equilibrium is disturbed by constant motion. Riding in a car, aboard a ship or boat, or riding on a swing all cause stimulation of the vestibular system and visual stimulation that often leads to discomfort. While motion sickness can be bothersome, it is not a serious illness, and can be prevented.

This summer, whether traveling across country or around the world, you'll have a more enjoyable vacation if you plan ahead to stay healthy.

What risks are associated with flying if you have vertigo? David Vernick, M.D. is assistant clinical professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School and interim chief of the Division of Otology and Laryngology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

A head injury is any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain. The injuries can range from a minor bump on the skull to serious brain injury. Head injury is classified as either closed or open (penetrating. A closed head injury means you received a hard blow to the head from striking an object, but the object did not break the skull; An open, or penetrating, head injury means you were hit with an object that broke the skull and entered the brain. This usually happens when you move at high speed, such as going through the windshield during a car accident. It can also happen from a gunshot to the head. There are several types of brain injuries, including: Concussion, the most common type of traumatic brain injury, in which the brain is shaken; Contusion, which is a bruise on the brain. See also: Subarachnoid hemorrhage; Subdural hematoma.

Detailed information on head injury, including causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment

Detailed information on head injury, including causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment

Head Trauma (Traumatic Brain Injury)Head trauma can be fatal. The effects from some types of head trauma may not appear right away.

Detailed information on head injury, including causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment

Detailed information on superficial injuries to the face and head

My 4-month-old was hit in the head. It did not cause a big bruise, but then two hours after the incident he threw up twice. In this case should an infant be watched or taken to the emergency room?

First Aid: Head InjuriesA strong blow to the head may cause swelling and bleeding inside the skull. The resulting pressure can injure the brain(concussion).If you have any doubts identifying a concussion, have a healthcare provider check the victi...

Children hit their heads frequently. Most of the time, the injury is minor, usually involving only the scalp, and nothing needs to be done. Sometimes, the injury is more serious, involving the skull and/or brain inside, and medical attention is required.

Injury to the head may damage the scalp, skull or brain. The most important consequence of head trauma is traumatic brain injury. Head injury may occur either as a closed head injury, such as the head hitting a car's windshield, or as a penetrating head injury, as when a bullet pierces the skull. Both may cause damage that ranges from mild to profound. Very severe injury can be fatal because of profound brain damage.

Labyrinthitis is an ear disorder that involves irritation and swelling of the inner ear. See also: Meniere's disease

Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear that is often a complication of infection of the middle ear ( otitis media ). It is usually caused by the spread of bacterial or viral infections from the head or respiratory tract into the inner ear.

Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear that is often a complication of otitis media . It is caused by the spread of bacterial or viral infections from the head or respiratory tract into the inner ear.

Benign positional vertigo is condition in which a person develops a sudden sensation of spinning, usually when moving the head. It is the most common cause of vertigo.

Benign positional vertigo (BPV) is the most common cause of dizziness due to an impairment of the balance center in the ear.

A migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, called an aura, before the actual headache begins. An aura is a group of symptoms, usually vision disturbances, that serve as a warning sign that a bad headache is coming. Most people, however, do not have such warning signs. See also: Headache; Mixed tension migraine (features of both a migraine and tension headache.

With a migraine, you may have nausea and vomiting and be sensitive to light and sound. You may also have warning signs, such as flashing lights or loss of vision, before the pain starts. Cluster headaches recur in groups for days, weeks, or months.

The following Clinical Topic Tour provides an overview of migraine headache and has been adapted from materials published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

What Are Migraine and Tension Headaches?Talk with your healthcare provider about a treatment plan that may help relieve pain and prevent future headaches.Although there are several types of headaches, migraine and tension headaches affect the most...

This report helps you identify the cause of your headache and learn what to do about it. Includes the latest treatments, such as new medications and mind/body techniques.

If your migraine pattern changes or your headaches suddenly feel different, it could be a sign of a more serious medical condition.

Triptans, prescription medications used to treat migraine pain, and tricyclic antidepressants, used to prevent migraine, may interact with certain herbs.

A headache signifies activation of the primary afferent fibers that innervate cephalic blood vessels, chiefly meningeal or cerebral blood vessels. Most nociceptive fibers innervating these structures arise from pseudounipolar neurons located within the trigeminal ganglia (first division), although some may be located within the upper cervical ganglia.

Auras may include visual disturbances (jagged lines with bright spots or flashes); temporary, partial vision loss; numbness; and tingling sensations.

Women who have endometriosis may also be more likely to have migraines, according to a recent Italian study.

Sometimes, right in the middle of a match, she would develop a pounding, throbbing headache on the left side of her head. The pain was almost unbearable.

Women get more migraine headaches than men, possibly because migraines have been linked to the fluctuation of estrogen levels related to the menstrual cycle.

Detailed information on migraines and how a migraine happens

Women who experience migraines around the start of their period may be able to prevent them.

More than half of migraine sufferers are affected by weather.

Detailed information on migraine headaches and pregnancy

Work with your doctor to find a treatment plan that helps you. Several prescription drugs can prevent or relieve the pain of migraines.

For some people, taking medication every day can help prevent migraines and make them less painful when they occur.

Is there a link between depression and migraines? Michael Craig Miller, M.D., is editor-in-chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Miller has an active clinical practice and has been on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for more than 25 years.

You and your loved ones will benefit if they understand your condition and how best to help.

A study found that men who suffered migraines were more likely to have heart disease, but there is no evidence that migraines cause heart trouble, and no evidence as to what the connection, if any, may be.

What is a "complex" migraine headache? Robert Shmerling, M.D., is associate physician and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an active teacher in the Internal Medicine Residency Program, serving as the Robinson Firm Chief. He is also a teacher in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program and has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 25 years.

About 90 percent of all headaches are harmless episodes that can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers, either alone or together with rest, ice packs or relaxation techniques.

I have the symptoms of an optical migraine, but they only last for five to 10 seconds, instead of minutes. Is that still an optical migraine?

Migraine is a type of headache marked by severe head pain lasting several hours or more.

Migraine is a type of headache marked by severe head pain lasting several hours or more.

Migraine is a type of headache marked by severe head pain lasting several hours or more.

What are the signs and symptoms of a basilar or hemiplegic headache? Diana Post, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Research suggests there may be a link between migraine sufferers who experience aura with their headaches and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Detailed information on the most common types of vascular headaches and migraines

With a complex migraine, is it normal to experience muscle contraction in the upper and lower extremities?

When I get migraines, my blood pressure is very low (93/64). Is this normal?

Could TMJ cause migraines? James S. Winshall, M.D., is an associate physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital. In addition to his role as senior editor at Harvard Health Publications, Dr. Winshall practices general internal medicine and is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

Are migraine headaches common during pregnancy? What is safe to take for them?

An analysis was conducted on research that suggests a link between migraine headaches and ischemic strokes. Migraine sufferers are more likely to have a stroke than nonsufferers.

A virus is an infectious agent, often highly host-specific, consisting of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat.

Viruses are familiar from the common diseases they cause: colds and flu, for instance. But what are they, and how do they cause sickness?

Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing. See also: Vertigo

Ménière's disease is a disorder characterized by recurrent vertigo, sensory hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. It is named for the French physician, Prosper Ménière, who first described the illness in 1861. Ménière's disease is also known as idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops; "idiopathic" refers to the unknown or spontaneous origin of the disorder, while "endolymphatic hydrops" refers to the increased fluid pressure in the inner ear that causes the symptoms of Ménière's disease.

What Is Meniere’s Disease?Meniere’s disease is a problem with the inner ear, the part of the ear responsible for balance as well as hearing.

Ménière's disease is a condition characterized by recurrent vertigo ( dizziness ), hearing loss , and tinnitus (a roaring, buzzing, or ringing sound in the ears).

Detailed information on M‚niŠre's disease, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Meniere's disease is a condition characterized by recurring vertigo ( dizziness ), hearing loss , and tinnitus (a roaring, buzzing or ringing sound in the ears).

Treating Meniere’s Disease: SurgeryFor severe Meniere’s that doesn’t respond to other types of treatment, draining or removing part or all of the ear’s balance canals may be recommended.Risks and ComplicationsDamage to hearingPossible worsening of...

Vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders are conditions in which blood supply to the back of the brain is disrupted. See also: Transient ischemic attack; Stroke.

Cerebral vascular insufficiency is defined as insufficient blood flow to the brain. The most common cause of decreased blood flow is atherosclerosis of the arteries that supply blood to the brain.

An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous (benign), often slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain.

An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor involving cells of the myelin sheath that surrounds the vestibulocochlear nerve (eighth cranial nerve).

Detailed information on acoustic neurinoma, including symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment

A vestibular schwannoma is a type of benign (non-cancerous) tumor that affects the eighth cranial nerve.

How successful is acoustic neuroma surgery? David Vernick, M.D. is assistant clinical professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School and interim chief of the Division of Otology and Laryngology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor involving cells of the myelin sheath that surrounds the vestibulocochlear nerve (eighth cranial nerve).